Professional English: Cross-Cultural Communication
This course aims to improve your cross-cultural communication and small talk/networking skills by developing your use of vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, pronunciation, and speaking skills within a business context. Upon the completion of this course, students will: 1) have a better understanding of the often unstated rules of American office expectations and etiquette; 2) develop communicative strategies; 3) gain familiarity with situationally appropriate spoken and written communication; 4) recognize and respond to high vs. low context communication styles; and 5) gain confidence and improve clarity through the mastery of English pronunciation.
Learning Objectives:
- Communicate using direct/explicit communication
- Engage in small talk in both work and social situations
use indirectness strategies in hedging strong opinions, softening requests, and giving feedback - Engage in conversations and discussions, using active listening, showing interest, taking turns, and recognizing the contributions of others
- Use a variety of different phrases to negotiate, make offers, acknowledge compromise, and disagree appropriately in English
- Gain familiarity and the ability to use common idioms and metaphors when networking and socializing
- Sound natural, clear, and effective when communicating or conveying messages through the familiarity with American prosody (intonation, rhythm, stress patterns, focus words, connected speech/linking, and thought groups)
