Course Description
Examines facilitation of and active participation in intercultural dialogue during supervised discussions with students whose culture is non-American. Emphasis on using the principles of active listening and dialogue for cultivating hermeneutical understanding (of both self and others), while discussing topics of intercultural and interreligious interest.
Athena Title
INTERCULTRL DIALOG
Semester Course Offered
Offered summer semester every year.
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Students successfully completing this course will have: 1) an understanding of the significance and theory of hermeneutical dialogue in contrast to debate 2) knowledge of the skills of how to be an active listener and facilitator of hermeneutical dialogue with students whose cultural background is non-American 3) experience as participants in and facilitators of intercultural dialogue 4) experience in assisting advanced non-native speakers of English through active listening (the service-learning aspect of the course)
Topical Outline
1) The problem of intercultural violence and the need for intercultural and interreligous dialogue through hermeneutical understanding 2) Active listening: being a participant-facilitator 3) Dialogue, envisioning a better world and better lives, and practical steps 4) Cultural and religious differences vis-a-vis social life and marriage 5) National, cultural, and religious differences in educational philosophy and systems; job expectations and the role of linguistic expertise 6) Globalized media and religio-cultural stereotyping 7) Monolingual vs. multilingual societies: implications for intercultural, interethnic, and interreligious relations 8) Social class, crime, and drugs: intercultural comparisons 9) American power and privilege: seen from the U.S. and abroad