Interpersonal Communication in Cross-cultural Context
Name：
HUANG Shaorong
Nationality：
United States
Academic Title：Professor
Home University
University of Cincinnati
（From）：
Email Address： shaorong.huang@uc.edu
Undergraduate
English
N/A
Lecture and Discussion
Attendance and participation：10%
four exams: 60%
Application logs: 30%
2 credits
Dr. Shaorong Huang, professor of English and communication at University of
Cincinnati, USA, received his B.A. and M.A. in English Language and Literature from
Xi’an International Studies University, and taught English there for 12 years. In
1989, he went to Bowling Green State University, Ohio, USA as a visiting scholar,
teaching English composition classes while receiving M.A. in American Literature
in 1991 and Ph.D. in Speech Communication in 1994. His research interest is in
political rhetoric and cross-cultural communication. From 1994 to 1996, he taught
at Ivy Tech State College of Indiana. Since 1996, he has been an assistant professor,
associate professor and full professor at University of Cincinnati. He was tenured
in 2002. Since 2007, he has been hired as lecture professor by Xi’an International
Studies University, and since 2012 he has been hired as lecture professor by Renmin
University of China. In the 1980s, he co-authored as the first author three books,
including one translation, and published 5 research articles. In America, he has
published one research book, 17 academic articles, and 6 book chapters, and presented
nearly 30 papers at various national and international conferences. He is also
a co-editor for the College English Conversation textbook (volumes 1-4) in the Beyond
Concept textbook series published in 2010 by Renmin University of China Press. His
translation, introduction and annotation of the Kunqu Opera The Romance of the
Western Chamber was published be Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press in
2013. Dr. Huang has joined several academic organizations. Currently, he is
president of the Association of Chinese Professors in Social Sciences in the United
States, and council member of United Societies of Chin Studies.
This course introduces theory and practice in interpersonal communication in
cross-cultural context. Topics include verbal and nonverbal communication,
perception and self-perception, listening, emotions, relationship development,
conflict management. Focus is on the development of an understanding of
fundamental interpersonal dynamics and basic skills from cross-cultural
communication perspectives.
4 teaching hours each class, 2-3 classes each week for 3-4 weeks (total 32 teaching
hours)
Week one:
1.Interpersonal communication process and communication competence
2. Cultural inferences on self-concept, identity management and self-disclosure
3. Perception process, perception tendencies, and perception under cultural and
other
4. Exam One (covering Chapters 1, 3 & 4)；Discussion on application logs；The first
two application logs are due
Week 2:
1. Interpersonal communication in a changing world—culture and social networking
2. The nature of language, the impact of language, and gender as well as cultural
differences in the use of language
3. Nonverbal communication—characteristics, functions, types, and its cultural
influences
4. Exam Two (covering Chapters 2, 5 & 6)；Discussion on application logs；The second
two application logs are due
Week 3:
1. Effective listening—components, types, challenges and cultural influences
2. Cultural and other influences on emotional expression, improving emotional
expression, and managing difficult emotions
3. Communication with friends and family, and cross-cultural consideration in
intimate
4. Exam Three (covering Chapters 7, 8 & 12)；Discussion on application logs；The
third two application logs are due
Week 4:
1. Dynamics of interpersonal relationships—formation, improvement, repair, and
consideration of cultural differences
2. Communication climate—creating positive ones and transforming negative ones
3. Managing conflict—culture and gender as important variables in conflict styles
and conflict management
4. Exam Four (covering Chapters 9, 10 & 11)；Course evaluation
Adler, Rosenfeld, Towne & Proctor (2013). Interplay: The Process of
Interpersonal Communication, Twelfth Edition. New York: Oxford University Press.
Hangouts TBD