Increasing Intercultural
Awareness in English
Language Teaching
Julie C. Van Camp
Fulbright Lecturer
Comenius University
Professor of Philosophy
California State University, Long Beach
Weeks 2-4:
27 September, 4 October, 11 October
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How do we make distinctions by race,
ethnicity, gender in our language and the
law?
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The American Experience:
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African-American (Negro, black)
Asian-American (Japanese-American, Filipino-American,
Chinese-American, Cambodian, Vietnamese
Latino (Hispanic, Mexican, Central/South American)
Native American (American Indian, Native Hawaiian,
Native Alaskan)
Week 5:
18 October

How have these distinctions been implemented
in the U.S.?

What are the consequences of distinguishing by
race, ethnicity, gender?
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Employment opportunities?
Education opportunities?
Voting rights?
Fair treatment in the criminal justice system?
Rights to marry?
Week 6
25 October

Mid-term essay exam

Essay questions demonstrating your
understanding of the course material

Closed book-closed notes

You will have a choice of questions
Week 7: 1 November

University closed: All Saints’ Day
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No class
Weeks 8-10
8 November, 15 November, 22 November

Should distinctions by race, ethnicity,
gender be eradicated?
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Should we strive to become “color-blind”?
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Are these ever justified in our culture, our
language, our law?
Weeks 11
29 November
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Teaching techniques in diverse
classrooms
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Professionalism in language and conduct
Teaching respect, fairness, courtesy
Conducting discussions with different
viewpoints
Week 12
6 December

Summary and Review
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Papers due
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Hard-copy on paper in class OR
E-mail attachment in Word format
Identify a current controversy in Slovakia or Europe
generally on the treatment of race, ethnicity, and/or
gender and explicitly use course material to analyze
recommendations for how it should be treated; consider
different viewpoints and perspectives fairly.
Final Exam: week of January 7

Essay questions demonstrating
understanding of course material all term

Closed book/closed notes

Two hours