3 credits

Intercultural Understanding is one of elective courses provided. This course focuses on gaining an understanding of the concepts associated with culture and communication. This provides the students of the English Education Study Program, Faculty of Teacher Training and Education of Sriwijaya University with basic knowledge on the role of culture, verbal and non-verbal, gestures and postures in communication within different culture. The course provides students the opportunity to develop intercultural awareness and patterns of perception and thinking to enable effective communication across cultural boundaries. Topics discussed include the effect of cultural differences on communication styles, personal identities, and various organizational contexts. This course discusses about understanding cultural awareness; intercultural communication in context; context, perception and reality; understanding cultural beliefs, values and rules; cultural aspects of non-verbal communication; Hofstede’s model of national cultural differences and their consequences: a triumph of faith – a failure of analysis; the effects of gesture and posture on human communication; styles, gender and social class; cross-cultural differences in tourism: Indonesian tourists in Australia; verbal and nonverbal methods for expressing appreciation in friendships and romantic relationships: a cross-cultural comparison; and emotion expression and the locution “I love you”: a cross-cultural study. Through the readings of articles related to this topic, the students can gain knowledge on what scholars have investigated in this field of study.

Based on the program learning outcome, students can show religious, responsible, and academic attitudes and behaviors that can contribute to improving the quality of life in society, nation and state. In this course, students are exposed to master relevant and up-to-date information and communication technology in relation to the intercultural understanding. For general skills, students are expected to have the skills to make the right decisions, professionally and responsibly based on the results of the analysis of information and data to be able to choose various alternative solutions independently and in groups in solving the learning problems they face in accordance with the context to obtain the best learning outcomes and optimal student development, especially in the intercultural understanding. For specific skills, student can use English properly, correctly and fluently according to the context of its use. Moreover, SS2 expects the students to be able to apply theories, concepts, and principles of English pedagogy well in planning, implementing, and evaluating English learning. Lastly, in SS3, students are expected to be able to use relevant and up-to-date information and communication technology in the area of the culture and communication. 

At the end of the course, the students are able to:

  1. develop an understanding the concepts and theories of culture and communication;
  2. analyze cultural values, beliefs, perceptions, and communication styles that are important to build intercultural communication competence;
  3. produce reflective and analytical notes on intercultural communication issues on the basis of social experiments or observations;
  4. respond to texts on intercultural issues orally;
  5. demonstrate cultural diversity in various interactions that involve different cultures;
  6. acquire knowledge and skills to effectively engage in intercultural interactions.