Universidad de Jaén

1. Introduction

                    1.1. The role of English in the context of internationalization and globalization

                    1.2. The bilingual / plurilingual context in Spain

                    1.3. The complexities of intercultural encounters

                    1.4. Language in the process of communication

                    1.5. The relationship between language, culture and identity

                    1.6. National identity as social identity

1. The conditions for intercultural communication (in a foreign language)

2.1. Stereotypes and the cognitive phenomena

2.2. Prejudices and intergroup conflict

1. The pedagogy of the cultural and intercultural component in the EFL class, in linguistic subjects and in non-linguistic areas:

3.1. Concepts and notions. (Socio)cultural competence and intercultural communicative competence

3.2. Planning a cultural dimension in the syllabus

3.3. Planning an intercultural dimension in the syllabus

The methodology of this course is based on a student-centred approach; the tutors are, therefore, motivators and facilitators in the learning process, both in the on-site and in the on-line parts of the course.

In the initial contact session, learners will be provided with relevant information on the whole structure of the course, on their workload during the development of the course and on how to access the web platform.

In a Masters course we do not consider it appropriate to lecture, i.e. to ‘transmit’ our knowledge to students by telling them what we know. We believe that students can and should take a lead in presenting the important ideas and theories which we wish to discuss. The role of the tutors is to create a conceptual framework, suggest possible implications and applications for practice, and respond to the ideas of students.

Since the course aims at keeping a balance between theory and practice, part of the sessions will also be devoted to the implementation of activities proposed by students and which they will carry out in groups. These activities will explore from a practical perspective the main theoretical aspects of the course, hence providing participants with a battery or models of activities of a cultural / intercultural character for their future use in the foreign language class.

All course participants will be asked to be actively involved in the course by participating in the group activities, reading and presenting articles or extracts from key works. 

Students with special educational needs should contact the Student Attention Service (Servicio de Atención y Ayudas al Estudiante) in order to receive the appropriate academic support

A combination of both formative and summative assessment will be employed on the basis of the following parameters:

• participants’ interest and participation in the on-site sessions, as well as the presentations done in the course of these sessions (25%)
• participants’ interest and participation in the on-line sessions, regular access to the on-line platform, participation in the forum, their asking and answering questions and their participation in debates by means of new technologies (15%)
• the production of a written final assignment of 1500-2000 words based on an oral presentation (40%)
• self-evaluation (20%)

An alternative system of assessment will be prepared for participants who cannot attend regularly 75% of the on-site sessions. They will be assessed on the basis of additional activities they will have to post on the on-line platform of the course and on the preparation and (if possible) presentation of a longer essay containing more extensive bibliographical references.

The assessment criteria used in connection with the assignment are that the assignment should:

a)    demonstrate a detailed and extensive understanding of the topic and its significance within the field of study in question

b)   include evidence of critical understanding of the concepts and theories in question with no significant omissions

c)    reflect the ability to develop critical insights into the concepts and theories in question and to relate them to particular cases and contexts

d)   be written in an appropriate style and follow academic conventions, with high standards of English and presentation