21G 221 Communicating In American Culture S Spring 2019

Navigating communication in a new cultural environment involves more than just translating words; it requires understanding the underlying values, history, and social norms that shape how people interact. For bilingual individuals, adapting to these unspoken expectations is key to building strong personal and professional relationships in the United States. This text-based course helps you decode the core elements of American communication style, guiding you from fundamental cultural concepts to practical application in everyday scenarios. You will transition from understanding basic cultural concepts to analyzing and applying these norms in your own written communication, building your confidence one reading and written exercise at a time. What you'll learn: - Understand how American history, regional differences, and core values shape dominant communication styles. - Analyze common American idioms, direct versus indirect feedback patterns, and cultural expectations around persuasion. - Practice drafting clear professional emails, constructive feedback, and structured written arguments tailored to American workplace expectations. - Apply modern digital communication etiquette, including remote collaboration norms and inclusive language guidelines. - Evaluate critical cultural events to understand how public communication and media messaging function in the United States. You will begin by exploring foundational concepts of intercultural communication and the historical roots of American social norms. From there, you will progress through structured readings and written exercises designed to sharpen your analytical skills and refine your everyday communication style. This course is designed for bilingual learners, international professionals, and students who want to better understand and navigate American cultural contexts. No prior background in intercultural studies is required. Start reading today to express yourself clearly and confidently in any American cultural setting.