Intercultural Communication Module COIL EXPERIENCE REHNUMA KARIM Department of Recreation and Leisure

Road Map CELT’s role Brief Overview of the course Significance of these courses Challenges

Overview Brockport Instructor: Rehnuma Karim, Ph.D College of Brockport, State University of New York, USA, Semester: Fall, Students (All disciplines) Course : International Tourism Bangladesh Instructor :Quazi Ahmed Institute of Business Administration Dhaka University, Bangladesh 60 Students Course :Business Communication Common Module Intercultural Communication Duration: 6 Weeks

COURSE DESCRIPTION The COIL module is designed to develop awareness among the students on the importance of intercultural communication in this global society. The course will encourage students to develop knowledge and skills that will allow them to communicate effectively in collaborative learning environment..

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES Students will be able to: Identify major cultural differences and similarities through interactive discussion and collaborative tasks addressing biases, stereotypes and lifestyles in both cultures. Explore the importance of cross-cultural awareness and the dynamics of online communication etiquette while interacting with each other exchanging individual world views, images and videos among themselves. Acquire knowledge, skills and attitudes that will contribute to develop intercultural competence to communicate effectively in collaborative online learning environment and heighten their ability to respect and understand cultures different than their own

ASSESSMENT AND GRADING Self-Introduction activity through an Ice Breaker session Collaborative assignments on shared Reading Materials Discussion on posts through Facebook Self-Reflective paper Generalization Diversity Quiz World View Google Docs VIBER APP

FACEBOOK DISCUSSIONS Communication-USA-BD /?fref=nf Brianna Mac Brianna Mac I think that the religions coming together for a common purpose is a really great idea and really sets an example for the world that religions can accept each other instead of being enemies. Everyone has their own beliefs and its really nice to see that these people have a more unity based world view. There's always going to be people without an open mind like the ignorant man in the interview, but proving them wrong by setting more examples like this may change their views a little bit and make the world a better place to live in. Brianna Mac Brianna Mac I think that the religions coming together for a common purpose is a really great idea and really sets an example for the world that religions can accept each other instead of being enemies. Everyone has their own beliefs and its really nice to see that these people have a more unity based world view. There's always going to be people without an open mind like the ignorant man in the interview, but proving them wrong by setting more examples like this may change their views a little bit and make the world a better place to live in.

Our World-Views Interesting Observation: The Cohorts seemed to reflect on more Unity-based World-view in the last two semesters than from the Years 2012 to 2014

Significance of Cross-Cultural Collaborative Learning Developing cross-cultural sensitivity Discussion taking place outside class-room setting with peers and family members Expanded their global perspective on different issues Became interested in study abroad programs to experience foreign culture Overcome fear of communicating with individuals from different culture.

Effectiveness of Assignments

Global Awareness

Few Student Reflections What is my world View? Has my worldview change or will change? Where did my worldview come from? What would I need to do if I want to change my world view? After reading the article on “World View”, discuss and compare your world views with your COIL partner answering the following questions “ I don’t believe the differences in our world views lead to ineffective communication. The main reason for that is we respect each other. I have respect for Arif and Shubhashish and they both have respect for me. We both understand we have different thoughts on things because we are from different places “All of us realize that at the end of the day, it is essential for people to be connected and united. Just like how connected we are within our families, and friends. In addition, my COIL partners and I also believed in the idea of change”.

Challenges Personal Time Lack of Recognition Creating Pedagogical insight Institutional Infrastructure Leadership Cultural Learning and communication style Concept of time

Reflections In just a few short weeks of getting to know my COIL partners, I have seen two people of different religions (whom have violently feuded with each other in the past I am told) become close friends, as well as two people of different religions planning to intermarry. No prejudices stand in the way of this on either side. Of course I would recommend this program; in fact I already plan to as some of my political science friends were excited that we would have Bangladeshi pen pals. And of course I will remain in communication with my Bangladeshi friends (for that’s what they are now.) Finally, as I have found in discussion that my COIL partners not only are just as interested in learning about America as I am learning about Bangladesh; but they tend to view issues from a human perspective that the global community must face together as opposed to viewing them as the problems of individual countries. These experiences were pretty meaningful to me because it is something I haven’t done before school wise. Since I haven’t done something like this in school, it will be something I will always remember and something I will always get to speak about with my new friends.

Extracts from Self-Reflective Paper “I learned a lot of information about Bangladesh from my COIL partners through this experience. Their inspiration for their country really inspired me and made me realize that I should be making a difference in my country as well. Tazbin has a passion for social welfare and is associated with an organization through his school to help educate street children to make the world a better place to live. Adib has a passion to help with the crime, political and economic problems of his country. Adib stated in his , “ You will see busy, polluted streets which will make you want to not live, but then again you will find normal city streets calm and quiet and once you let yourself enjoy it, you might even find bliss there.”