Introduction

This non-credit course outlines foundational concepts in intercultural studies to help USask students process their intercultural experiences and provide them with tools to communicate effectively with cultures outside of their own dominant culture.

Summary of modules

  1. Introducing and defining culture
  2. The dimensions of culture
  3. The 5Rs of cultural change: routine, reactions, roles, relationships, and reflections about yourself. *Applicable to those planning to travel abroad
  4. Intercultural Communication Competencies (ICCs)
  5. Reflection during an intercultural experience
  6. Reflection after an intercultural experience

The entire course should take no more than 10 hours to complete, and the modules are Co-Curricular Record (CCR) approved, which means when a student completes at least five of the modules, the course will be listed on their CCR.

These modules fit well with programming that has an intercultural element, including international experiences at home or abroad.

To access the modules:

The modules can be accessed in the Training and Development section in PAWs. To access the course directly you can follow this link or provide this link to students who you would like to complete the course.

At the end of each term, the list of course participants will be reviewed and students who have completed the course will have the course added to their Co-Curricular Record (CCR).

Students should be provided instructions about which modules to complete based on the "Recommendations for Use" below relating to extracurricular activities. This will also be indicated throughout the modules as some content is specific to intercultural experiences that involve physical cultural immersion through living in another cultural context.

Courses with an intercultural element, including international experiences at home or abroad, would benefit from adding these modules to the curriculum.

To access the course, log in to Canvas through PAWS, and search "Introduction to Intercultural Communication" to find all six modules.

Adding modules to an online course:

  1. Enter each module you would like to add and import them into your course. You can adjust where the Modules will be in the course when you go to the modules section of your course.
  2. Send a list of NSIDs of the students who have completed the modules to study.abroad@usask.ca and it will be added to their Co-Curricular Record (CCR). Include the heading "CCR credit for Introduction to Intercultural Communication".

Adding modules to an in-person course:

  1. The modules can be accessed in the Training and Development section in PAWs. To access the course directly you can follow this link or provide this link to students who you would like to complete the course.

  2. Students should be provided instructions about which modules to complete based on the "Recommendations for Use" below relating to extracurricular activities. This will also be indicated throughout the modules as some content is specific to intercultural experiences that involve physical cultural immersion through living in another cultural context.

At the end of each term, the list of course participants will be reviewed and students who have completed the course will have the course added to their Co-Curricular Record (CCR).

Recommendations for use

Below are recommendations for how to incorporate the Intercultural Communication modules into coursework, extra currcular activities and how staff and faculty may use it to further their own understanding of Intercultural Communication.

Student

Type of activity:

  1. Coursework
    1. Courses with an intercultural element (international studies, virtual mobility, etc.)
    2. Collaborative Online Intercultural Learning (COIL)
    3. Service learning with an intercultural organization
  2. On-campus intercultural extra-curricular activities

Recommended modules: 

Modules 1, 2, 4, 5 (except exercise 3), 6

*Module 3 applies only to intercultural experiences abroad that have an actual travel element

Type of activity:

  1. Study abroad for academic credit
  2. International internships for academic credit
  3. international community service learning
  4. Work-integrated learning opportunities abroad (as a wraparound offering)

Recommended modules: 

Modules 1 - 6

Staff/faculty

Types of Activities:

  1. On-campus uses 
    1. Supplement intercultural professional development
    2. Supplement to intercultural team building exercise
    3. Personal interest (alongside an intercultural activity)
  2. International Experience (e.g. staff exchange or research abroad)

Recommended modules: 

Modules 1, 2, 4, 5 (except exercise 3), 6

*Module 3 applies only to intercultural experiences abroad that have an actual travel element

Get support

International Student and Study Abroad Centre

ISSAC provides administrative support for study or taught abroad programs.