2024/2025

Language, Culture and Intercultural Communication

Type: Minor

Delivered by: Department of Foreign Languages

Where: School of Arts and Humanities

Open to: students of all HSE University campuses

Instructors: Natalia A. Nikitina, Tatiana Tsarapkina, Natalia V. Ursul

Language: English

ECTS credits: 5

Course Syllabus

Abstract

This course introduces students to the key concepts related to languages, cultures and intercultural communication, which are fundamental to language learning and teaching. It will focus on the social and cultural contexts of languages and how language reflects culture and society, and what this means for communication and language teaching. In the part that focuses on intercultural communication, the students will build cultural awareness and will learn how to communicate effectively with members of other cultures, including business settings, and how best to approach and deal with intercultural problems and challenges. The course will also focus on such topics as the theory of linguistic relativity, language varieties, English accents and dialects, endangered languages, language policy and language and power. In addition, this course will review basic linguistic concepts related to language teaching.

Learning Objectives

• To develop knowledge of key concepts related to languages, cultures and intercultural communication, which are fundamental to language learning and teaching;
• To develop/improve cultural awareness;
• To improve intercultural communication skills;
• To develop the skill of analyzing language for teaching purposes;
• To improve academic presentation skills.

Expected Learning Outcomes

• The students will develop knowledge of key concepts related to languages, cultures and intercultural communication, which are fundamental to language learning and teaching;
• the students will develop/improve cultural awareness;
• the students will improve intercultural communication skills;
• the students will develop the skill of analyzing language for teaching purposes;
• the students will improve academic presentation skills.

Course Contents

• Language, Society, and Culture
• Culture and Cultural Diversity
• Communication Styles in Intercultural Communication
• Noise/Interference in Communication Processes
• Approaches to Cultural Studies. Intercultural Business Communication
• Assessing One’s Level of Intercultural Awareness and Intelligence
• The Theory of Linguistic Relativity
• Sociolinguistics. Regional Language Variation
• Sociolinguistics. Words and Culture
• Persuasive Language
• Bilingualism and Language Policy
• The Components of Language
• Phonetics and Phonology: The Sounds of Language
• Morphology: The Analysis of Words
• Syntax: The analysis of sentences. Pedagogical Grammar
• Semantics and Pragmatics
• Discourse and discourse analysis

Assessment Elements

• Online game
  How Different is Different (online game)
• Tests/quizzes
  3. Tests, quizzes, homework Assessment criteria Assessment criteria vary for each task
• Language Analysis
• Classroom interaction/homework
• Project Presentation
  Exam

Interim Assessment

• 2024/2025 2nd module
  0.25 * Project Presentation + 0.15 * Classroom interaction/homework + 0.2 * Language Analysis + 0.25 * Online game + 0.15 * Tests/quizzes

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

• Novinger, T. (2001). Intercultural Communication : A Practical Guide: Vol. 1st ed. University of Texas Press.
• Randy Charles. (2018). Communication Skills. National Highlights Inc.

Recommended Additional Bibliography

• Agarwal, O. P. (2010). Effective Communication: Vol. Rev. ed. Himalaya Publishing House.

Authors

• PAVLOV VLADIMIR VLADIMIROVICH
• URSUL Natalia VALEREVNA