This course was previously advertised with the title "Navigating Global Conversation: The Basics of Intercultural Communication Skills"
Overview
In this course, we will engage with the applied side of Cultural Studies, namely, how to develop cultural sensitivity and tune in to the aspects of communication that go beyond linguistic skills in order to efficiently convey our meaning across the widest variety of cultural settings. After laying the foundations with the help of theories from the field of Anthropology, Cultural Studies and Linguistics, we will delve into intercultural communication skills in business, advertising and translation, respectively. The content will be presented in an interactive way with the help of role plays, games, and a closing multimedia quiz, encouraging participants to constantly relate the content to their own cultures and their own communication goals.
This course is part of the Inspiring Oxford summer school.
Programme details
Seminars meet each weekday morning, with afternoons free for course-related field trips, individual study, or exploring the many places of interest in and around the city.
Monday
We will start the course by laying the foundations to the study of intercultural communication skills. We will ask questions like what is culture and what is communication to be able to understand how the two interact. We will familiarise ourselves with the concepts of cultural relativism, linguistic relativism, and linguistic determinism and have a brief look at how attitudes to engaging with other cultures have changed throughout the past centuries and decades.
Tuesday
On this day, we will focus on intercultural communication skills in translation. We will analyse the differences in how languages express content and the difficulties involved in translating idioms, puns and cultural references. We will also try to decode the ‘untranslatable’. Lastly, we will pay attention to non-verbal aspects of communication and the ways these can be conveyed by an interpreter.
Wednesday
Wednesday's topic is intercultural communication skills in business. Drawing on Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory, we will look at communication styles and business etiquettes around the world with the aim of understanding how cultural contexts impact social norms. We will also discuss how globalisation is changing business communication. We will close the day with a role play through which participants will have the opportunity to put into practice everything we have learnt so far.
Thursday
Field trip
Friday
On our last day, we will learn about intercultural communication skills in advertising. We will enquire into the ways cultural factors influence consumer behaviour and discuss why advertising strategies need to take the cultural context into consideration. We will discuss some market strategies that failed due to their incompatibility with the target culture and participants will be invited to solve a marketing dilemma. We will close the course with a fun and interactive quiz.
Field Trip
Destination: TBC
Excursion Rating:Easy - up to an hour’s walk on even ground or less than half an hour’s walk on uneven/unpaved ground
Recommended reading
Rings, Guido & Rasinger, Sebastian M. (2022). The Cambridge Introduction to Intercultural Communication
Hofstede, Geert (2001). Culture's Consequences: Comparing Values, Behaviors, Institutions and Organizations Across Nations
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Fee option 1 (single en suite accom and meals per person) | £2285.00 |
| Fee option 2 (single standard accom and meals per person) | £1955.00 |
| Fee option 3 (twin en suite accom and meals per person) | £2135.00 |
| Fee option 4 (no accom; incl lunch and dinner per person) | £1600.00 |
Funding
Please note there are no sources of funding (scholarships, bursaries, etc) available for applicants.
Payment
All fees are charged on a per week, per person basis.
Please be aware that all payments made via non-UK credit/debit cards and bank accounts are subject to the exchange rate on the day they are processed.
Payment terms
If enrolling online: full payment by credit/debit card at the time of booking.
If submitting an enrolment form: full payment online by credit/debit card or via bank transfer within 30 days of invoice date.
Extended stay fee
Participants staying multiple, consecutive weeks will be charged an additional bed and breakfast feefor the cost of the Saturday night between courses.
Cancellations and refunds
1. Cancellation by you
Participants who wish to cancel must inform the Programme Administrator in writing: by email toinspiringoxford@conted.ox.ac.uk, or by post to Inspiring Oxford, OUDCE, 1 Wellington Square, OXFORD, OX1 2JA, UK.
The following cancellation and refund policy applies in all cases:
Cancellation within 14 days of online enrolment / payment of fees – full refund of all fees paid.
- Cancellations received up to and including 30April2024– OUDCE will retain an administration fee of £100 per week booked; all other fees paid will be refunded.
- Cancellations received between 1-31May2024– OUDCE will retain 60% of the fees paid; the remaining 40% of fees paid will be refunded.
- Cancellations received on and after 1 June 2024- no refunds will be made under any circ*mstances.
Where course fees have been paid in currencies other than pounds sterling, refunds will be subject to the exchange rate on the day they are processed.
2. Cancellation by us
Where there is good reason, OUDCE reserves the right to cancel a course by giving you notice in writing at any time before the course is due to start. In these cases, we will endeavour to offer a transfer to another available course if practical and acceptable to you, subject to payment or refund of any difference in course fees. Alternatively, we will refund the course fees that you have already paid. If we cancel a course, our liability is limited to the fees that we have received from you; this means that we will not compensate you for any pre-booked travel costs or any other expenses incurred. The status of this course will be reviewed on 1 May 2024. If it is likely that the course may be cancelled, anyone affected will be notified by email within 7 days; if you have not heard from OUDCE by 8 May 2024, you should assume that your course will be running. You may wish to delay finalising your travel arrangements until after this date.
OUDCE reserves the right to cancel a course at short notice in exceptional circ*mstances that would prevent the course from being delivered e.g. tutor illness. In these rare instances, and if we are unable to find a replacement tutor, we will notify you as soon as possible and arrange a transfer to another available Inspiring Oxford course. If we cancel a course, our liability is limited to the fees that we have received from you; this means that we will not compensate you for any pre-booked travel costs or any other expenses incurred.
Where course fees have been paid in currencies other than pounds sterling, refunds will be subject to the exchange rate on the day they are processed.
3. Travel insurance
All participants must purchase travel insurance to cover the programme fee, travel costs, and any other expenses incurred.OUDCE cannot be held responsible for any costs you may incur in relation to travel or accommodation bookings as a result of a course cancellation, or if you are unable to attend the course for any other reason.
Tutor
Ms Judit Molnár
Tutor
Judit Molnar is a final-year doctoral student of Anthropology at the University of Oxford. Her research focuses on diaspora subjectivity and her broader interests include migration, transnationalism, and the anthropology of the state. She has conducted ethnographic research in Indonesia, Argentina, Ireland, and Slovenia.
Teaching methods
Participants will be taught in seminar groups of up to 16people, teaching methods used during this course may include:
- Short lectures/Presentations
- Physical handouts
- Seminars/group discussions
- Written exercises in-class
- Student presentations (optional)
- Video recordings
- Field Trip
Assessment methods
There are no assessments for this course.
Application
Registration closes on 29 May 2024. Courses can fill up fast so early registration is recommended.
Single accommodation may be booked online by clicking on the “Book now” button in the “Course details” box at the top right-hand side of the course page.
If you would like a twin en suite room, please send us a completed enrolment form that names the other course participant you will be sharing with. Please note these rooms have limited availability.
If you experience any difficulties enrolling online please contact the Programme Administrator at inspiringoxford@conted.ox.ac.uk.
Level and demands
Inspiring Oxfordis aimed at non-specialists: no prior knowledge is required, and classes are pitched at an introductory level. The courses are designed for an international audience aged 18 and over.
Accommodation
During your course you will stay in typical Oxford student accommodation at Brasenose College, in the heart of the city in buildings overlooked by the iconic Radcliffe Camera.Pleasenote that bedrooms are modestly-furnished and do not have air-conditioning.
You can find out more about Brasenose byvisiting their website.
The following types of accommodation are available:
- Single en suite
- Twin en suite: shared between participants that apply to the programme together
- Standard single: bathrooms are shared between, on average, four participants
a non-residential basis whereby participants can take classes and have lunch and dinner at Brasenose, having arranged their own accommodation elsewhere.
Non-residential participants are encouraged to attend all aspects of the academic and social programme, and they have equal access to Brasenose as residential participants.
En suite rooms include private bathroom facilities (shower, washbasin and toilet).
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