| This course is designed to provide a learning environment where class members can reflect on and develop their effectiveness at cross-cultural communications and negotiations. Students should develop an understanding of their current style, a clear vision of their desired style, and a specific plan to move the current to desired state. A goal is to understand and to develop approaches to minimize cross-cultural “incidents”, as well as deal effectively with them when they occur. Opportunities are provided to practice applying the concepts and theories that are presented in the course. It is intended to be fun and immediately useful in everyday life, while simultaneously building a systematic framework for dealing with cross-cultural communication and negotiation. Given the goals of this course, lecturing will be kept to a minimum. Approaches to learning will include extensive reading and discussion, guest speakers, experiential exercises, writing, some lecturing, student-lead discussion, and self-reflection. As students undertake self-analysis in order to understand their current style of negotiation and communication, they will also think about the style and approaches that they would like to use in order to develop a more effective approach to communication and negotiation. |
