Understanding Russians: Contexts of Intercultural Communication

Bachelor 2022/2023

Type: Elective course (Journalism)

Area of studies: Journalism

Delivered by: Institute of Media

Where: Faculty of Creative Industries

When: 3 year, 4 module

Mode of studies: distance learning

Online hours: 20

Open to: students of one campus

Instructors: Alexander Kupriyanov, Tatiana Tikhomirova

Language: English

ECTS credits: 3

Contact hours: 6

Full Syllabus Ask Question

Abstract

Online course “Understanding Russians: Contexts of Intercultural Communications“; 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. Some of the basic questions we will tackle are: • What are the concepts of culture that have the strongest influence on communication? • What are Russian basic cultural values and how they shape modern Russian consciousness? • What are the specific communication patterns of modern Russians, including those of public and electronic discourse? • What is important to know about communication with Russians in organizational contexts? Importantly, this course is NOT just a list of practical instructions of dos and don’ts of dealing with Russians. The course contains a substantial academic component introducing the key notions and concepts of the Theory of Communication, which will be extensively introduced throughout the first few modules of the course. These theoretical grounds will be further on used as a tool for analyzing the intercultural communications with Russians.

Learning Objectives

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.

Expected Learning Outcomes

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.
Build skills in the analysis of the intercultural communication process using Russian-Western communication as an example.

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

Tests
Essays

Interim Assessment

2022/2023 4th module
The final grade calculation rule is published on the online course page.

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

Scollon, R., Jones, R. H., & Scollon, S. W. (2011). Intercultural Communication : A Discourse Approach (Vol. 3rd ed). Hoboken: Wiley-Blackwell. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=471145
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

Ferri, G. (2018). Intercultural Communication : Critical Approaches and Future Challenges. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=1709221
Gill, G. J., & Young, J. (2012). Routledge Handbook of Russian Politics and Society. London: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=441639
Schwartz, S. H. (2012). An Overview of the Schwartz Theory of Basic Values. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.16E8E559
Wierzbicka, A. (2015). Russian cultural scripts: The theory of cultural scripts and its applications. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.12DC4E52

Course Syllabus