Course Name Year Term Period Faculty / Graduate School All Instructors Credits
16662:RUIR-2232 Cultural Awareness and Communication (course jointly designed)(JD) 2024 Spring Thu1 College　Of　International　Relations KOGA BROWES SCOTT P. 2

Campus

KIC

Class Venue

KOSHINKAN　KS306

Language

English

Course Outline and Method

This course offers a critical approach to the field of Cross-Cultural Communication by introducing students to ideas of 'culture' and 'identity'. An understanding of these two concepts is fundamental to all human interaction and a knowledge of the worldwide variations found will enhance the ability of students to communicate successfully across boundaries at all levels. We also look at the importance of language in understanding cultures, and variations in fundamental understandings of such concepts as 'space' and 'time' which are shared by human beings around the world. The emphasis of the course is on human commonalities, rather than surface differences.

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Student Attainment Objectives

Students will acquire a broad-based understanding of the development of social and academic understandings of ‘culture’ and will examine how these various approaches continue to interact in contemporary discussions which make use the idea of culture. The course draws on a wide variety of materials drawn from such diverse disciplines as evolutionary biology, developmental and social psychology, sociolinguistics, and so on. In this way it attempts to break down the nebulous field of ‘culture’ into better defined areas, open to more rigorous examination.

Students will examine the sources of their own notions of culture, and those they may have been introduced to through formal education; the importance attached to language in defining ‘cultural’ groupings, and the potential artificiality of groups so defined; the various means to which modern states have put ‘culture’. They will also look at a variety of academic approaches used in discussions of culture, and intercultural communication, and examine the assumptions behind those approaches and their resulting relative strengths and limitations.

Students will ask significant questions about the significance of potential definitions of culture, the feasibility of such constructs as ‘national cultures’ and ‘national languages’, and the motivations which are perhaps at the root of societies’ continuing interest in using notions of ‘culture’ as an ideological tool.

Upon successful completion of this course students will:
• have started to develop critical skills which allow them to understand, assess and evaluate information in relation to its cultural context
• have had opportunity to reflect on their own cultural identity and how it may influence their interaction with individuals from different cultures
• be aware of and understand a variety of approaches to the concept of 'culture'
• be aware of similarities and differences across a variety types of human social groups


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Recommended Preparatory Course

Course Schedule

Lecture/Instructor（When there are multiple instructors) Theme
Keyword, References and Supplementary Information
1

Introductions and Course Outline

What this course is about and (perhaps more importantly!) what it isn't about.

Submission: Reflection Paper 1

2

Understanding the field of Intercultural Communication

The birth of studies of ‘Cross/Intercultural Communication’. E.T. Hall and the Foreign Service Institute. “The Silent Language” and the classic IC Paradigm.

• Ch.1, The Genealogy of Intercultural Communication. Piller, I. (2010) Intercultural communication: A Critical Introduction. Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh.

• Selections from Brockman, M. J. (2015) This idea must die: scientific theories that are blocking progress. Harper Collins,

3

Concepts of Culture:1

Changing conceptions of the notion of ‘culture’. How did we get to where we are now? Culture as ‘growth’, culture as a ‘standard’, the emergence of ‘mass’ culture. Essentialist attitudes to culture.

• Excerpts from Arnold, M. (1911) Culture & anarchy: an essay in political and social criticism. Macmillan and Company, London.

4

Concepts of Culture:2

Postwar thinking on ‘culture’, the culture onion. Norms, values and beliefs. Cultural relativism and complexity.

• Dahl, S.  (2004)  Intercultural Research: The Current State of Knowledge.  SSRN eLibrary.

5

Dimensions of Culture

Quantitative approaches, survey methodology. The influence of Hofstede and Trompenaars.

• McSweeney, B.  (2002)  Hofstede's model of national cultural differences and their consequences: A triumph of faith - a failure of analysis.  Human Relations,  55(1):89

Submission: Reflection Paper 2

6

Distinguishing 'Cultures'

Other approaches to dividing up human groups; cognitive styles, brain function, and (banal) nationalism.

7

Language and Culture: 1

The ‘language=nation=culture’ paradigm. Identity and sociolinguistics.

• Ch.5, Nation and Culture. Piller, I. (2010) Intercultural communication: A Critical Introduction. Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh.

8

Language and Culture: 2 - World Languages Now

The value of language, linguistic imperialism, language preservation and death.

• Martí, F. (2005) Words and worlds: World languages review. Multilingual Matters.

Submission: Reflection Paper 3

9

Non-verbal communication

Proxemics, gesture and ‘paralanguage’ as bearers of social meaning.

• Ch.4 Styles, Gender and Social Class. Spolsky, B. (1998) Sociolinguistics. Oxford University Press, Oxford.

Submission: Proposal for final essay

10

Writing on 'culture' - dos and don'ts

Writing an essay for this course. Feedback and discussion of proposed essay topics.

11

Perceptions of Time

Human perceptions of time. Chronemics: ‘monochronic’ and ‘polychronic’ attitudes. Time related language and gestures.

• Brislin, R. W. and Kim, E. S.  (2003)  Cultural diversity in people's understanding and uses of time.  Applied Psychology,  52(3):363–382

12

Perceptions of Space

Proxemics. Conceptions of position and direction. Language and space.
In-class experiment: Up, down, left and right - testing and measuring language-related spatial perceptions (Reflection paper: 3)

• Brown, P. and Levinson, S. C.  (1993)  'Uphill' and 'downhill' in Tzeltal.  Journal of Linguistic Anthropology,  3(1):46–74

Submission: Annotated bibliography of material to be used in final essay

13

Culture Shock

Intercultural encounters: the U and W curves. Transition Stress, measuring and ‘life change units’.

• Transition Shock: Putting Culture Shock into Perspective. Bennett, M. J. (1998) Basic concepts of intercultural communication: Selected readings. Intercultural Press, Boston MA; London.

14

The Politics of Culture: 1

Culture as nationalism. 'Nihonjin-ron' writing, gendered and classed cultures.

• Burgess, C.  (2004)  Maintaining identities: Discourses of homogeneity in a rapidly globalizing Japan.  electronic journal of contemporary Japanese studies.

15

The Politics of Culture: 2

Culture and identity. Stereotyping, categorisation, identification and social groups.
• Sen, A. (2007) Identity and violence: The illusion of destiny. Penguin Books.

Submission: Reflection Paper 4, Final Essay

Class Format

As far as possible classes will be held in person; some classes may be held online (live or video-on-demand ) if circumstances require.

Recommendations for Private Study

This course requires you to read through class materials before each session; please read as much as possible and be prepared to ask and answer questions about the ideas contained in the readings. These readings will also give you ideas for essay subjects, and may be used as reference material for your final essay.

Grade Evaluation Method

Kind Percentage Grading Criteria etc.
Final Examination (Written) 0

Report Examination
(A report to be submitted by the unified deadline)		 0

Exams and/or Reports other than those stated above, and Continuous Assessment　
(Evaluation of Everyday Performance in Class)		 100

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'Attendance and participation': 30%
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• 'Attendance' (see note below): 10%
• Reflection papers 1-4: each 5% (total 20%)

As a general rule, efforts will be made to provide as many attendance options (ie. ways to attend class) as possible. I will make sure that students are aware in advance of how they can 'attend' class for any given session. I cannot at the moment promise that all modes of attendance will be available for all classes.

Details will be given to students at the start of the semester and updated according to changes in the public health situation or university guidelines.

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FINAL ESSAY : 70%
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Final essay mark consists of three parts:
• Topic Proposal: 5%
• Annotated Bibliography: 20%
• Final essay submission: 45%

Essay due: end of semester (exact date TBA)

Word count: 2000 (+/- 200 words)

This is an 'argumentative essay' on a subject of your choice, it will require you to;
• choose a topic related to the content covered during the course
• provide evidence of independent reading
• provide evidence of the ability to reason logically
• refer to appropriate sources and cite and reference them properly
• use appropriate presentation and style.

A rubric showing how the essay will be graded will be provided near the start of the course.

You will also need to submit, at specified points throughout the course:
1) an initial research question or topic proposal and,
2) a short annotated bibliography of the sources you intend to use for your final essay.

Deadlines for these pieces of assessed work will be confirmed during the first weeks of the course.

All reflection papers and essay-related submissions will be through manaba.

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Grade Evaluation Method （Note）

The content of the course will not change substantively, however the presentation and order of the sessions may vary to account for class numbers, the need to accommodate 'make-up' classes etc. Similarly, I may adjust the details of the assessment depending on the number of participants, I will ensure that students are kept informed of any proposed changes in a timely manner.



Plagiarism
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Please be aware that I use the Turnitin service to check all written submissions. If you want to know more or have objections to your work being submitted for plagiarism checking, please discuss it with me. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are aware of what constitutes plagiarism and of the university's policies regarding plagiarised work.

Plagiarism will lead, at very least, to reduced grades, and in serious cases may lead to the student becoming subject to disciplinary procedures.


Use of Generative-AI
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Submissions will also be checked - using Turnitin and other tools as necessary - for content which seems to be generated by AI.

Students are warned that use of software tools that 'rewrite' or 'rephrase' written material, and tools (such as Grammarly) that offer grammar corrections and suggestions, may lead to text being identified as 'AI-generated'. It is suggested that all work submitted for assessment should be the product of the student's own individual work. Use of AI-based tools may leave the student open to accusations of receiving outside help with their work.

This is a rapidly-changing phenomenon; all apparent infractions will be dealt with on an individual basis. Depending on the circumstances, students may be asked to resubmit work or, in serious instances, may become subject to disciplinary procedures.


Attendance
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YOU are responsible for your participation in this course, I will not remind you to attend class, I will not keep track of your class attendance for you, and I will not remind to hand in work on time.


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Advice to Students on Study and Research Methods

Textbooks

Textbooks （Frequency of Use, Note）

Reference Books

Reference Books （Frequency of Use, Note）

Web Pages for Reference

How to Communicate with the Instructor In and Out of Class(Including Instructor Contact Information)

Learning Management System （manaba+R）,Talk with Students,Other (Separate instructions will be provided)

Other Comments

Students can contact me by email: spkb@fc.ritsumei.ac.jp

Please include the letters CAC in the subject line, this will help me find and respond to your mail.

I may sometimes take a day or two to get back to you so if it is something urgent, please also include the word URGENT in the subject.


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