Download - EnglishAgenda - British Council

You have also been asked to keep a learning journal where you record yourexperiences of studying this course. Your journal entries should take around20 -30 minutes a week.It is probably easiest if you follow the order that the topics are presented in here.However, you can try some of the topics in a different order if you wish and youdo not have to do just one a week. You can do more if you prefer, or miss a weekif you are busy and catch up later. The discussion tasks will need to be started inthe weeks suggested so that everyone can contribute, but they never close so youcan add more thoughts later if you wish. In total the course should take around 15hours and will finish just before the end of term in February next year.When you have successfully finished the course, including contributions tothe discussion forum, you will receive a certificate from the University ofSouthampton indicating that you have undertaken a course in interculturalcommunication and intercultural awareness.*There is a glossary (a list of difficult terms and their definitions) for the topics.Click on the link for any word or phrase in blue to go to the glossary and see thedefinition.Topics and discussion tasks1. Defining cultureCulture is generally something we all feel we know something about, whether itis our own culture or another culture we are familiar with. However, arriving at adefinition of culture is difficult. In these activities you will be introduced to some ofthe different elements of culture and a range of definitions.Week 1 discussion task – Based on the definitions of culture given in the activitiestry to write your own definition of culture.2. Intercultural communicationWhat is the relationship between culture and language? What does this mean inintercultural communication? That is, what is the relationship between languagesand cultures when people from different cultural backgrounds are communicatingusing the same language? In these activities you will consider the relationshipbetween language and culture, with a focus on the English language, and what wemean by intercultural communication.3. Cultural stereotypes and generalisations in communicationWhat do we mean by stereotypes and generalisations? How do they affectintercultural communication? We all have ideas and impressions of our own andother cultures, are they stereotypes or generalisations? Do they help interculturalcommunication or cause problems? In these activities you will distinguish featuresof generalisations and stereotypes and consider some stereotypes about the UKand Thailand.Week 3 discussion task – Have you ever heard or experienced any stereotypesabout Thailand? Are there any stereotypes that you may have had about othercultures?Intercultural Awareness Thailand | 301