Iws №2 (4 hours)

Theme: The history of Intercultural communication

Subtheme #1: Individualistic and Collectivistic Cultures

Task 1: Writing: information sheet

1. Your local tourist office has asked you to write an information sheet (about 250 words) for visitors to your country. The purpose is to inform foreigners about any culturally sensitive issues so that they avoid offending local people by mistake.

2. Before writing discuss with other students possible topics for inclusion in your information sheet. Make a list, for example: gestures, greetings, going to someone’s house for dinner etc.

If you have trouble coming up with ideas, think about

• times you have accidentally offended people when travelling abroad;

• things that visitors to your country sometimes do that cause offence.

3. Choose three or four areas that are culturally sensitive to include in your information sheet. Make notes of points for inclusion under each heading. For example:

Greetings

1. with people you don’t know. 3. men/women to female friends.

Either a handshake or nothing Either a single kiss on the cheek or nothing

2. men to male friends. 4. in business situations.

Either a handshake or nothing Usually a handshake will be appropriate in most contexts

4. Planning your information sheet

a. What title will you give your information sheet so as to make it interesting and attractive to your audience?

b. How many sections will you have in your information sheet and what headings will you use for each one?

c. Will you need to use a more formal or informal style with the audience you are writing for?

d. What is the purpose of your information sheet (e.g. to inform, warn and advise)? How will this affect the language you use? (Remember, you don’t want to put visitors off coming to your country!)

e. How will you introduce the topics you cover in each section? (Remember, you don’t want to make your customs and values seem illogical to visitors.)

5. Write the first draft of your information sheet.

6. Check your first draft by answering these questions:

• Does the general heading make you want to read the sheet?

• Is there a helpful introduction?

• Are the different paragraphs clear and complete? Does each paragraph have its own heading?

• Are linking words/expressions used in an appropriate way?

• Does the information sheet inform in a clear and readable way?

• Is the style appropriate for the target reader?

7. Reread your information sheet and decide how you will change it.

8. Rewrite your information sheet.

Form of control: Writing information sheet

Time to pass: March, 2013

Siw №3 (4 hours)

Theme: Communication as Basic Linguistic Functions

Subtheme #1: Visual means of culture

Task 1: Culture has been represented as an onion, where the metaphorical layers of the onion stand for layers of culture which can be peeled away to reveal underlying basic assumptions from the outer to the inner level’s of one’s cultural identity.

Can you think of other visual models of culture? Give three or more examples and make a Power Point Presentation according to your model in order to make it understandable to the audience.

Task 2. Make a presentation on the following themes and prepare self evaluation questions, pragmatic-professional tasks. Illustrate your findings with tables, schemes.

1) The role of Intercultural communication in your specialty

2) Basic directions of the ICC development

3) Types of communication and its role in ICC

4) Benefits of ICC

5) Components of ICC

6) Culture approaches to culture

7) Culture shock

8) Values, belief, attitudes in different cultures

9) Stereotypical characteristics of different nations

10) Cultural conflict

Form of control: Slide show presentation of a research work.

Time to pass: March, 2013

Task 3. Make an outline of a special lecture or seminar devoted to the theme “Stereotypical descriptions and communication behavior”. In your outline you may include the following factors:

- aims and principles of the lecture or seminar

- problem tasks or questions related to the theme

- introduction, body and conclusion of your presentation

- list of used literature

- typical tasks to fulfill.

Form of control: Making an outline of a lecture or seminar

Time to pass: March, 2013

MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND EDUCATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

KAZAKH ABLAI KHAN UNIVERSITY OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND WORLD LANGUAGES

CHAIR OF THEORY OF LINGUISTICS AND COMMUNICATION

TASKS

for

SIW

MODULE 2

Almaty, 2012-2013

Tasks for individual work of students on Basics of Intercultural Communication

4 course. 8 semester

2012-2013 a.y.

Module 2

IWS №4 ( 4 hours)

Theme: Understanding, values, and attitudes

Task 1: Follow the task below and compare with your country’s culture.

In every country, a great deal about the culture is revealed by the media, which includes the following:

Book/Poetry

Newspapers

Magazines

Radio

Television

Movies/Theatre

Songs and music

- Try to find English translations of the most famous works of the best known authors in your country. Compare them and find out the similarities and differences between your culture and others. Then go to the local bookstore and look over the selection. What books are the most popular? Which subjects have the most books devoted to them? What subjects aren’t covered or are barely covered? What are common topics to be discussed?

- Read an English language paper in your country for insight into numerous aspects of the country and culture. What different sections does the newspaper have and who is intended audience for them?

- Read any English language magazines you can find. What topics are discussed and what is said? Study the advertisements and pictures. Which topics or areas of interest have the most magazines devoted to them? What topics are missing?

- Listen to English language radio programs. Which are the most popular programs and why? Who listens to the radio and when they listen?

- Watch television, whether you understand the language or not. What kind of shows are the most common? What kind of stories, people, events are depicted?

- Go to foreign-made-films and notice audience reactions. Ask people why they come to these films. Ask them which films they like better and why.

- Listen to English songs. What kind of music and songs are the most popular?

Form of control: Making an outline of a lecture or seminar

Time to pass: April, 2013