Additional Information

Instruction Mode: Online
Effective intercultural communication is built on cognition, affect, and behavior. The goal of Comm3730: Mindful Intercultural Communication is to learn mindful behaviors that can lead to more empathetic intercultural communication. In this course, students will read theories and research in positive psychology, mindfulness meditation, and intercultural communication to gain a basic understanding of the emerging science on the effects of mindfulness practice for intercultural communication effectiveness as well as mental and physical health. Students will learn a series of meditative routines, including both basic breathing techniques and practices that conscientiously cultivate such positive emotions as gratitude, joy, compassion, empathy, equanimity, and forgiveness. Through regular practices students will grow their attentiveness, compassion, and empathy that are vital for effective intercultural and interpersonal communication: Once a person’s heart/attitude is changed through mindfulness practices, connective behaviors will follow. Communication will also become authentically empathic and compassionate when people can speak from a heart that is filled with empathy and compassion toward those who are different. This course will count for the Persuasion and Social Influence (CSI) focus area for Communication majors. Communication majors must take the course for a letter grade. The course can be taken as a sequence to Comm3710: Crossing Cultures through Film, which gives a greater emphasis on the affective dimension of intercultural communication competence; and Comm3720, which gives a greater emphasis on the cognitive aspect of intercultural communication competence.