Description:

This course will provide students with direct experience with people from other cultures and in community organizations. Through their work with international representatives and service agencies, students will gain experiential and reflective knowledge of various cultures, social institutions and social issues and will develop skills needed to successfully negotiate intercultural settings. Enrollment in the course requires participation in a weekend retreat and some additional hours in activities outside the classroom. 3 hrs. lecture/wk. This course is typically offered in the spring semester.

Supplies: Refer to the instructor's course syllabus for details about any supplies that may be required.

Textbook(s): For information see - http://bookstore.jccc.net

Course Fees: NONE

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course the student should be able to:

1. Identify specific cultural components that shape the process of intercultural relations.(Differentiate personal, cultural and universal components that shape the process of intercultural and international relations.)
2. Assess the relative importance of cultural factors in shaping cross-cultural interactions.
3. Explain the concept of cultural relativity and successfully apply it in concrete situations.
4. Identify college, community and national resources that can be utilized to enhance intercultural and international understanding.
5. Discuss, analyze and critique student's own culture and at least one other.
6. Collect, identify and describe key pieces of information and insight regarding at least one other culture than student's own.
7. Evaluate the role of language in facilitating cross-cultural interaction.
8. Observe, analyze and describe concrete intercultural interactions in written and oral presentations.
9. Analyze and evaluate the practical and conceptual significance of service-learning as a vehicle for fostering intercultural skills and insights.
10. Interact sensitively, effectively and productively in international or intercultural contexts.
11. Display concrete knowledge and skills necessary for a successful study-abroad experience.
12. Exhibit a basis of knowledge needed to further explore resources and opportunities for meaningful intercultural experiences.
13. Describe experiences from firsthand observation of a cross-cultural service-learning setting.
14. Systematically and comprehensively gather information and insight from a cultural informant.
15. Recognize the importance of community agencies in fostering cultural assimilation and adaptation.

Content Outline & Competencies:

I. An Overview of Intercultural Relations
   A. Components of Culture
      1. Identify the key components of culture.
      2. Evaluate the relative importance of cultural factors in shaping
cross-cultural interactions.
   B. Universal Dimensions of Cross-Cultural Interactions
      1. Define cultural universal.
      2. Differentiate cultural specifics from cultural universals.
      3. Describe the significance of universal factors in shaping
cross-cultural interactions.
   C. Personal (Individual) Influences on Intercultural Relations
      1. Recognize the personal foundations of cross-cultural
interaction.
      2. Differentiate personal, cultural and universal factors in
intercultural relations.
      3. Assess the relative significance of individual factors as shapers
of cross-cultural interaction.

II. Cultural Attitudes
   A. Cultural Relativity
      1. Define cultural relativity.
      2. Discuss the significance of cultural relativity in cross-cultural
relations.
      3. Demonstrate concrete skills in using the cultural relativity
perspective.
   B. Ethnocentrism
      1. Describe the nature of ethnocentrism.
      2. List the basic causes of ethnocentrism.
      3. Define and illustrate reverse ethnocentrism.

III. Research Strategies in Intercultural Interactions
   A. Interviews
      1. Describe the various types of interview techniques.
      2. Detail the strengths and weaknesses of different interview
methods.
   B. Observation
      1. Describe the two basic types of observation techniques.
      2. Discuss the strengths and limitations of observation as a
research tool.
      3. Complete a cross-cultural observation.
      4. Report a cross-cultural observation in both written and oral
formats.
   C. Secondary Sources or Archival Data
      1. Explain the nature and significance of secondary source data.
      2. Describe the benefits and drawbacks of secondary source data
collection.
      3. Utilize secondary sources to discuss and evaluate a number of
selected topics regarding American society and culture.
      4. Utilize secondary sources to discuss and evaluate a number of
selected topics regarding a society and culture other than that of the
United States.

IV. An Overview of Some Key Resources for Intercultural Understanding
   A. College Resources
      1. List programs, activities, projects and other resources at JCCC.
      2. Explain the specific functions of each of these resources in
enhancing intercultural understanding.
   B. Community Resources
      1. Describe various community agencies that promote cultural
assimilation.
      2. Discuss the significance of such agencies as resources for
intercultural understanding.
   C. National Resources
      1. Identify a number of key Internet resources that can be useful in
developing cross-cultural understanding.
      2. Summarize the information, programs or strategies of several
major Internet sites that deal with cross-cultural interactions.

V. Service-Learning and Intercultural Relations
   A. Service-Learning
      1. Define service-learning.
      2. Identify its core components.
   B. The Significance of Service-Learning
      1. Discuss service-learning as a tool for enhancing intercultural
insights.
      2. Describe the practical benefits of service-learning in promoting
intercultural skills.
   C. The Role of Reflection in Service-Learning
      1. Describe the role of journaling and other forms of writing in
service-learning.
      2. Produce a systematic written account of cross-cultural insights
from a  service-learning project.

VI. The Role of the Cultural Informant in Cross-Cultural Relations
   A. Cultural Informant
      1. Describe what a cultural informant is.
      2. Discuss the significance of the cultural informant as a source of
anthropological (intercultural) information.
      3. Detail some of the key insights that can be gained by using a
cultural informant.
      4. Indicate some of the chief limitations to the use of the cultural
informant as a data source.

   B. Using a Cultural Informant to Collect and Detail Cross-Cultural
Information and Insights
      1. Collect and analyze information on marriage and family life.
      2. Collect and analyze information on religion.
      3. Collect and analyze information on education.
      4. Collect and analyze information on economics, work and
professional life.
      5. Collect and analyze information on diet and dietary folkways.
      6. Collect and analyze information on sports, recreation and
leisure.
      7. Collect and analyze information on human and natural resources.
      8. Collect and analyze information on gender relations.
      9. Collect and analyze information on politics and government.
      10. Collect and analyze information on general customs, behaviors
and attitudes.

VII. Living Overseas
   A. Some Resources for Successful Adjustment to Living Abroad
      1. Describe some of the key concerns regarding gender relations and
successful cross-cultural adaptation.
      2. Discuss some of the chief issues facing families that live
abroad.
      3. List some strategies, resources and other information that are
practically useful in managing a budget for overseas living.
      4. List some key websites and other sources useful in addressing
health issues and concerns while living abroad.
   B. Language Acquisition and Cross-Cultural Adaptation Abroad
      1. List key strategies for foreign language acquisition.
      2. Identify Internet resources for language acquisition.
      3. Assess the role of language acquisition in successful overseas
adaptation.
      4. Detail various overseas language programs and venues.
   C. Study Abroad
      1. Identify the main components of study-abroad programs.
      2. Describe the study-abroad programs available through JCCC.
   D. International Volunteerism
      1. Identify several key Internet resources for gathering information
on volunteering overseas.
      2. Describe the several opportunities offered by JCCC for service
abroad.
      3. List various magazines and other print resources for meaningful
service opportunities abroad.
   E. Work
      1. List several key resources that detail overseas work
opportunities.
      2. Discuss both long-term and short-term opportunities for overseas
employment.

Methods of Evaluation of Competencies:

Evaluation of student mastery of course competencies will be accomplished using the following methods:

1. Successful completion of intercultural projects      35% of grade
   a. A minimum of 20 hours of service, verified
   b. A minimum of 20 hours of interview meetings with partner, verified
   c. Attendance and participation at the Intercultural Semester weekend
retreat    

2. Successful completion of written assignments         30% of grade
   a. Two written papers on the Partner Process with specific information
on set topics of inquiry
   b. Two written assignments on service-learning experiences and
observations

3. Successful completion of in-class assignments        25% of grade
   a. Two in-class oral presentations on service-learning experiences and
observations 
   b. Two in-class oral presentations on Partner Process findings         

   c. In-class exercises
   d. In-class oral presentations on Partner Process data
   e. In-class presentations on service-learning observations

4. Final evaluation                                     10% of grade
                                                       100%

Grading Criteria:
   A = 90-100%
   B = 80- 89%
   C = 70- 79%
   D = 60- 69%
   F =  0- 59%

Caveats:

1. Students are required to attend the Intercultural Weekend and to dedicate additional hours in partner activities and service assignments off-campus.

Disabilities:

If you are a student with a disability, and if you will be requesting accommodations, it is your responsibility to contact Access Services. Access Services will recommend any appropriate accommodations to your professor and his/her director. The professor and director will identify for you which accommodations will be arranged.

JCCC provides a range of services to allow persons with disabilities to participate in educational programs and activities. If you desire support services, contact the office of Access Services for Students With Disabilities (913) 469-8500, ext. 3521 or TDD (913) 469-3885. The Access Services office is located in the Success Center on the second floor of the Student Center.