ES 318 Intercultural Communications (GER) - A.Wolters, A.W. D.Arykbaeva

January 17, 2014

Course Syllabus
Department: European Studies
Course: Intercultural Communication (german)
ID: ES 318
Semester / Year: Spring 2014
Course Organizer: Alexander Wolters, PhD
Credits: 3
American University of Central Asia
Academic Year 2013/2014
AUCA – European Studies – Spring 2014 – Intercultural Communcation

Course description, Goals & Objectives
Intercultural Communication refers to a given set of skills and methods to move with increased
awareness between different cultures. Most often this movement is considered to take part between
different national cultures. In this course we want to give students of European Studies enough
background knowledge about German culture and to make them aware of their own cultural
expectations, traditions and behavior, which will help students in encounters with any culture and
will foster a feeling of curiosity and understanding. To do so we will practice methods of social
research and train interview techniques as well as text analysis. A final aim of the course is to
practice conversational German language.

Course Organiser
The Course Organiser is Alexander Wolters
European Studies Department, American University of Central Asia
wolters_a@auca.kg / alexanderwolters13@googlemail.com

Teaching methods
Small lectures, discussion-rounds, writing exercises, presentations. Each student is required to fulfill a
great variety of different but rather small tasks. The main tasks – small researches into own culture and
into German culture – are done as teamwork. In order for the class to “work” it is tremendously
important that all assignments are done on time and with adequate attention.

Organization of the course:
1. I will divide students into small groups for presentations.
2. Participation in the class is obligatory for students writing senior thesis. Missing of classes for
more than three times will result in final grade “D”, missing more than six times will result
in final grade “F”.
3. Students should submit during the semester several works documents:
1. Presentation about Culture in Germany & Europe
Submission the day following presentation!
2. Mit-term paper (1000 words)
Deadline is March 2, 2014, 23.59
3. Presentation about Culture in Central Asia
Submission the day following presentation!
4. Final Paper (1500 words).
Deadline is May 2, 2014, 23.59

STUDENTS MUST HAND IN ASSIGNMENTS IN TIME. LATE SUBMISSIONS
WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED!!
4. Students will be required to make formal presentations in class: on their research, on methods
in general and on our topics of cultural encounters.

Changes to the syllabus
Additional assessments will not be added to the syllabus; however I reserve the right to alter reading
or/and topics to meet the needs of the students taking the course. Additional readings may be
scheduled if they relate to specific problems researching cultural differences. A reader with all
necessary texts will be provided for the course in the e-course system.

Plagiarism
For any written assessment the AUCA Essay Writing and Anti-plagiarism Rules apply. In
addition, students should submit a statement certifying that the paper has been written independently,
that no assistance and source other than those stated has been used and that quotations have been
marked as such.
AUCA – European Studies – Spring 2014 – Intercultural Communcation
Students are expected to think for themselves and to express themselves in their own words. In that
limited sense their work should be original. It must not be plagiarised. Plagiarism is the appropriation
of another person’s thoughts or words without attribution. Plagiarism is an offence against Academy
Rules and leads to the failure of the course (F grade).

Attendance
All students enrolled for the course are required to attend all seminars. A register of attendance at
any meeting of the class will be taken.

Practicalities
Students are expected to turn up on time to class, to listen when the Course Organiser or one of the
peers is talking, to hand in work on time. Students absent without good reason, constantly late in
person or with their work, have ‘negative participation’ in class will be dropped from the class (F
grade). If you are ill, provide immediately in the following class a certificate validated by AUCA
infirmary. This is student’s own responsibility and this duty does not need reminding by instructor.
Certificates presented only at the end of the course are not valid.

Requirements
Participation 20%
Presentations 20%
Mid-Term 25%
Final Paper (Thesis Draft) 35%

Concerns about progress
It is the policy of the course that students worried about progress in individual subjects may discuss
their work (including, in broad terms, how they went wrong in units of assessment) with the Course
Organiser. Students worried about progress in writing may discuss their work with me and with their
supervisor.

Special needs
Students with special needs are encouraged to bring this information to the attention (in
confidence) of the Course Organiser and Supervisor.
AUCA – European Studies – Spring 2014 – Intercultural Communcation

Course Schedule
Week Date Subject
1 14.1.2014
16.1.2014
Introduction into Syllabus and Assessment of German language skills
Vorstellung des Syllabus und Einschätzung der Sprachkenntnisse in
Deutsch
Content of the Course, Assignment of Teams and Scheduling
Presentations
Kursinhalte, Gruppenbildung und Terminabsprache für Präsentationen
2 21.1.2014
23.1.2014
Intercultural Communication (IC): Terms & Understandings
Interkulturelle Kommuniktion (IK): Begriffe & Verständnisse
Theorizing Intercultural Communication: A little bit of Critique
Interkulturelle Kommunikation theoretisch: Ein wenig Kritik
3 28.1.2014
30.1.2014
Typical German?: How to deal with Stereotypes
Typisch Deutsch?: Über den Umgang mit Stereotypen
Typical Kyrgyz?: Deconstructing Stereotypes
Typisch Kirgisisch?: Stereotype dekonstruieren
4 4.2.2014
6.2.2014
Doing Research: What to use Interviews for in IC?
Forschung Betreiben: Über den Nutzen von Interviews in IK.
Doing Research: How to study Texts in IC?
Forschung Betreiben: Wie liest man Texte in IK?
5 11.2.2014
13.2.2014
Dealing with Time and the role of Order!
Der Umgang mit Zeit, die Rolle von Ordnung!
Work, Leisure Time and Sport in Germany
Arbeit, Freizeit und Sport in Deutschland
6 18.2.2014
20.2.2014
Family and Relationships: Private life in Germany
Familie und Beziehungen: Privates Leben in Deutschland
Youth and sub-cultures: Movie - “Full Metal Village”
Jugend und Subkulturen: Movie – “Full Metal Village”
7 25.2.2014
27.2.2014
Presentations on Topics
Presentations on Topics
8 4.3.2014
6.3.2014
Variety of Cultural Lives in Germany: Ethnic Groups and Migration
Kulturelle Lebensvielfalt in Deutschland: Ethnische Gruppen und
Migration
Variety of Cultural Lives in Germany: Life in the village
Kulturelle Lebensvielfalt in Deutschland: Leben im Dorf
9 11.3.2014
13.3.2014

SPRING BREAK
SPRING BREAK
10 18.3.2014
20.3.2014
Variety of Cultural Lives in Germany: Alternative Life-styles
Kulturelle Lebensvielfalt in Deutschland: Alternative Lebensstile
Variety of Cultural Lives in Germany: Religion in Everyday Life
Kulturelle Lebensvielfalt in Deutschland: Religion im Alltag
11 25.3.2014
27.3.2014
The State in Germany
Der Staat in Deutschland
Life with Administration and Insurances in Germany
Leben mit Verwaltung und Versicherungen in Deutschland
12 1.4.2014
3.4.2014
Political Parties in Germany: Youth Groups and Social Activism
Parteienleben in Deutschland: Jugendgruppen und Soziales
Engagement
School and Education in Germany
Schule und Bildung in Deutschland
13 8.4.2014 Civil Society I: Trade Unions and the German “Verein”
AUCA – European Studies – Spring 2014 – Intercultural Communcation
10.4.2014
Zivilgesellschaft I: Gewerkschaften und Vereine
Civil Society II: Citizen's initiatives and Protests
Zivilgesellschaft II: Bürgerinitiativen und Proteste
14 15.4.2014
17.4.2014
Presentations on Topics
Presentations on Topics
15 22.4.2014
24.4.2014
The Cultures in the German Cultures: Regional Differences
Die Kulturen in der deutschen Kultur: Regionale Unterschiede
Dialects in the German Language
Dialekte im Deutschen
16 29.4.2014
1.5.2014
Final Discussion and Summary
Abschluss & Zusammenfassung
Labor Day (no class)
Attendance Sheet:
# Name Date of Presentation
in Class

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