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ENL-10057 - Module Specification
Language Centre
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

For academic year: 2024/25 Last Updated: 18 September 2024

ENL-10057 - The Stories We Live By
Coordinator: Russell Clark Room: CBB0.027 Tel: +44 1782 7 34293
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 4
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733960

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

Global Challenge Pathway Global Challenge Pathway (Level 4)


Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

N/A

Barred Combinations

Any other GCP module

Description for 2024/25

Language and culture are an indelible part of everything we do, but perceived cultural differences can cause confusion, mistrust and frustration. However, rather than looking at differences as a source of conflict, an awareness and understanding of culture and communication skills can enable positive interdisciplinary engagement and participation in global, outward facing activities.
This module will allow you to begin exploring different cultures and show how language and culture impacts on every action we take and on every decision we make. As we widen our scope of enquiry to a global scale, we look at how language and culture influence the UN Sustainable Development Goals ¿ both positively and negatively. You will also begin developing the awareness and skills to overcome intercultural barriers by meeting and working with people from around the world.

Aims
The module aims to provide a general overview of intercultural communication. This includes an introduction to different models of culture, potential barriers to intercultural understanding, and approaches to overcoming these challenges. It will allow you to look at your own culture and identify what factors might influence them, and how these are drawn together to produce national cultures which in turn produce cultural stereotyping. You will be introduced to the UN Sustainable Development Goals and begin to examine how culture and language can both help and hinder the success of these goals You will also develop digital skills and an approach to enhancing your future employability.

Intended Learning Outcomes

identify and explore models and concepts relating to intercultural awareness and communication: 1,2
demonstrate knowledge of models of intercultural awareness and communication and how these impact on the UN Sustainability Goals: 1,2
apply their academic learning to real-world contexts and develop skills in project-based, problem-based and scenario-based learning in a critical and reflective way: 1,2
develop and reflect on practices of digital communication and collaboration in relation to intercultural awareness and communication: 1,2
explore intercultural awareness and communication in relation to societal and workplace contexts: 1,2

Study hours

22 hours of interactive lectures, including discussion and simulated activities
12 hours student-led group sessions/collaborative project work
50 hours of independent research and preparation for assessments
66 hours session preparation and follow up

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Group Assessment weighted 50%
Digital Exhibit
The project will take the form of a digital exhibit. The format of the exhibit will be negotiated with students on the module. Students will work in small groups to develop their output. An indicative length for the output such as a podcast or video will be 15 minutes. Students will work in interdisciplinary groups to prepare and produce their digital exhibit on an intercultural communication issue of their choice and how it impacts on the UN Sustainability Goals. The presentation will outline the issue, why it is an issue, current approaches to mitigate the issue and potential future solutions. The grade for this assessment will be split equally between (a) the individual contribution to the project which will be summarised in an individual statement of 200-250 words, and (b) the group exhibit as a whole. This is to address both the individual and the group sides of the project, as well as both the content and project-management dimensions of the assessment

2: Portfolio weighted 50%
Independent reflective blog
Based on the course readings and discussions students will create a portfolio focussing on an introspection of their own, unique cultural experience leading to their current 'place' in the world. The portfolio will consist of four sections, each consisting of 250-300 words. Section 1) A reflection on their language(s) experiences Section 2) A reflection on their own multi-culturalism Section 3) A reflection on their own understandings of how media stories influences their global outlook Section 4) A reflection on the intercultural communication experience element of the module Each section is worth 25% of the overall portfolio grade.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 18 September 2024