Chaminade University of Honolulu
COM 310-Intercultural Communication
Fall 2004

Instructor: Naomi Takashiro
Home phone: 306-4649
Fax: 394-1909
E-mail: takashiron@earthlink.net
Time: Fri. 5:30-9:40

Course Description:
This class is designed for students who want to understand the basic knowledge of the Intercultural Communication field and are new to the field. This class will cover both theories and practical applications for students to become effective intercultural communicators.

Course Objectives:
* To provide students with the basic theories and practices in the Intercultural Communication field.
* To help students become more sensitive and effective in communicating in intercultural situations. 

Text: 
Communication Between Cultures, L. Samovar & R. Porter, 2004, Wadsworth/Thomson Learning 

Evaluation:
* Class participation—5%
* Student presentation—20%
* A summary of the book—15%
* Mid term—20%
* Final exam—40%

A: 90-100%, B: 80-89%, C: 70-79%, D: 60-69%, F: 0-59%

Guidelines for Exams and the Presentation
It is the student’s responsibility to take the exams and give the presentation on the designated days, which are set by the instructor. If students miss the exams or the presentation for any reason without contacting the instructor before the class, students will lose the opportunity to take these tests or give the presentations.
If students cannot take them on the assigned days due to unavoidable circumstances, please contact the instructor before the class begins by either e-mailing at takashiron@earthlink.net or leaving a message on the answering machine at 306-4649 so that the instructor may arrange a makeup exam or a presentation date. 
If students cannot show up on their presentation day, and send a prior notice to the instructor about the unavoidable circumstances, students must still send their papers to the instructor via e-mail by midnight on the day of the scheduled presentation. If students encounter any problems in sending the document, they will still be held accountable for it. If students already know that they cannot take certain tests or give the presentation in advance, they must take the tests or give the presentation before the specified dates. Otherwise, students will lose the opportunity to take the tests or give the presentation. A note explaining why the student had to miss a regularly scheduled test or a scheduled presentation day will be required. 

Guidelines for Attendance and Class Participation
Attendance will not be counted as part of the grade; however, the instructor is requested to report the students’ attendance to the school. Students are expected to attend class regularly and on time. 
When students are absent from the class for any reasons, getting notes and handouts from their peers is important because some test items may come from those classroom discussions. 
“Class participation” includes asking questions, making comments, answering the instructor’s questions, participating in the exercises and role-plays. Students who hesitate to speak up in class should contribute in the smaller group discussions, at least when they are in the room that the instructor is observing. 

The Use of Cell Phones
Students’ cell phones should be turned off during the class hours. If students must turn on cell phones due to work related issues, please mention that to the instructor.

Schedule (subject to changes)

Chapters are to be read by date listed.

Oct	8	Introduction to Course, Understanding Culture, The Influence of Culture (pp. 2-18, 46-48, 
53-60, 265-272,”power” is not included. 275-276, 5th edition pp. 2-15, pp. 297-300, pp. 28-50)
A reading assignment for the next week will be given.

15	American Cultural Patterns, Diverse Cultural Patterns (pp. 60-86, 187-191, 5th edition pp. 50-78)

	22	Culture & Language, Nonverbal Communication. (pp. 136-161, 164-187, 191-193, 5th edition pp. 138-164, pp. 166-199)

29	Stages of Cultural Adaptation: (U & W-curve), (pp. 273-275, 292-294, 5th edition pp. 294-297, pp. 325-327) A study guide for the mid term will be given. 

Nov. 	5	Review of Key Learnings plus MID TERM, A reading assignment for the next week will be given. 

12	Cultural Influence on Context: The Educational Setting, (pp. 218-235, 5th edition pp. 232-254) Intercultural Conflict, Intercultural Marriage (No reading assignment)

19	Intercultural Competencies and Effectiveness
(pp. 277-292, 5th edition pp. 302-322)
 	
            26        STUDENT PRESENTATIONS ON BOOK REVIEWS, DUE DATE FOR SUMMARY 
OF BOOK

Dec.	3	“catch up” time, Guest Speaker, Cliff Clarke, International business consultant 
“Roles of the Intercultural Consultant, Counselor, Mediator, Facilitator”. Mr. Clarke’s presentation is related to Cultural Influences on Context: The Business Setting (pp. 196-216, 5th edition pp. 202-230)
A study guide for the final exam will be given. 

10	Last day of Instruction, Review of Key Learnings plus FINAL EXAM 

Student Presentation
Students may choose a topic from those below in the Intercultural Communication field. That means you’ll choose a book on people’s interactions in intercultural situations. Read a book and make a presentation based on your summary of the book. Students must not choose books that they have already read. Each student’s presentation should take no longer than 30 minutes.  Students may choose to also engage the class in a short quiz about their presentation or in an exercise related to the book’s theme, thereby involving class members in an alternative learning process, if they like. If students need any equipment (for example, OHP) to conduct a presentation, please let the instructor know a week in advance. Make handouts for the presentation if necessary.
* Intercultural marriage, * Intercultural conflict, * Immigration & refuge resettlement
* Foreign students education, * International mass media, * International business
* Multicultural education

Student presentations will be graded on the following criteria.
* Use of English modification skills (These details will be discussed in class)
* Presentation time (Do not finish earlier than 25 minutes or points might be deducted. But, students’ grades will not be deducted if their presentations go beyond 30 minutes.)
* Clarity of the presentation

A Summary of the Book
Students will submit a summary of the book at the time of the presentation. Put a cover page on the report. The summary must be between 5 to 8 pages and has to include the application of students’ learning to their personal lives at the end of the report at the end of your summary. Students can use their summaries for their presentations. The summary will be graded based on 1) summary of book (not individual’s opinions!!) 2) clarity and organization 3) application to students’ personal lives. Late reports will be reduced one grade for each day. For example, if a student submits a report on the following day, an “A” graded summary will be a “B”.