English for Intercultural Communication is one of the functional/applied English courses offered to graduate and postgraduate students. The course has been designed for students at the minimum B1-B2 (intermediate-upper intermediate) level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, i.e. learners should be self-sufficient users of English and able to interact with a certain degree of fluency and spontaneity. The approach is interactive with exercises that encourage students to reflect on their own attitudes and experience. The aim is to introduce students to the subject and provide basis for the treatment of intercultural communication functions. The course is designed around common intercultural skills needed in international business. The course tries to offer both informal and formal examples. The topics discussed include various models of culture, cultural values and stereotypes, the use of international English, cultural patterns and strategies and avoiding misunderstanding.

Credits are awarded for pro-active participation and submitting a portfolio

The course is completed with an oral exam (a discussion over the portfolio and intercultural topics covered in the course)

Assessment criteria include:

Language competence (level B1-B2)

Knowledge

Pro-active approach

Communicative/Intercultural Communicative Competence in practice

Primary resources:

Gibson R.: Intercultural Business Communication, OUP, ISBN 978-0-19-442180-5

Dignen, B.and Chamberlain,J.(2009).50 ways to improve you Intercultural Skills, ISBN: 978-1-902741-85-7

Secondary resources:

Schmidt, P.: In Search of Intercultural Understanding, 2007, Vienna: Meridian World Press, ISBN:

Lewis, R.: When cultures collide, 2005, London: Nicholas Brealey Publishing, ISBN 978-1-90483802-9

Mackenzie, I:English for Business Communication, 1997, CUP

Jones, L.: Working In English, ISBN 9780521776844

• What is culture and multiculturality; intercultural theories

• Understanding myself, my cultural values; creating personal portfolio

• Cultural and language context in communication

• International English as a lingua franca

• Cultural stereotypes

• Cultural patterns and strategies

• Cultural dimensions

• Miscommunication in communication

• Which language mistakes cause misunderstanding and how to avoid them

• Intercultural communicative competence – listening effectively

• Intercultural communicative competence – speaking clearly

• Intercultural communicative competence – cultural diversity

• Portfolio evaluation, self-reflection