Communication Studies 280 | Intercultural Communication
Fall, 2014 | MWF at 10:30 | Item #0877 | Room L210
Instructor: Jen Anderson
E-mail: jeanders@bellevuecollege.edu or via Canvas Class Website
Phone: (425) 564-4185
Office location: R230P
Office Hours: 10:30-11:30 Tuesday and Thursday | 12:30-1:30 Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Text: Ting-Toomey, S. and Chung, L., Understanding Intercultural Communication, Second Edition
Course Website: Go to http://bc.instructure.com then log into Canvas. Your Username and Password are the
same as your BC Network account. If you are using a PC, FireFox or Google Chrome are compatible
browsers with Canvas. If you are using a Mac, Safari is compatible.
Please Note: This is a HYBRID course. We meet three times a week in class and the remainder of the
course will be completed online in Canvas. It’s imperative that you understand that the online component of
this class is required. You should login to Canvas every weekday this quarter. You cannot successfully
complete this course by missing online deadlines or by participating only minimally in the online environment.
Course Information
This course, Intercultural Communication, aims to increase competence by examining the effects of culture on
both the communication process and each individual. Students taking this course will explore communication
and culture, intercultural messages, the role of context in intercultural communication, how culture affects one’s
identity, communication style, language, and nonverbal communication, and how to improve one’s intercultural
communication competence. We will work on building competence and diplomacy skills when discussing the
many facets that influence intercultural communication.
Course Outcomes
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Explain how environmental factors affect and make cultures different.
Explain how cultural variables influence intercultural competency in communication.
Explain why appropriateness and effectiveness are critical in constructing messages in intercultural
contexts.
Explain how individualism and collectivism affect the communication in intercultural communication
contexts.
Apply various models of cultural values to intercultural interactions.
Define ethnocentrism and social comparison.
Demonstrate your competence in applying the concepts across cultures.
Identify and analyze one’s own cultural identity.
Course Format
“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” -Confucian Idea about Learning
This statement encompasses my thoughts about teaching and is the foundation of my teaching philosophy.
This course is designed to provide multiple ways for you to enhance your intercultural skills and develop a
more comprehensive understanding of the communication processes therein. The objectives will be met
through the use of mini-lectures, readings, video analysis, class discussion, personal reflection, and a group
project. Three quizzes will be administered throughout the quarter, assessing your understanding of, and
ability to apply, intercultural communication concepts covered in the reading and in class. Given this format,
students need to commit to being active participants in class. This area of study contains complex theories
and difficult social science jargon. I will do my best to assist you, but a college reading level and college writing
level in English is needed to succeed in this course.
Grading and Major Assignment Descriptions
Quizzes (3 @ 100 points each)
Quiz One (Chapters 1-4)
Quiz Two (Chapters 5-7)
Quiz Three (Chapters 8-12)
Online Discussion Posts
Intercultural Communication Reflection Paper
Group Project
Homework
Attendance/Online Participation (A/P)
Total
300 points
350 points
100 points
150 points
50 points
50 points
1,000 points
Grading Scale: A = 930-1000; A- = 900-929; B+ = 870-899; B 830-869; B- = 800-829; C+ = 770-799; C =
740-769;
C- = 700-729; D+ = 670-699; D = 630-669; D- = 600-629; F = 0-599
Assigned Reading: You will be assigned reading each week and it is your responsibility to come to class
prepared to participate in class discussions regarding that reading. While many of the concepts covered in the
reading will be discussed in class, there will not be enough time to cover every concept. All concepts covered
in the readings are fair game for the quizzes, so it is imperative that you keep up with the reading and have an
understanding of the communication concepts therein. Each section on the class website has additional
information included in the learning modules that does not appear in your textbook. You are required to know
this information for quizzes as well.
Quizzes: We will take three quizzes online over the course of the quarter. It is imperative that you keep up
with the reading and are in class in order to be prepared for these quizzes. You will receive a quiz review a
week before the each quiz. The quizzes will be open over a four-day period in which you will have one-hour to
complete the quiz.
Intercultural Communication Reflection Paper: This individual project is to encourage you to discover more
about your own cultural identity and reflect on the concepts covered over the course of the quarter. More
information about this assignment will be provided in class and in the Assignments section on the website.
CMST 280 | Fall, 2014
Online Discussion Posts: You will participate in a variety of online discussions throughout the quarter.
These discussions can be accessed through the Discussion icon (thumbtack) in the menu on the class
website. You will answer one question and respond to at least one of your classmates’ posts every week.
Please be sure to read “Posting a Good Discussion” in the Getting Started module on the website.
 Completeness: Each online discussion response has two parts; a.) your initial response and, b.) your
comments to two of your classmates’ responses.
o First, your initial response should be fully developed addressing the question with adequate
examples from your life experience and thoughtful explanation of why or how. (A complete initial
response is typically a minimum of 200 words in length).
o Next, after you complete your initial response to an online question, you should read through
several of your classmates’ responses and choose at least two on which to provide comments.
Often a student will choose to comment on a response that was most helpful to him/her in
understanding the course material better or one that he/she found interesting or intriguing.
o Any comment to a classmate should adequately explain why you found your classmate’s
response helpful, interesting or intriguing. (A complete comment to a colleague is typically 100
words in length.)
 Appropriate Integration of Course Terms: your initial response should appropriately integrate
course terminology and concepts from the assigned reading that is relevant to the video watch or
reading read.
 Format: course terms (key terms from the chapter reading) used in your initial response should be
typed in bold, or in all CAPITAL letters so that they stand out on the screen. In addition, course terms
should have page references to the course textbook.
 College Level Writing: organization, grammar and spelling count for both your initial response and
comments to colleagues.
Group Project: Students will be assigned to a small group of 4-5 people at the beginning of the quarter.
Groups will be evaluated on the quality of the presentations as well as the quality of time spent in your group.
Group presentations will be further discussed during the fifth week of class. At that time, groups will be
developed and topics discussed. Your individual grade will be computed by taking into consideration both the
grades the group receives as a whole and your participation in the group as evaluated by you and other group
members.
Note: Students who contribute inadequately to their group project (or group meetings) can be voted out of the
group at any time during the quarter. If a student is voted out of his/her group, he/she will research and write a
15 page paper on an Intercultural Communication topic of my choice. The research paper will have a minimum
of 15 cited journal sources and a bibliography. The student will present his/her paper and findings to the class
in a 10-15 minute presentation. In addition, the person can only earn up to 75% of the potential points for that
project.
Course Policies
Attendance and Participation: Your attendance and participation are an integral part of making this class
work effectively. As stated previously, most of the work that makes up this class involves group discussion and
class exercises that emphasize lecture material. If you are not in class, you are unable to participate in these
discussions and group exercises. If you are absent on any day, you are responsible for obtaining materials
and information you missed from other class members. Please be on time for class.
In lieu of taking attendance each day, I will administer pop quizzes over the course of the quarter that can only
be taken on the day assigned. Therefore, if you are not in class on that day, you will forfeit the available
points. Your participation in class will also factor into your overall attendance/participation grade for the
CMST 280 | Fall, 2014
quarter. This participation includes active engagement in small group activities and discussions as well as
larger class discussions. In order to receive full points, you need to be an active participant in class each day.
Each student will receive 10 participation cards. These cards will be collected each time you ask a
question, answer a question, offer an example, etc. in class. Your goal is to turn in all 10 participation
cards by the end of the quarter to earn full credit for this portion of our course. Once you are out of
participation cards, I ask that you refrain from talking until others are able to use up their cards as well.
Thanks!
I understand that many students have important responsibilities outside of the classroom…families, work,
sports, etc. I am sensitive to these issues and will do all that I can to assist with scheduling conflicts as they
relate to class activities. I ask that you let me know ahead of time of any conflict you might have with
scheduled class time, and we will try to work things out. Please realize though, while I am flexible, that
flexibility only goes so far. Please be respectful of your group members and my time as we will be of your time.
Couse Assignment Expectations and Late Work: All written work will be turned in on time in order to
receive full credit. Most assignments for this course will be due by 11:59 PM on the due date. The decision to
accept late assignments will be made on an individual basis, taking into account the specific situation. All late
work will receive a deduction in points. No late assignments will be accepted after the last day of
instruction. College-level standards of grammar, spelling and punctuation are expected. Please type and
proofread all written work.
Cultural Sensitivity Expectations: We will address a variety of intercultural communication topics, many
involving concepts that touch upon personal values and beliefs. I encourage you to share your thoughts,
concerns, and opinions in class and online – we will have a stimulating learning environment and a richer
learning experience if we can discuss a wide range of perspectives. At the same time, the issues we will
address can be highly emotional and we will not always agree with each other. It is vital that everyone feels
safe to share his/her ideas and opinions. Please be sensitive and respectful to other viewpoints when making
comments and contributing to discussion.
Cell Phone/Laptop Use: No texting, surfing the web, or checking personal email in class. Please keep
your phones on vibrate/mute or off during class time and keep them in your bag or pocket during class – I do
not want to see them out. You are able to use your laptop to take notes. I reserve the right to restrict use of
laptops in class if students are found to be checking email/facebook/youtube/etc. during class. Please be
respectful of your classmates and me.
Grade Appeals: You have the opportunity to appeal any grade that you are given in this class. All grade
appeals must be typed, stating your reason for appeal. If you so choose, I will accept appeals via e-mail.
Grade appeals must be submitted no sooner than 24 hours after the grade has been issued...I will not discuss
any grade on the day the grade is administered. All grade appeals must be submitted within 2 weeks of me
handing back the assignment.
Instructor Availability: I will reply to emails within 24 hours. I will be available Monday – Friday, but will not
regularly check the site on weekends. So, if you email me late on Friday or on the weekend, you can expect to
hear back from me on Monday. Please visit me during my office hours in R230P or make an appointment to
see me.
Add/Drop Policy: If you are struggling in this course, please come talk to me as I will do whatever I can
(within reason!) to assist you with your understanding of class content and assignments. If you decide this
class is not for you, it is your responsibility to drop the course by Week Seven. If you just stop coming to
class, but do not officially drop the course, you will receive a 0.0 on your permanent college transcript. Refer to
your BC Student Handbook for further information.
CMST 280 | Fall, 2014
Affirmation of Inclusion
Bellevue College is committed to maintaining an environment in which every member of the campus
community feels welcome to participate in the life of the college, free from harassment and discrimination. We
value our different backgrounds at Bellevue College, and students, faculty, staff members, and administrators
are to treat one another with dignity and respect. http://bellevuecollege.edu/about/goals/inclusion.asp
Student Code
“Cheating, stealing and plagiarizing (using the ideas or words of another as one’s own without crediting the
source) and inappropriate/disruptive classroom behavior are violations of the Student Code of Conduct at
Bellevue College. Examples of unacceptable behavior include, but are not limited to: talking out of turn,
arriving late or leaving early without a valid reason, allowing cell phones/pagers to ring, and inappropriate
behavior toward the instructor or classmates. The instructor can refer any violation of the Student Code of
Conduct to the Vice President of Student Services for possible probation or suspension from Bellevue College.
Specific student rights, responsibilities and appeal procedures are listed in the Student Code of Conduct,
available in the office of the Vice President of Student Services.” The Student Code, in its entirety is located
at: http://bellevuecollege.edu/policies/2/2050_Student_Code.asp
Disability Resource Center (DRC)
The Disability Resource Center serves students with a wide array of learning challenges and disabilities. If you
are a student who has a disability or learning challenge for which you have documentation or have seen
someone for treatment and if you feel you may need accommodations in order to be successful in college,
please contact us as soon as possible. If you are a student with a documented autism spectrum disorder, there
is a program of support available to you.
If you are a person who requires assistance in case of an emergency situation, such as a fire, earthquake, etc,
please meet with your individual instructors to develop a safety plan within the first week of the quarter.
The DRC office is located in B132 or you can call our reception desk at 425.564.2498. Deaf students can
reach us by video phone at 425-440-2025 or by TTY at 425-564-4110. Please visit our website for application
information into our program and other helpful links at www.bellevuecollege.edu/drc
Academic Success Center
Academic Success Center: Bellevue College offers a wide range of tutoring services for students. Visit their
website at http://bellevuecollege.edu/asc/ or their office in D204.
Bellevue College E-mail and access to Canvas
All students registered for classes at Bellevue College are entitled to a network and e-mail account. Your
student network account can be used to access your student e-mail, log in to computers in labs and
classrooms, connect to the BC wireless network and log in to Canvas. To create your account, go to:
https://bellevuecollege.edu/sam . BC offers a wide variety of computer and learning labs to enhance learning
and student success. Find current campus locations for all student labs by visiting the Computing Services
website.
Public Safety
CMST 280 | Fall, 2014
The Bellevue College (BC) Public Safety Department’s well trained and courteous non-commissioned staff
provides personal safety, security, crime prevention, preliminary investigations, and other services to the
campus community, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Their phone number is 425.564.2400. The Public
Safety website is your one-stop resource for campus emergency preparedness information, campus closure
announcements and critical information in the event of an emergency. Public Safety is located in K100 and on
the web at: http://bellevuecollege.edu/publicsafety/
Academic Calendar
The Bellevue College Academic Calendar is separated into two calendars. They provide information about
holidays, closures and important enrollment dates such as the finals schedule.
 Enrollment Calendar - http://bellevuecollege.edu/enrollment/calendar/deadlines/. On this calendar
you will find admissions and registration dates and important dates for withdrawing and receiving tuition
refunds.
 College Calendar - http://bellevuecollege.edu/enrollment/calendar/holidays/0910.asp. This
calendar gives you the year at a glance and includes college holidays, scheduled closures, quarter end
and start dates, and final exam dates.
Final Note
Intercultural communication is a rich and exciting phenomenon to examine. Its very nature also makes it an
emotional and sensitive topic. Due to its sensitive and personal nature, it is required that all students consider
the impact of their words and opinions on their classmates. This does not mean that we are expected to avoid
difficult topics – instead it means that we will be respectful when examining those topics, understanding that
many views exist in regard to culture, cultural identity, and interaction. In short, please remember to keep
others’ feelings and dignity in mind when choosing to comment on an issue or prior statement made by one of
your classmates or me. Any comments that denigrate the worth of an individual because of his/her race,
religion, background, lifestyle, or gender are inappropriate and unacceptable in my class.
I look forward to getting to know you this quarter! I look forward to learning from you as I believe that you have
a great deal to teach your classmates and me. You can count on me to put a great deal of time into making
this class both educational and enjoyable. I will rely on you to assist in making the class fun and educational
and firmly believe that you will get out of this class as much as you put into it. Good luck!
MWF Tentative Schedule | Fall, 2014
Date
Week One
9/22
9/23
9/24
9/25
9/26
Week Two
9/29
9/30
10/1
10/2
CMST 280 | Fall, 2014
Central Topic
Course Overview and Syllabus
Work on Introduction and Technology Plan
Barnga
Introduction/Technology Plan Due
Communication and Culture
Iceberg Metaphor (Reading Assignment p. 15-21)
Chapters One/Two Discussion Due by 11:59 PM
Intercultural Communication Flexibility
Chapters One/Two Discussion Due by 11:59 PM
Reading
Chapter One
p. 15-21
p. 24-30
10/3
Staircase Model/Cultural Bumps
CH2 p. 30-33
Week Three
10/6
10/7
10/8
10/9
10/10
Perception/Alligator River
Work on Reading Assignment (p. 39-57)
Cultural Values (Reading Assignment Due p. 39-57)
Nothing Due – Enjoy!
Cultural Values/ODIS
Watch Lecture on Canvas
Week Four
10/13
10/14
10/15
10/16
10/17
Identity | Assign Intercultural Reflection Paper
CH4 p. 65-76
Chapters Three/Four Discussion Due
Identity/What’s in a Name
CH4 p. 76-87
Chapters Three/Four Response Due
Social Media and Identity | QUIZ ONE AVAILABLE 10/17 – 11:59 PM on 10/20
Week Five
10/20
10/21
10/22
10/23
10/24
Culture Shock
Chapter Five Discussion Due
No Class – College Issues Day
Chapter Five Response Due
Culture Shock
Week Six
10/27
10/28
10/29
10/30
10/31
CH3 p. 39-57
CH3 p. 62-63
CH5 p. 101-109
CH5 p. 94-100
Language
CH6 p. 112-122
Chapter Six Discussion Due
Language
CH6 p. 123-129
Chapter Six Response Due
Joy Luck Club Reflection
Cultural Identity Reflection Paper Due 11/2 by 11:59 PM
Week Seven
11/3
11/4
11/5
11/6
11/7
Assign Group Project | Group Day
Work on this Week’s Discussion
Nonverbal
CH7 p. 131-145
Chapter Seven Post Due
Nonverbal | QUIZ TWO AVAILABLE 11/7 – 11:59 PM on 11/10 CH7 p. 145-153
Week Eight
11/10
11/11
11/12
11/13
11/14
Ethnocentrism/Stereotypes
Happy Veteran’s Day! | Chapters 8/9 Discussion Due
Prejudice/Bias/Racism
Chapters 8/9 Response Due
Microaggressions/Conflict
Week Nine
11/17
11/18
11/19
11/20
11/21
Group Day
Group Project Check-In Due by 11:59 PM
Health Care
Additional Reading
Work on Group Project Virtually
Health Care | QUIZ THREE AVAILABLE 11/21 – 11:59 PM on 11/24
CMST 280 | Fall, 2014
CH8 p. 158-170
CH8 p. 171-178
CH9 p. 196-203
Week Ten
11/24
11/25
11/26
11/27
11/28
Group Day
Prep for Group Project
Group Day
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Day After Thanksgiving!
Week Eleven
12/1
12/3
12/5
Group Projects
Group Projects
Group Projects
Week Twelve
12/10
Group Projects | Self-Evaluation of Participation Due by 11:59 PM
CMST 280 | Fall, 2014