Date: 19-Mar-2011
From: Fred Dervin <freder utu.fi>
Subject: Teaching Intercultural Communication in Finland
 E-mail this message to a friend
Full Title: Teaching Intercultural Communication in Finland
Date: 11-Nov-2011 - 11-Nov-2011
Location: Turku + online, Finland
Contact Person: Fred Dervin
Meeting Email: < click here to access email >
Linguistic Field(s): Applied Linguistics
Call Deadline: 06-May-2011
Meeting Description:
Teaching Intercultural Communication in Finnish Higher Education
One-day conference to be broadcasted live online
Confirmed Speakers:
Michael Byram (University of Durham, UK)
Ruth Illman and Peter Nynäs (Åbo Akademi University)
Organised by the Network for Research on Multiculturalism and Societal Interaction (MCNET, University of Turku)
Friday 11th November 2011
Introduction:
The teaching of intercultural communication is far from novel in the Finnish higher education landscape. Often called interchangeably cross-cultural communication, multicultural communication, intercultural awareness, intercultural studies… it is now omnipresent and can be found, amongst others, in language learning and teaching (language centres, philology/language departments), education, sociology, religious studies, and various interdisciplinary study programmes. No doubt the ‘booming’ of international academic and student mobility has contributed to the increasing interest in the topic. As such short courses and entire modules on intercultural communication are often aimed at both Finnish students and students from abroad (exchange and international students). Several Master’s degree programmes are also offered under different labels containing the ‘intercultural’: Intercultural Encounters (Helsinki), Intercultural communication (Jyväskylä) and Intercultural Studies (Vaasa). While many courses and modules have appeared in various formats (face-to-face and online courses) at different Finnish institutions in recent years, well-established programmes have been – or are on the verge of being – terminated or put on hold.
This one-day conference will be the first of its kind in Finland. It aims at gathering lecturers and teachers but also researchers who are involved in teaching intercultural communication in Finnish institutions (universities, universities of applied sciences, business schools…). This is an opportunity for colleagues to meet, listen to each other, share and discuss their practices and the problems they might encounter, in terms of practicalities, theories and methods. The way intercultural communication is theorized, approached and taught is many and varied, in Finland and elsewhere, and thus needs to be discussed – and debated! Theoretical orientation, teaching methods and approaches to the ‘intercultural’ have an impact on what is taught, how it is taught, and learning outcomes.
Call for Papers:
Deadline for abstracts: Friday 6th May 2011
Submitting an Abstract:
Colleagues are invited to submit an abstract of no more than 300 words by Tuesday, 6th May 2011. Papers can be either research-based or practical. Abstracts should be sent to frederutu.fi
Topics may include, but are not limited to, the following questions:
*Who teaches intercultural communication in Finland? To whom? And where?
*Why is intercultural communication taught? Why do students take courses on intercultural communication?
*How is intercultural communication taught in Finnish institutions? (How) is progression addressed and monitored?
*What has changed in the teaching of intercultural communication over the years/decades?
*What theoretical orientation(s) is the teaching of intercultural communication based on? Are they satisfactory?
*What is the impact of the courses/modules on students/learners? How is learning assessed? (or is it assessed?)
*What problems do teachers encounter when teaching intercultural communication (planning, literature, activities…)?
*What sort of training do those involved in teaching intercultural communication receive? What about Professional Development?
*What's on hold for the future of the teaching of intercultural communication in Finland?
The language of the conference is English.
Event coordinator: Fred Dervin (University of Turku) frederutu.fi
Scientific Committee:
Auvo Kostiainen (co-chair)(University of Turku, MCnet)
Fred Dervin (co-chair)(University of Turku)
Nancy Aalto, University of Tampere
Marie-José Barbot, University of Lille 3, France
Michael Berry, Turku School of Economics
David Hoffman, University of Jyväskylä
Christoph Parry, University of Vaasa
Riitta Pyykkö, University of Turku
Karen Risager, University of Roskilde, Denmark
Arja Virta, University of Turku
Practicalities:
The one-day conference is free and will take place at the University of Turku.
It will also be broadcasted live online and be made available on the Network website after the event for free viewing. Participants will be able to follow and take part in the conference from their own computers (required equipment includes: an Internet access, headphones and a microphone). Presenters will also be able to deliver their papers online should they wish to do so (the software used allows uploading PPT presentations).
Information about MCnet: http://mcnet.utu.fi/
Contact: Marjut Anttonen (marjut.anttonenutu.fi)
This Year the LINGUIST List hopes to raise $67,000. This money will go to help
keep the List running by supporting all of our Student Editors for the coming year.
See below for donation instructions, and don't forget to check out Fund
Drive 2011 site!
http://linguistlist.org/fund-drive/2011/
There are many ways to donate to LINGUIST!
You can donate right now using our secure credit card form at
https://linguistlist.org/donation/donate/donate1.cfm
Alternatively you can also pledge right now and pay later. To do so, go to:
https://linguistlist.org/donation/pledge/pledge1.cfm
For all information on donating and pledging, including information on how to
donate by check, money order, or wire transfer, please visit:
http://linguistlist.org/donation/
The LINGUIST List is under the umbrella of Eastern Michigan University and as
such can receive donations through the EMU Foundation, which is a registered
501(c) Non Profit organization. Our Federal Tax number is 38-6005986. These
donations can be offset against your federal and sometimes your state tax return
(U.S. tax payers only). For more information visit the IRS Web-Site, or contact
your financial advisor.
Many companies also offer a gift matching program, such that they will match
any gift you make to a non-profit organization. Normally this entails your
contacting your human resources department and sending us a form that the
EMU Foundation fills in and returns to your employer. This is generally a simple
administrative procedure that doubles the value of your gift to LINGUIST, without
costing you an extra penny. Please take a moment to check if your company
operates such a program.
Thank you very much for your support of LINGUIST!
Read more issues|LINGUIST home page|Top of issue
|
