977000 In-country Language and Culture Study 2

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.

UTS: International Studies: Professional Learning
Credit points: 8 cp
Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): 977913 In-country Language and Culture Study

Description

There are two parts to this subject. One part is a study program offered by an approved international UTS partner organisation. This can be either offered on-campus in-country or fully online. The other part is coursework that, in turn, is made up of two 3hr workshops at UTS; the first before embarking on, and the second after returning from, the overseas study program. The workshops are supported by online teaching materials and activities. The subject is for students who have previously participated in an international short-term language program as part of their degree and want to attend a second program of a similar kind. This subject provides students with the opportunity to enhance their communication skills in another language and develop their intercultural awareness and knowledge of another society through completion of an intensive course of study with an approved international UTS partner organisation. It is offered in July and Summer sessions, however the specific programs and languages available may vary. Programs cater for a range of levels of language proficiency from beginner to advanced.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

a.	Communicate effectively and appropriately in written and oral academic and professional English
b.	Critically analyse the behaviours, norms, and values of host and home cultures paying particularattention to language and linguistic practices
c.	Evaluate own culture-based assumptions and how they are informed
d.	Reflect on how learning has occurred through the overseas program
e.	Articulate the value of international experiences for career and professional purposes

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject engages with the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs), which are tailored to the Graduate Attributes set for all graduates of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (INT = International Studies CILOs):

Employ effective cultural strategies to operate within professional settings in Australia and internationally. (INT.1.1)
Reflect on and use knowledge of contemporary societies to engage with diverse cultures. (INT.2.1)
Inquire independently into contemporary societies and cultures. (INT.3.1)
Develop capacity to engage with current issues and to act ethically in Australian and international settings. (INT.5.1)

Teaching and learning strategies

This subject provides an immersive, practical learning experience through an international institution and supports this learning through pre-departure and post-sojourn activities. Before coming to the subject preparation seminar, students engage with online readings and materials. The subject preparation seminar allows students to explore aspects of intercultural learning and to help prepare them for their practical experience in a different society and culture. Online quizzes to test students’ understanding of the core concepts are available on Canvas before the start of the international program. During the program, students participate in a structured program with the host organisation designed to enhance their language skills and cultural understanding. In the subject return seminar, students reflect collaboratively and individually on their experiences and professional application of their learnt skills. Assessment-specific online modules on Canvas allow students to gain a deeper understanding of intercultural communication, reflective learning and working in a globalised society.

Content (topics)

The subject will include content on notions of culture, intercultural awareness, communication strategies and working in globalised societies.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Expectation Statement

Objective(s):

a, b and c

Weight:

15%

Length:

500 words

Criteria linkages:

Criteria	Weight (%)	SLOs	CILOs
Insightfulness into the basis for knowledge of host culture values, norms and behaviours	40	b	INT.3.1
Degree of awareness of own cultural assumptions	40	c	INT.2.1
Clarity of written expression and coherence of statement	20	a	INT.1.1

SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 2: Professional Application

Objective(s):

a, d and e

Weight:

35%

Length:

4 minutes

Criteria linkages:

Criteria	Weight (%)	SLOs	CILOs
Depth of reflection on how learning occurred through the program/overseas experience	30	d	INT.2.1
Communication of professional learning outcomes	30	e	INT.3.1
Application to future workplaces	20	e	INT.5.1
Coherence and oral expression	20	a	INT.1.1

SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Assessment task 3: Intercultural Reflections Report

Objective(s):

a, b, c and d

Weight:

50%

Length:

1500 words

Criteria linkages:

Criteria	Weight (%)	SLOs	CILOs
Depth of analysis of a salient communication encounter or practice	40	b	INT.3.1
Insightfulness into the process of learning through the program/international experience	20	d	INT.2.1
Degree of reflexivity on own and home cultures communication practice	20	c	INT.1.1
Clarity and appropriateness of written expression	20	a	INT.1.1

SLOs: subject learning objectives
CILOs: course intended learning outcomes

Minimum requirements

Students must actively participate in and complete all activities of the in-country host institution or program. They are required to obtain a certificate of program completion from the host institution or program which can either be an official document (transcript, certificate of completion), or an email from the overseas course coordinator directly to the UTS subject coordinator. If students do not fully complete the overseas program component, an X- Fail (Unsatisfactory performance in a compulsory component of the subject) grade may result even if assessment components have been completed successfully.

Attendance at the subject preparation and subject return seminars is essential in this subject because important information is only available through the essential interchange of ideas with other students and the tutor. An attendance roll will be taken at each seminar. Failure to attend the first workshop may lead to withdrawal of UTS support for enrolment in the overseas study program. Failure to attend the second workshop may lead to the coursework assessment tasks not being marked.

Required texts

There are no required texts for this subject. Recommended readings will be available via UTS Library and Canvas.

References

Baldwin, J.R., Faulkner, S.L., Hecht, M.L. & Lindsley, S.L. (eds) 2006, Redefining Culture: Perspectives across the Disciplines, Lawrence Erlbaum, Mahwah, NJ.
Bestor, T. C. 1998, Neighbourhood Tokyo, Documentary Educational Resources, Massachussetts (video documentary, in UTS Library).
Bonvillain, N. 2011, Language, Culture and Communication, (6th edn), Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ.
Bridgstock, R. 2009, The graduate attributes we’ve overlooked: enhancing graduate employability through career management skills, Higher Education Research & Development, vol. 28, no.1, pp. 31-44
Crossman, J, Bordia, S, Mills, C. 2011, Business Communication: for the Global Age, McGraw-Hill, North Ryde.
Goodall, H.L. Jr., Goodall, S. & Schiefelbein, J. 2009, Business and Professional Communication in the Global Workplace, Wadsworth, Boston.
Gower, R.K. & Mulvaney, M.A. 2012, Making the Most of Your Internship: A Strategic Approach, Sagamore, Urbana IL.
Guilherme, M. et al. (eds) 2010, The Intercultural Dynamics of Multicultural Working, Multilingual Matters, Bristol.
LeBaron, M. & Pillay, V. 2006, Conflict Across Cultures: A Unique Experience of Bridging Differences, Nicholas Brealey Publishing, Boston.
Holliday, A. Hyde, M. Kullman, J. 2012, Intercultural Communication: An Advanced Resource Book for Students.Routledge. Abingdon, OX.
Holliday, A. 2016, Difference and awareness in cultural travel: negotiating blocks and threads. Language and Intercultural Communication, vol.16, no.3., pp. 318-331.
Holliday, A. 2016, Cultural travel and cultural prejudice, in Aquino, M. B. & Frota, S. (Eds.), Identities: representation and practices, Lisbon: CELGA-ILTEC, University of Coimbra, pp.25-44.
Martin, J.N., Nakayama, T.K. & Flores, L.A. (eds) 2002, Readings in Intercultural Communication: Experiences and Contexts, 2nd edn, McGraw-Hill, Boston.
Neugebauer, J. & Evans-Bain, J. 2009, Making the Most of Your Placement. Sage, London.
Pink S. 2007, ‘Walking with Video’ in Visual Studies, Vol. 22, No. 3, December 2007, pp. 240-253. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14725860701657142?journalCode=rvst20#preview.
Pusch, M. D. 2009, 'The Interculturally Competent Global Leader' in D. K. Deardorff (ed), The SAGE Handbook of Intercultural Competence pp. 66 - 84. Sage, Los Angeles/ London.
Scott, J. 2006, ‘God, We’re Not Immigrants! A Reflection on Moving and Staying’ in Portal Journal of Multidisciplinary International Studies, vol. 3 no. 1, pp. 1-6. Available online at: http://epress.lib.uts.edu.au/ojs/index.php/portal/article/view/150.
Slimbach, R. 2005, ‘The Transcultural Journey’, Frontiers. The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad, vol. XI (August). Available online at: http://www.frontiersjournal.com/documents/RSlimbachFrontiersAug05.pdf.
Sorrells, K. 2013, Intercultural Communication: Globalization and Social Justice, Sage, Thousand Oaks, CA.
West, R. and Turner, L.H. 2011, Understanding Interpersonal Communication: Making Choices in Changing Times, Wadsworth, Boston.