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Regular version of the site
Bachelor 2022/2023

Understanding Russians: Contexts of Intercultural Communication

Type: Elective course (Asian and African Studies)
Area of studies: Asian and African Studies
When: 5 year, 1 module
Mode of studies: distance learning
Online hours: 20
Open to: students of all HSE University campuses
Instructors: Anna Shnyrkova
Language: English
ECTS credits: 6
Contact hours: 6

Course Syllabus

Abstract

In the course “Understanding Russians: Contexts of Intercultural Communications": we will: 1) Build skills in the analysis of the intercultural communication process using Russian-Western communication as an example. 2) Apply the knowledge of interrelations between different contexts of communication (cultural, institutional, professional, social, interpersonal, etc.) to the cultural history and national psychology of Russians. • The purpose of the course is to provide the students with a broad overview of the basic principles governing the past, the present and the future interactions between Russia and the West, with a focus on the culture and national psychology of Russians and Western Europeans. For example, we will look at the cases when basic cultural values of Russians show up through the linguistic choices shaping language production which is consequently misattributed by Western partners. No matter what the language of intercultural communication is – Russian, or English – the meaning of many linguistic expressions may be reconstructed wrongly by the representatives of another culture. This course provides a broad overview of the basic principles governing the past, the present and the future interactions between Russia and the West, with a focus on the culture and national psychology of Russians and Western Europeans. This course is not just a list of practical instructions of dos and don’ts of dealing with Russians. It contains a substantial academic component introducing the key notions and concepts of the Theory of Communication. In the course you will build skills in the analysis of the intercultural communication process using Russian-Western communication as an example and apply the knowledge of interrelations between different contexts of communication to the cultural history and national psychology of Russians. You will understand the concepts of culture that have the strongest influence on communication, communication patterns of modern Russians, including those of public and electronic discourse.
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

  • Build skills in the analysis of the intercultural communication process using Russian-Western communication as an example.
  • Apply the knowledge of interrelations between different contexts of communication (cultural, institutional, professional, social, interpersonal, etc.) to the cultural history and national psychology of Russians.
  • Provide the students with a broad overview of the basic principles governing the past, the present and the future interactions between Russia and the West, with a focus on the culture and national psychology of Russians and Western Europeans.
Expected Learning Outcomes

Expected Learning Outcomes

  • Know the definition of Intercultural Communication
  • Identify components and characteristics of Culture
  • Be able to apply basics of communication to the Russian communication style.
  • Identify Russian communication style.
  • Diagnose Russian communication in organizational contexts.
  • Be able to analyze social stratification (plus the recent history of the social strata) in Russia, as well as the Russian professional and occupational communication
  • Describe specific Russian features of interpersonal communication, communication across genders, and the generational discourse systems.
  • Have competencies needed to tell and understand a good story.
Course Contents

Course Contents

  • Intercultural Communication as an Academic Discipline
  • Culture in Intercultural Communication
  • Theory of Communication
  • Culture’s Impact on Communication: Politeness
  • Communication in Organizational Contexts
  • Social Stratification and Occupational Cultures in Russia
  • Interpersonal Communication
  • Culture as a Narrative
Assessment Elements

Assessment Elements

  • non-blocking Quiz 1
    Depending on the topic, the quizzes may include from 10 to 25 questions varying in their level of difficulty. You can retake the quizzes every 8 hours -- only the highest score counts.
  • non-blocking Quiz 2
  • non-blocking Quiz 8
  • non-blocking Essay 1
    Peer-reviewed assignment
  • non-blocking Essay 2
    Peer-reviewed assignment
  • non-blocking Quiz 3
  • non-blocking Quiz 4
  • non-blocking Quiz 5
  • non-blocking Quiz 6
  • non-blocking Quiz 7
Interim Assessment

Interim Assessment

  • 2022/2023 1st module
    0.05 * Quiz 1 + 0.1 * Quiz 5 + 0.1 * Quiz 2 + 0.1 * Quiz 8 + 0.1 * Quiz 7 + 0.1 * Essay 1 + 0.1 * Quiz 6 + 0.15 * Essay 2 + 0.1 * Quiz 3 + 0.1 * Quiz 4
Bibliography

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

  • Spencer-Oatey, H., & Kotthoff, H. (2007). Handbook of Intercultural Communication. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=247550

Recommended Additional Bibliography

  • Hofstede, G. H., Hofstede, G. J., & Minkov, M. (2010). Cultures and Organizations : Software of the Mind: Intercultural Cooperation and Its Importance for Survival (Vol. 3rd ed). New York: McGraw-Hill. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=351480
  • J. L. Austin. (2020). How To Do Things With Words. Barakaldo Books.

Authors

  • PERLOVA YULIYA VALEREVNA
  • SHNYRKOVA ANNA SERGEEVNA