Suggested Readings

Baldwin, J.R., Faulkner, S.L., Hecht, M.L., and Lindsley, S.L. (eds) (2006) Redefining Culture: Perspectives across the Disciplines, Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
This volume provides a listing of over 300 definitions of culture from a wide array of disciplines. The authors examine how the definition of culture has changed historically.

Gardiner, H. (2018) Lives across Cultures: Cross-Cultural Human Development, 6th edn, Harlow: Pearson.
Differences in the primary language and cultural socialization process in diverse cultural contexts are discussed.

Hall, E.T. (1976) Beyond Culture, New York: Anchor Books.
This book is written by the scholar who is regarded by many as the founding father of the scholarly field of intercultural communication. In this volume, he describes the many influences of culture on the way people live and interact, with a special emphasis on nonverbal codes.

Suggested films/videos/DVDs

Babies (2010) Universal City, CA: Focus Features (79 minutes).

This film presents one year in the life of four babies from different parts of the world: Ponijao from Namibia, Bayarjargal from Mongolia, Mari from Tokyo, and Hattie from San Francisco. Celebrating the universal innocence of babies, the film offers insight into the language and cultural socialization process in different cultural contexts. Variations in cultural beliefs, values, and norms are illustrated. For example, we see different child reading practices in action.

Children of Heaven (1997) New York: Miramax Films (89 minutes).

This simple yet elegant story, which is set in Iran, centers on two children: Zahra and Ali. Zahra’s shoes have disappeared because her brother Ali lost them. With no money to replace them, they decide to share one pair of shoes. This Oscar-winning film illustrates urban daily life in Iran in the 1990s and depicts class differences in Iranian society. The movie offers insight into Iranian beliefs, values, and norms.

I’m Normal, You’re Weird: Understanding Other Cultures (1997) Chicago: Learning Seed Company (23 minutes).

In this instructional video, a group of aliens prepare to take human form by rehearsing their new roles and learning the complexities of diverse human cultures.

Monsoon Wedding (2001). New Delhi: iDream Productions (114 minutes).

This film centers on a modern, upper-middle class family in Delhi, India, where telecommunications and a western lifestyle mix with old traditions (e.g., arranged marriages). The main storyline centers on a father who is trying to organize a large, chaotic, and expensive wedding for his daughter to a man she has known for only a few weeks. In this Punjabi wedding, extended family members from different generations come together from all corners of the globe, including India, Australia, Oman, and the United States. At first, the bride rebels against the arranged marriage and some of the story centers on her turmoil. The film covers the concept of social class/caste, arranged marriage, collectivism, attitudes toward children and family life; the importance of dance to the culture; intergenerational conflict; and the influence of Hinduism in the daily life of the characters.

Suggested online resources

Ads about culture (6:34)

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALWwK7Vz4gY)
This HSBC commercial contrasts different norms in various cultural contexts. For example, it illustrates how people in different cultures view cars and make use of personal space.

Gender Roles-Interviews with children (2:36)

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VqsbvG40Ww)
This video presents an experiment in which American children are asked different questions about gender roles, e.g., who should clean the house or who should have long hair. The video reveals that the children have internalized the conventions of gender roles in the U.S.

Group Identity - Ingroup and Outgroup Formation (4:30)

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga4Zr7P25o0)
This short clip in documentary format was shot at a public school in England. At first, it shows interviews with students who belong to a clique or ingroup. Then, it examines the loners, who feel that the different groups at school are outgroups to them.

Honorifics and respect for seniority in Korea (7:12)

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJZ7ChPU28Y)
Two foreigners living in Korea talk about how honorifics are used in the host culture. This video illustrates how elements of culture are learned and shared by a cultural group.

Primary school life in Japan and Britain

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A09HhxXht4) (Japan) (5:34)
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMUJKH1fFF0) (Britain) (5:54)
These videos show a typical day in primary schools. The first one is set in Japan, while the second one is in Britain. By viewing these videos together, it is evident that there are different cultural schema at work. For example, there are variations in the classroom setting, clothing, the ways the lessons are taught, how and where lunch is distributed/eaten, etc. The clips illustrate the impact of cultural socialization.

Suiti: Cultural Space

(http://www.unesco.org/archives/multimedia/index.php?s=films_details&pg=33&id=287)
This documentary focuses on the cultural practices and heritage of the Suiti, a small Catholic community in the Protestant (Lutheran) western part of Latvia. Suiti cultural space is characterized by a number of distinct features, including vocal drone singing performed by Suiti women, wedding traditions, colorful traditional costumes, the Suiti language, local cuisine, religious traditions, celebrations of the annual cycle, and a remarkable number of folk songs, dances and melodies recorded in this community. Older forms of extended family structures are still common here, and such families, where the transfer of skills from generation to generation takes place, are important bastions of Suiti cultural heritage.

Suggested Readings

Bonvillain, N. (2013) Language, Culture and Communication, 7th edn,Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall.
Using data from cultures and languages throughout the world, this book explores the connections between language, culture, and communicative meaning. 

Kramsch, C. (1998) Language and Culture, Oxford: Blackwell.
This compact book offers an accessible survey of key language concepts such as social context and cultural authenticity, using insights from such fields as linguistics, sociology, and anthropology.

Remillard, V. and Williams, K. (2016) Human Communication across Cultures: A Cross-cultural Introduction to Pragmatics and Sociolinguistics,
This introductory text explores how language is used in social interactions in various cultural contexts, drawing attention to differences due to such aspects as gender, age, race/ethnicity, religious background, social class, and level of education.

Saphiere, D.H., Mikk, B.K., and Devries, B.I. (2005) Communication Highwire: Leveraging the Power of Diverse Communication Styles, Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press.
The authors introduce the notion of communication styles and explain how communication style preferences reflect our personal and cultural upbringing and vary depending on the context and cultural setting.

Suggested films/videos/DVDs

Gender and Communication: Male-Female Differences in Language and Nonverbal Behavior (2001) Berkeley, CA: Berkeley Media (42 minutes).

This video explores the impact that gender has on verbal messages (e.g., speech, language, vocabulary) and nonverbal channels of communication (e.g., touch, movement, gesture).

Language and Communication (1983) New York: Insight Media (30 minutes).

This instructional video examines how the aspirations of a culture are expressed through its language. Looking at certain African American dialects and the Nuer people, the video highlights how language and thought reflect and influence culture.

Multilingual Hong Kong (2005)Princeton, NJ : Films for the Humanities & Sciences (30 minutes). Produced byKatherine Chen, Assistant Professor, the University of Hong Kong.

This video illustrates Hong Kong’s struggle to strike a balance between the influence of  international forces and the preservation of local culture. The first episode centers on a common phenomenon in the city: Cantonese-English code-mixing. In 2004, researcher Katherine Chen surveyed Hong Kong pedestrians for Cantonese-only translations to a commonly code-mixed sentence, ‘Today I must present a project.’ While searching for the answer, the film has parallel explorations into who code-mixes in Hong Kong, why they do it, what attitudes people have toward it, and what social meaning it holds.

Suggested online resources

Cultural Dimension: Me or we (2:56)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW7aWKXB5J4)
This clip contrasts individualism and collectivism –some cultures focus on the individual as a unique, independent person with primary responsible for his or her well-being (individualism). In other contexts, the group’s well-being comes first, and the individual is expected to conform to the group’s needs.

Deborah Tannen: That’s not what I meant! Signals, Devices, and Rituals (7:58)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5TII8Y3l28)
Deborah Tannen, a sociolinguist who has written several books on gender and communication, explains how men and women use language and discusses some of the sources of miscommunication between the sexes.

Intercultural Competence: Good vs. Bad (7:38)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqU5ORCmACU)
This video presents a student project prepared for a Human Societies and Globalization class. Using an American’ girl’s visit to her Lebanese friend’s home as an example, acts of both convergence and divergence are illustrated. Some behaviors promote successful intercultural communication, whereas others are less effective.

Low and high context cultures (3:58)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tIUilYX56E)
This educational video presents a discussion of low and high-context communication and culture based on E.T. Hall's work.

The Use of Silence in Japan (Intercultural communication) (7:11)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyjenhfSnFU)
This educational video about Intercultural communication centers on the use of silence in Japan. It shows that in a high-context culture and a collectivist society like Japan, people often use indirect communication strategies such as silence.

Various Channels of Communicating (0:51)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ANJnhvNLb4)
This excerpt presents a scene from the film He’s Just Not That Into You. The lead actress has to check seven different communication platforms (e.g., email, texts, answering machine and phone call, etc.) to decide if she is being rejected by a guy, so she feels exhausted.

Suggested Readings

Eaves, M.H. and Leathers, D. (2018) Successful Nonverbal Communication: Principles and Applications, 5th edn, New York: Routledge.
Drawing on theory and research, the authors review the major forms, functions, and uses of nonverbal communication, and they offer valuable suggestions to enhance one’s nonverbal communication.

Hall. E.T. (1984) The Dance of Life: The Other Dimension of Time, New York: Anchor Books.
This book, which was written by a foundational figure in intercultural communication studies, explores the cultural nature of time.

Hall, E.T. (1990) The Hidden Dimension, New York: Anchor Books.
This classic explores variations in the use of space across cultures and discusses how that use reflects cultural values and norms of behavior.

Matsumoto, D. and Hwang, H-S. (2012) ‘Nonverbal communication: The messages of emotion, action, space, and silence’ in J. Jackson (ed.) The Routledge Handbook of Language and Intercultural Communication, London and New York: Routledge, pp. 130-47.
In this chapter, the authors review the key findings of research that has examined the influence of culture on various nonverbal behaviors (e.g., facial expressions, gestures, gaze, voice, interpersonal space, touch, posture, gait).

Moore, N-J, Hickson, M., and Stacks, D.W. (2014) Nonverbal Communication: Studies and Applications, 6th edn, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Balancing theory and practice, this volume is designed to help students understand how nonverbal communication impacts ‘real world’ interactions.

Suggested films/videos/DVDs

Body Language: Introduction to Nonverbal Communication (1993) Lake Zurich, Ill.: Learning Seed (30 minutes).

This instructional video illustrates how gestures and postures mirror emotions and communicate messages. The video also examines smiling, unwritten rules of eye contact, as well as use of personal and public space.

Communication-The Nonverbal Agenda (1988) Carlsbad, CA: CRM Films. (20 minutes).

This video provides a general, basic introduction to nonverbal communication. The relationship between verbal and nonverbal communication is explored. The impact of nonverbal communication in business environments is also discussed.

Gender and Communication: Male-Female Differences in Language and Nonverbal Behavior (2001) Berkeley, CA: Berkeley Media (42 minutes).

This video explores the impact that gender has on verbal messages (e.g., speech, language, vocabulary) and nonverbal channels of communication (e.g., touch, movement, gesture).

The Gods Must Be Crazy (1980) Culver City, CA: Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (109 minutes).

This comedy provides many examples of intercultural miscommunication, especially in the ways nonverbal actions are misinterpreted by an African bushman and South Africans.

The Human Face: Emotions, Identities and Masks (1996) Berkeley, CA: University of California Extension Center for Media and Independent Learning (30 minutes).

The face is perhaps the most powerful channel of nonverbal communication. We ‘encode’ messages in our own facial expressions and routinely ‘decode’ the faces of the people around us. Our face conveys elements of our identities. This video examines 12 different facial properties and stresses the importance of the ability to ‘read’ diverse messages that are conveyed in faces.

Japanese Nonverbal Communication (1978) Bloomington, Ind.: The Center (20 minutes)

This video illustrates common Japanese facial expressions and gestures in formal and informal social and business settings. It examines differences between Japanese men and women and explores seating arrangements, greetings, and food service.

Non-verbal communication in the global marketplace (2004) Sunrise, FL: D.E. Visuals (24 minutes).

This instructional video introduces the mechanics of nonverbally communicating through gestures, proxemics, and other nonverbal channels; it exposes viewers to differing interpretations of nonverbal behaviors in the global marketplace.

Reading People: The Unwritten Language ofthe Body (1997) Lake Zurich, Ill.: Learning Seed (23 minutes).

This instructional video explains how paralanguage, eye contact, touch, time, and space influence communication. It stresses that reading facial expressions is more difficult than many people realize. The video also explains how the use of touch varies from culture to culture, and discusses what volume, speed, and inflection can reveal about a speaker.

Without words: An Introduction to Nonverbal Communication (1977) Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall (23 minutes).

In this video, examples of various forms of nonverbal communication are presented, including clothing and personal appearance. There is also a discussion of contrasts in nonverbal communication between Arab and U.S. American cultures.

A World of Gestures: Culture & Nonverbal Communication (1991) Berkeley, CA: University of California Extension Media Center (27 minutes).

This video explores the origin and functions of gestures and provides examples of cultural variations in this type of nonverbal communication. Gestures that are used to convey anger, friendliness, openness, obscenities, and other emotions are illustrated, as well as particular gestures used by gangs and secret organizations. The video also discusses children’s learning of gestures through enculturation.

Suggested online resources

American Hand Gestures in Different Cultures: 7 Ways to Get Yourself in Trouble Abroad (2:04)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWFPHW7BCCI)
Many American hand gestures are innocent in the U.S. but mean something negative in other contexts. This video shows seven innocent American hand signs that can lead to trouble in other parts of the world.

Cultural Dimension: Display of emotion (2:17)

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwDDb_h2i0A)
This video illustrates how we display sincerity, emotion, and intensity when conflict arises. Some cultures prefer a low-key, ‘rational’ style, while others prefer a more passionate, vivid, and animated display.

Cultural Etiquette and Touch (3:39)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PGCkSoy5nk)
This clip offers insight into some cultural variations in the use of touch.

Culture differences Personal space (HSBC ad) (6:43)

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUCODUvKbzE)
This HSBC ad illustrates cultural variations in personal space.

Facial Expressions (2:58)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5G6ZR5lJgTI)
Are facial expressions learned or innate? Dr. David Matsumoto of San Francisco State University researched this issue by studying photos of blind and sighted athletes at the 2004 Olympic and Paralympic games.

Hand Gestures around the World (2:14)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2h0V1YkccEE)
Travelers are often concerned about language problems when they go abroad but often overlook differences in body language. This clip demonstrates how some hand gestures are commonly used around the world.

Italian Hand Gestures: A Short History (NY Times) (2:08)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DW91Ec4DYkU)
This video clip illustrates five Italian emblematic gestures: ‘Be careful’, ‘Where are you going?’, ‘Perfect’, ‘How chic!’, and ‘very good’.

Tracy Goodwin’s Online Lectures: Nonverbal Communication Tools

Non-Verbal Communication:  Adapters (1:28)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0ItHJBEw7I)
This clip focuses on adapters, physical movements designed to make you feel better in nonverbal communication.

Non-Verbal Communication: Affect Display (1:39)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKY2tbcO55c)
In nonverbal communication, affect displays are movements involving the body, face, or hands.

Non-Verbal Communication: Clothing (1:49)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xsng2YOhMA)
When communicating nonverbally, clothes give a very strong impression of a personality.

Non-Verbal Communication: Artifactual Communication (1:24)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJXXpzboZBM)
Artifactual communication uses space decoration to influence nonverbal communication.

Non-Verbal Communication: Eye Contact (1:41)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FEbfUDzNoI&list=PLFECF91A441EC22F3)
In nonverbal communication, a person making more than 60% eye contact shows more interest in a conversation.

Non-Verbal Communication: Eye Contact Avoidance (2:05)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwbUy3MHZGg&list=PLFECF91A441EC22F3&index=13)
Avoiding eye contact in nonverbal communication makes building a relationship difficult.

Non-Verbal Communication: Emblems (1:57)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wmyFsezeJk)
Emblems are a type of nonverbal communication that most people aren’t aware of.

Non-Verbal Communication: Facial Feedback (2:01)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E0hTktMIyE&list=PLFECF91A441EC22F3&index=19)
Facial feedback is expressing feelings without saying a word through facial expressions in nonverbal communication.

Non-Verbal Communication: Facial Expressions (1:50)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1H2kZWjqTA)
Facial expressions communicate a variety of emotions.

How to Improve Intercultural Sensitivity: Gestures (1:38)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OrqtKqMbtM)
A hand gesture that means something to you may mean something else to someone from another culture, or it may not mean anything to that person.

Non-Verbal Communication: Touch Avoidance (1:29)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMSdfqJWPT4&list=PLFECF91A441EC22F3)
The expert explains why people avoid touch and what it entail in communication.
In nonverbal communication, touch avoidance means not wanting to be touched.

Non-Verbal Communication: Non-Verbal Communication: Positive Touch (1:07)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMLfyfNSW0k)
Touch is the first sensory experience humans feel and is important to nonverbal communication.

Non-Verbal Communication: Playful Touch (1:10)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnH9r9x-0W4)
Playfulness in another way of using nonverbal communication.

Non-Verbal Communication: Illustrators (1:37)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROKYP10Zcw4)
Illustrators are body movements that go with words in nonverbal communication.

Non-Verbal Communication: Scent (1:32)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akwNLPiFj0I)
A person's scent can communicate a certain message about them.

Non-Verbal Communication: Paralanguage (1:47)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5j0DFkbnE0)
In nonverbal communication, paralanguage is the tone of language being used.

Non-Verbal Communication: Appearances (1:11)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGg3obm_1NA)
Overall appearances influence nonverbal communication.

How to Evaluate Speeches : Evaluating Speeches: Posture & Gestures (1:33)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS3BDGNDu_8)
Stand straight and stationary. Use moderate hand gestures.

Non-Verbal Communication: Space (2:08)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhhALfB_1Aw)
In nonverbal communication, space is also known as proxemics.

Non-Verbal Communication: Regulators (1:40)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEXxmOcx8Ck)
Nonverbal communication regulators are used to manipulate conversations.

Non-Verbal Communication: Silence (1:26)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ED008VqMDJU&list=PLFECF91A441EC22F3)
Silence is one of the worst nonverbal communication tools to use.

How to Improve Intercultural Sensitivity : Intercultural Sensitivity: Time (1:35)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PGEbvECv7c)
In American culture, punctuality is emphasized. In other cultural contexts, being on time means ten minutes after an agreed upon time.

Suggested Readings

Block, D. (2009) Second Language Identities, London: Continuum.
Drawing on social science theory, the author discusses identity formation and change in foreign language learners, adult migrants, and study abroad students.

Jandt, F. (2018) An Introduction to Intercultural Communication: Identities in a Global Community, 9th edn, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
This introductory text discusses the ways in which culture and language influence identities and intercultural communication.

Noels, K.A., Yashima, T. and Zhang, R. (2012) ‘Language, identity and intercultural communication’, in J. Jackson (ed.) Routledge Handbook of Language and Intercultural Communication, Abingdon, UK: Routledge, pp. 52-66.
In this chapter, the authors critically examine how scholars in social psychology, communication, and applied linguistics define identity; their review highlights the complex relation between language and identity in intercultural communication.

Pollock, D.C., Van Reken, R.E. and Pollock, M.V. (2017) Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds, 3rd edn, Boston: Nicholas Brealey Publishing.
Drawing on interviews and personal writings, this book explores the challenges and benefits of being Third Culture Kids (TCKs) – young people who have spent a significant part of their developmental years abroad.

Shi, X. and Langman, J. (2012) ‘Gender, language, identity, and intercultural communication’, in J. Jackson (ed.) Routledge Handbook of Language and Intercultural Communication, Abingdon, UK: Routledge, pp. 167-80.
In this chapter, the authors discuss the major topics and theoretical approaches that have shaped language, gender, and identity studies.

Suggested films/videos/DVDs

Calcutta Calling (2004) San Francisco, CA: Center for Asian American Media (26 minutes).

In 2003, Sasha Khokha filmed three teenage girls as they visited Calcutta, India, with their adoptive parents. At birth, the girls had been adopted from a Bengali orphanage by White American families in rural Swedish Lutheran Minnesota. This poignant film captures their reactions (e.g., identity awakenings) on their first visit to their country of birth since their adoption.

Daughter from Danang (2004) PBS Home Video (83 minutes).

This moving documentary follows the life of a Vietnamese American woman who returned to Vietnam to search for her birth mother. Adopted by a single White U.S. American in Tennessee, Heidi’s departure from Vietnam was facilitated by ‘Operation Babylift’, a Ford administration scheme that brought nearly 3,000 mostly mixed-race South Vietnamese children to the U.S. for adoption.  The film follows the young woman’s journey as she returns to Vietnam as an adult to meet her birth mother, where she is introduced to extended family members during a week-long visit. Her journey raises questions about her self-identities and positioning. In painful, difficult scenes, it becomes clear that the cultural distance between Heidi and her mother/relatives is significant. The film illustrates the long-lasting, harmful impact of wars.

The Human Stain (2003) Miramax Films (106 mins).

Coleman Silk was the first Jewish professor of classical literature at a prestigious college in Massachusetts in the U.S. After he is accused of making a racist remark about African American students, he loses his job and his wife dies due to the stress. Angry and desperate, he writes a book about his experience and discloses that he is not actually a Jew but African American with very light skin. The film illustrates the struggle of identity negotiation.

Living in the hyphen: cultural identity in a multiethnic society (2006) New York, N.Y.: Films Media Group (45 minutes).

This program centers on the experiences of poet Fred Wah and six other Canadians with one parent from a European background and one from a visible minority. This film offers a glimpse of a future in which hyphenated identities (e.g., Korean Canadian, Chinese American) give way to a celebration of mixed heritages.

Miss India Georgia (1997) Yellow Springs, Ohio: Urban Life Productions (56 minutes).

In this documentary video, issues of assimilation and ethnic identity are explored through the experiences of four contestants in the Miss India Georgia Pageant. In particular, it recounts the story of their experiences as first generation Indian Americans. These young women reveal the complexity of their feelings about growing up in the U.S. as children of immigrant parents.

Precious Cargo (2001) New York: Filmmakers Library (56 minutes).

In 1975, what became known as ‘Operation Babylift’, the U.S. evacuated 2,800 mostly mixed-race South Vietnamese children who had been living in orphanages to America, where they were adopted.  This program follows a group of adult adoptees on their visit to their native country on the 25th anniversary of Operation Babylift. For some, the visit brings peace; for others, it is profoundly disquieting and brings up issues related to their identities, U.S. policy, and their parents’ decisions to give them up.

Whalerider (2002) Pandora Film, Germany/Newmarket Films, U.S. (101 min).

In this drama, the Whangara people believe that their presence in New Zealand dates back a thousand years or more to a single ancestor, who escaped death on the back of a whale. Since then, first-born male Whangara chiefs have been chosen as direct descendants. An 11-year-old girl, however, believes she is destined to be the new chief. Her grandfather is bound by tradition to pick a male leader so she must fight him and a thousand years of tradition. This film illustrates the struggle between avowed and ascribed identities and the impact of cultural traditions. It also illustrates how enculturation impacts one’s identity development.

Yentl (1983)Beverly Hills, CA: MGM (131 minutes).

This romantic musical drama film was directed, co-written, and co-produced by Barbra Streisand, who also played the lead role. Based on Isaac Bashevis Singer’s short story ‘Yentl the Yeshiva Boy’, this dramatic production follows the odyssey of an Ashkenazi Jewish girl in Poland who decides to dress and live like a man so that she can receive an education in Talmudic Law after her father dies. Her defiance of social expectations and her reversal of traditional gender roles crosses deeply rooted religious boundaries, particularly once she marries Hadass. Yentl’s identity as a woman, not only socially and religiously, but also personally and sexually, is called into question.

Yidl in the middle: growing up Jewish in Iowa (Video 1999/DVD 2013) Ames, Iowa: Iowa State University (58 minutes).

This autobiographical film looks at growing up ‘different’ in America, as filmmaker Marlene Booth explores her Iowa Jewish roots. Through home movies, photos, her high school reunion, and current interviews, she examines the complicated process of negotiating multiple identities (e.g., her positioning as an American, a Jew, and a woman). 

Suggested online resources

Gender Roles (2:36)

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VqsbvG40Ww)
This video shows an experiment in which children are asked different questions concerning gender roles – for example, who should clean the house or who should have long hair. It can be seen from the video that children have internalized certain conventions about gender identities in America.

Gender Roles in Disney Films

(Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZL4rh4KRgVc) (7:45)
(Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u23sxA29rbI) (9:59)
This student presentation examines gender roles in Disney films, e.g., Pocahontas, The Little Mermaid,and Tangled.

Global identity (10:42)

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_3S4buoGfY)
This video presents interviews with people who share a very global background (e.g., Third Culture Kids). Some of their parents are from different ethnic or cultural origins, and their families have lived and worked in various countries. The interviewees offer insight into their experiences, identities, and the conflicts they faced.

I am Korean American (14:57)

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePDwLiU8udE)
In this episode, second generation Korean Americans share their experiences; some discuss how they have struggled to have their preferred self-identities recognized by others; some are labeled as ‘outsiders’ in both the U.S. and Korea.

Is Singlish accepted as part of Singapore's national identity? (12:29)

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b07EaQhxzJg)
This video, which centers on Singlish as part of Singaporean identity, presents interviews with local and international students. The role of the government in discouraging the use of Singlish through ‘Speak Good English’ Campaigns is also explored.

Race & Culture: Cultural Identity (1:27)
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKwd4vdQ9Gw)

This video clip explores notions of multiculturalism in Australia and addresses these questions: What does multiculturalism in Australia mean to the individual? How do young people living who have a different cultural upbringing identify themselves?

What is your cultural identity? (10:19)

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCvUw7TVXwU)
In this video, people in the UK who have different cultural backgrounds (Italian, Persian, Polish, Nigerian, and Zimbabwean) are interviewed about perceptions of their cultural identity.

What kind of Asian are you? (2:20)

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWynJkN5HbQ)
This humorous and sarcastic video centers on racial and ethnic identity and raises awareness of cultural stereotyping.

Suggested Readings

Brown, R. (2010) Prejudice: Its Social Psychology, 2nd edn,West Sussex, UK: Wiley-Blackwell.
From a social psychological perspective, the author analyzes the prejudices and stereotypes of individuals as part of a pattern of intergroup processes. Numerous examples of prejudice in everyday life are examined.

Jones, J.M., Dovidio, J.F. and Vietze, D.L. (2014) The Psychology of Diversity: Beyond Prejudice and Racism, Oxford: Blackwell.
This volume presents a social-psychological examination of diversity, offering insight into the historical, political, economic, and societal factors that shape the way people think about and respond to cultural difference.

Kivel, P. (2017) Uprooting Racism: How White People can work for Racial Justice, 4th edn, Gabriola Island, B.C.: New Society Publishers.
This volume explores the historical roots of racism and puts forward suggestions to move toward equality and justice for all.

Lippi-Green, R. (2012) English with an Accent: Language, Ideology, and Discrimination in the United States, London: Routledge.
The author discusses the ways in which discrimination based on accent functions to both support and perpetuate social structures and unequal power relations.

Suggested films/videos/DVDs

Babel (2007) Hollywood, CA: Paramount Home Entertainment (143 minutes).

This film centers on four different groups of people in four different places around the world who are impacted by a single event. Stereotypes and ignorance complicate the situation and result in tragedy. If the individuals involved had been more (inter)culturally aware, problems and challenges might have been resolved more easily. The message of the movie is that the world would be a more peaceful place if people were less focused on national identities and more globally minded citizens who demonstrate concern for all humans.

The Color of Friendship (2000) Disney Channel (USA) (TV) (87 minutes).

This TV program centers on a relationship that developed between a White South African and African Americans. Mahree Bok, a White South African teenager who experienced the Apartheid system, was raised to view dark-skinned people as second-class citizens. Piper Dellums, the daughter of an African American U.S. Congressman, lives in a nice house in Washington, D.C. When Mahree joins an international exchange program, she discovers that her host family is Black. Her hosts are also surprised when they realize that Mahree is a White South African. In spite of initial difficulties, Mahree and Piper gradually become friends and, in the process, begin to recognize each other’s prejudices. Both learn important lessons about racism and acceptance.

Crash (2005) Santa Monica, CA: Lions Gate Entertainment (113 minutes).

All of the characters in this film live in Los Angeles, but they come from very different worlds. They are different culturally, ethnically, and socially and have different socioeconomic statuses. Some also have a different linguistic background. In their daily lives they meet each other and, in their interactions, reveal the harmful consequences of ethnocentricism and racism. In this provocative film, many scenes illustrate how pre-judging and stereotyping can influence people’s behavior and lead to inequality and mistreatment.

Dirty Pretty Things (2002) Burbank, CA: Buena Vista International (97 minutes).

The film centers on the experiences of a Turkish woman and a Nigerian man, who are both working illegally in a hotel in London. Because of their illegal status, they are exploited. In the film we learn about their dreams, disappointments, and determination to overcome the many obstacles they face (e.g., prejudice, racism).

Finding Forrester (2002) Culver City, CA: Columbia Pictures, (136 minutes).

This film centers on the relationship between Jamal, an African American high school student, and William Forrester, a secluded Pulitzer Prize winning author who is White. A central theme is racial inequality in the U.S. American school system and the challenge of race relations. Although Jamal is a talented writer, his literature teacher never acknowledged his talent because he is Black. This film also illustrates the negative influence of peer pressure, as Jamal does not wish to excel and stand out from his ingroup.

Gran Torino (2009) Warner Home Video (116 minutes).

This movie centers on Walt Kowalski, a disgruntled Korean War veteran whose wife has just passed away. Unhappy with his life, he is angry that his formerly all-White neighborhood is becoming crowded with ethnic minorities, including a Hmong family. Their son Thao is being pressured to join a gang and as an initiation ritual he has been asked to steal Walt’s prized Gran Torino. Thao fails to steal the car when Walt catches him. They gradually get to know each other, and Walt becomes a neighborhood hero when he saves Thao and his sister from the gang.

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967) Columbia Pictures, USA (108 minutes).

Set in the 1960s, this film centers on a dinner party hosted by a bride’s parents to meet her fiancé (a doctor) and his parents. The bride’s White parents are shocked to find that the groom is Black and the groom’s parents are also unhappy when they learn that the bride is White. This comedy drama explores interracial marriage.

Guess Who (2005) Columbia Pictures (US); Twentieth Century Fox (international) (105 minutes).

This romantic comedy about race relations is a loose remake of the 1967 film Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. While the 1967 film covered interracial romance (of a Black man with a White woman) in a serious, dramatic fashion, the 2005 film deals with the topic (a White man dating a Black woman) in a light, farcical manner.

Matters of Race (2003) Alexandria, Va.: PBS DVD Video (240 minutes).

This series (The Divide, Race Is/Race Ain’t, We’re Still Here, Tomorrow’s America) follows race relations in the U.S. It defines the meaning of race and examines race relations among ethnic groups in the country.

Ruby Bridges  (1998) ABC (91 minutes).

This TV movie centers on institutional racism in educational settings. It presents the true story of Ruby Bridges, one of the first African American elementary children to study in an all-White school in New Orleans in 1960. Despite protests, she pursued her education and developed bonds with her White teachers and classmates.

Suggested online resources

How to Improve Intercultural Sensitivity: Overcome Ethnocentrism Through Acknowledging Distinctions (1:29)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hxb-2Vs513s)
In this educational video, Tracy Goodwin, a communications instructor, states that everyone thinks their culture is the best and that other cultures aren’t as good. She suggests ways to learn how to improve one’s level of intercultural sensitivity.

How Racist Are You? (Part I) Jane Elliott's Brown Eye-Blue Eye Experiment (11:13)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAv8JA_9uKI)

How Racist Are You? (Part II) (14:01)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgxKfjijWGc)

How Racist Are You? (Part III) Jane Elliott's Brown Eye-Blue Eye Experiment (7:48)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfeaiBvnaVQ)
These segments are from a Peabody Award winning documentary linked to Jane Elliott’s Brown Eye-Blue Eye Experiment. The excerpts provide some historical background on racism in the U.S. and explain the development of a system of advantage based on race. By engaging in a simulation of a racist Apartheid style regime, participants become more sensitized to the negative consequences of racism.

Racial Stereotyping (3:04)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ABRlWybBqM)
This clip from ABC News (U.S.) looks at how people tend to suspect Blacks of crimes instead of Whites.

Racism and Stereotypes in Advertising (6:24)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyCnJLNhQeE)
In this student presentation, racism and stereotyping in advertising are examined.

Racism in children’s cartoons (5:53)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSYAY1nv6tg
This video was made for an assignment on the portrayal of race in the media for a class on race and sociology. In this student presentation, racism within cartoons is examined.

Stereotypes of Americans on Study Abroad ([insert time])

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOrQAu4o3Js)
This video is produced by the University of California, Santa Barbara in the U.S. In interviews, students who studied abroad discuss how people in their host countries view Americans, offering insight into common stereotypes. They also provide advice for future outgoing exchange students.

Suggested Readings

Jackson, J. (2018) Interculturality in International Education, London and New York: Routledge.
This volume explores the multifarious individual and external elements that can influence the developmental trajectories of students who travel abroad to gain international educational experience.

Lantis, J.S. and DuPlaga, J. (2016) The Global Classroom: An Essential Guide to Study Abroad, Abingdon and New York: Routledge.
The authors offer practical suggestions for student sojourners to help optimize their stays abroad. This book encompasses three phases: (1) pre-sojourn preparation, (2) sojourn, and (3) reentry.

Paige, R.M., Cohen, A.D., Kappler, B., Chi, J.C., and Lassegard, J.P. (2006) Maximizing Study Abroad: A Student’s Guide to Strategies for Language and Culture Learning and Use, Minneapolis, MN: Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition, University of Minnesota.
This guide provides students with tools, creative activities, and advice to prepare for and enhance their culture and language learning while studying abroad. It can also help returnees adjust to life when they return home.

Slimbach, R. (2010) Becoming World Wise: A Guide to Global Learning, Sterling VA: Stylus.
This book is designed to help sojourners optimize their stays abroad by cultivating mindfulness and a global perspective.

Suggested films/videos/DVDs

A Good Return (2000) Lynbrook, NY: TeleTime Productions (28 minutes).

This video highlights the challenges of repatriation and explains why returnees often find it difficult to readjust to their life back home. The video is accompanied by a Facilitators Guide written by Craig Storti, the author of The Art of Coming Home (Intercultural Press). 

a.k.a. Don Bonus (1995) San Francisco: NAATA/CrossCurrent Media (55 minutes).

This video diary documents the acculturation experiences of 18-year-old Sokly Ny (Don Bonus) and his family, who immigrated to the United States to escape the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia. His self-portrait illustrates his struggle to adjust to a new life in the U.S. and graduate from high school.

Almanya - Willkommen in Deutschland (2011) Grünwald: Concorde Home Entertainment (97 minutes).

A Turkish family immigrates to Germany and experiences many intercultural misunderstandings and challenges.

Becoming American: The Chinese Experience: Between Two Worlds (2003) Public Affairs Television and Thomas Lennon Films, USA (89 minutes).

This program depicts the history of Chinese immigration to the United States through the stories of Chinese Americans and their families who were kept apart by both tradition and U.S. law (the 1862 Exclusion Act). Some immigrants were caught between countries, neither at home in the U.S. nor in China. The law that separated these families was challenged in the U.S. justice system.

Bend It Like Beckham (2002) Helkon SK, United Kingdom (112 minutes).

This film illustrates the intergenerational conflict that can arise in families who immigrate from one cultural environment to another. A teenager, the British-born daughter of Sikh parents, dreams of playing soccer; however, her parents do not approve and want her to learn to cook traditional dishes and prepare for an arranged marriage. She becomes involved in an interracial romance when she joins a female soccer team. Acculturation is also a theme  in this film as it illustrates different ways in which immigrants may respond to their new environment (e.g., assimilation, integration).

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012) Beverly Hills, CA: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (124 minutes).

Due to changes in their circumstances, some British retirees decide to spend their retirement in India at the Marigold Hotel in Jaipur. Though the new environment is not as luxurious as advertised, they get to know the new culture and share many experiences. One of the retiree’s experiences severe cultural shock and leaves India; others adapt and thrive in their new environment.

A Better Life (2011) Universal City, CA: Summit Entertainment (98 minutes).

A group of Mexican and El Salvadorian immigrants try to integrate into American society, both culturally and legally, in East Los Angeles, California. Carlos Galindo imagined a better life for his wife and baby when he crossed the border into the U.S. After his wife leaves him, Carlos is determined to work hard to give his son the opportunities he never had. They discover that family is the most important part of the American dream.

Big Night (1996) New York: The Samuel Goldwyn Company (107 minutes).

This drama focuses on two brothers who emigrated to the U.S. from Italy and opened an Italian restaurant. Primo, a gifted chef, refuses to make the type of food his American customers expect, and the business is in danger of failing. The movie explores themes of immigration, including dealing with conflicting values and the process of adaptation.

Brick Lane (2009) Culver City, CA: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (102 minutes).

A Bengali girl who grew up in a small, rural town in Bangladesh enters into an arranged marriage with an older man and moves to London with her new husband. Much of the film focuses on her adjustment to England and the intergenerational gap that arises between their daughters and her husband. The film is based on the controversial, bestselling novel by Monica Ali, which was published in 2003.

Culture shock: International students in the United States (2005) Bolux Films (DVD) (26 minutes).

This documentary explores cross-cultural adaptation and culture shock through the eyes of international students who are studying in the U.S. The focus is on the arrival and immediate post-arrival period and the challenges they experience.

Far and Away (1992) Hollywood, CA: Universal Pictures (176 minutes).

The main topic of this film is Irish immigration to the U.S. in the 1890s. The story centers on the struggles of Joseph and Shannon, a young Irish couple, both in Ireland and in their new homeland. The movie raises awareness of discrimination and other obstacles that immigrants may experience.

Global Citizens: The Movie (2010) Arise Entertainment (75 minutes).

This film follows a group of students who travel to southern Mexico for a six-week adventure. As they experience challenges and triumphs in an unfamiliar linguistic and cultural environment, they develop unforgettable friendships and grow academically, culturally, personally, and spiritually. They develop a better understanding of what it means to be interculturally competent and globally minded.

Lost Boys of the Sudan (2004) New York: New Video Group (87 minutes).

This Emmy-nominated documentary follows two teenage South Sudanese refugees on their journey from hunger and physical danger in Africa to the challenges of surviving in the United States. They must learn to quickly adapt to contemporary American society.

Lost in Translation (2003) New York: Focus Features (101 minutes).

This film illustrates the difficulty experienced by U.S. American sojourners in Japan. An American actor, Bob Harris, is in Japan to shoot a television commercial about whiskey. In an unfamiliar cultural environment, he encounters various frustrating situations, as he cannot understand Japanese and is confused by unfamiliar nonverbal behaviors.

The Namesake (2006) Hollywood, CA: Fox Searchlight Pictures, India/USA, (122 minutes).

This movie highlights the challenges of immigration by focusing on the experiences of an Indian family from West Bengal that moves to New York. Intergenerational conflict develops between the first-generation immigrants and their American-born children.

Outsourced (2008) Los Angeles, CA: Ocean Park Home Entertainment (103 minutes).

Todd Anderson works in a customer call center in the U.S. until his entire office is outsourced to India, and he is asked to go to Bombay to train his own replacement. In the beginning, frequent cultural misunderstandings and culture shock lead to Todd wanting to escape the chaos of Bombay for the comforts of Seattle. Gradually, he develops relationships with the Indian call center workers and begins to appreciate different ways of doing things, both in the business setting and in everyday life.

Refugee (2002) NAATA (63 minutes).

Spencer Nakasako follows the life of three Cambodians who were raised in San Francisco. They head back to Cambodia, which turns out to be a life-altering experience.

Understanding culture shock (2009) Westline Media (30 minutes).

This video examines the initial challenges and difficulties international students may experience when adjusting to life in the United States. Filmed at the University of New Hampshire’s main campus in Durham, this instructional video begins by defining culture shock and goes on to discuss its causes, stages, and symptoms. The video also provides useful tips on how students can overcome culture shock.

The Visitor (2008) Burbank, CA: Anchor Bay Entertainment (104 minutes).

Walter Vale, a widower who teaches economics at a Connecticut university, lives alone and has little interest in his work. In New York to give a paper at a conference, he goes to the apartment that he kept in the city and discovers a young couple living there. Despite their cultural differences, Walter befriends Tarek, a Syrian, and gradually forms a friendship with his girlfriend from Senegal. Tarek gets into trouble and is transferred to an immigrant detention center. Walter decides to stay in New York to help him. Tarek’s mother arrives and she and Walter support each other while they try to free Tarek. 

Suggested online resources

Canadian immigration: Culture clash (3:11)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlNgDg4P10M&list=PLC985B97E70D5631B&index=5)
New immigrants in Canada talk about acculturation (e.g., balancing the ‘new culture’ and the ‘old culture’).

Communal showers and culture shock (2:12)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loDbX3XrnNk#at=46)
In Germany, Abdullah was shocked to discover that people take communal showers in the sports place. He offers advice for dealing with culture shock.

Cross Cultural Etiquette - Mr. Baseball.mp4 (2:11)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdeFdFEbuqk)
Jack is living in Japan for the first time and has dinner with his Japanese girlfriend’s family. He knows very little about Japanese culture and makes many mistakes while eating with them.

Culture Curve: The Ups and Downs of Studying Abroad (3:54)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKyu-4k8zRc)
Outgoing exchange students from UCSB discuss their experiences with culture shock and homesick when they went abroad and reveal how they coped with the difficult times.

Immigrants’ Voices: Would-be crossers share their stories (Slide show)

(http://www.azcentral.com/news/politics/articles/20130405border-stories-immigration-voices.html)
Accompanying an article about immigration is a slide show that tells brief stories about people who have tried to immigrate to the U.S.

Reverse Culture Shock

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZAJHF4bn6g) Part I (1:25) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7l9Kx8CV5Q) Part II (1:06)
This online material is produced by the University of Montana Study Abroad Programs.
Part I: Similar to culture shock, a person can experience reverse culture shock upon returning home. This segment introduces the notion of reverse culture shock.
Part II: This section discusses ways to ease reverse culture shock.

Shopping and culture shock (2:12)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7mVQPzphIE)
Lucy, an Australian, recounts an interesting intercultural incident she experienced in a grocery store early in her sojourn in Germany.

Surprising Europe : Culture Shock (24:48)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HshRtCDsF7g)
In this presentation, the lives of African migrants in Europe are examined. Discussion centers on African identities, cross-cultural adjustment, racism, and intercultural relationships. Some interracial couples share their cultural differences such as variations in the roles of men in families.

You know you are in Tunisia when . . . Someone is worth a few camels (1:28)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQHvN99kg4s)
A European family on holiday in Tunisia encounters many cultural differences and experiences culture shock.

Suggested Readings

Acosta, H., Staller, M., and Hirayama, B. (2016) Intercultural Communication: Building Relationships and Skills, Dubuque, IA, USA: Kendall Hunt Publishing.
This book explains communication theories and offers practical advice to enhance and maintain satisfying intercultural relationships.

Bystydzienski, J.M. (2011) Intercultural Couples: Crossing Boundaries, Negotiating Difference, New York: New York University Press.
The author examines the multidimensional experiences of intercultural couples who negotiate their identities, gender expectations, language use, family relations, childrearing, financial matters, and lifestyle. 

Plummer, D. (2019) Some of My Friends Are...: The Daunting Challenges and Untapped Benefits of Cross-Racial Friendships. Boston: Beacon Press.
The author identifies and explores multiple factors that can influence the development and maintenance of ‘cross-racial’ friendships.

Vela-McConnell, J.A. (2011) Unlikely Friends: Bridging Ties and Diverse Friendships, Lanham, Maryland, USA: Lexington Books.
This accessible book focuses on successful friendships that cross one or more social and cultural boundaries (e.g., age, race, gender, class, gender, sexual orientation, religious affiliation). The author raises awareness of techniques that can enhance intercultural friendships.

Suggested films/videos/DVDs

Ae Fond Kiss (Just A Kiss) (2004) Diaphana Films, U.K. (103 minutes).

This film involves Pakistani (UK), British, and Irish cultures. In Glasgow, Scotland, the Pakistani parents of Casim Khan have decided that he should marry his cousin Yasemine. Unfortunately, Casim has already fallen in love with the White, Catholic, and Irish Roisin. They start a secret relationship, but Casim is torn between following his heart and being a good son. When the secret comes out the Khan family is distraught and embarrassed. Their daughter’s impending marriage is cancelled, and they fear they will lose face in the local Pakistani community. Because of her relationship with Casim, Roisin may lose her teaching job at a Catholic school. Finally, Casim decides to live with Roisin and break with his family.

American Fusion(2005) Wildcat Releasing (94 minutes).

Yvonne is a middle-aged divorcee who feels as if life is passing her by. She is unhappy in her job, and her life is dominated by her overbearing mother and son. When Yvonne meets Jose, a handsome dentist, the two begin dating; however, her mother is horrified at the prospect of her daughter marrying a Mexican American. Gradually, Yvonne’s family begins to accept Jose into the family.

Arranged (2007) Cicala Filmworks (90 minutes).

The movie centers on the friendship between an Orthodox Jewish woman and a Muslim woman who meet as first-year teachers at a public school in Brooklyn, New York. Despite religious differences, they form a strong friendship in their first year of teaching and find clear similarities between their lifestyles and religions. Both are expected to enter into arranged marriages and both, in their own way, are participating in the tradition of finding a husband through the help of their respective families. Despite their internal struggles and conflicts with their parents, both women come to peace with their faith when they finally meet suitors whom they seem to connect with. By the end of the movie they have contently settled down into marriage and motherhood.

Catfish in Black Bean Sauce (2000)Black Hawk Entertainment (119 minutes).

A comedy-drama about a Vietnamese brother and sister raised by an African American couple.

Guess Who (2005) Columbia Pictures (US); Twentieth Century Fox (international) (105 minutes).

This romantic comedy about race relations is a loose remake of the 1967 film Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner. While the 1967 film covered interracial romance (of a Black man with a White woman) in a serious, dramatic fashion, the 2005 film deals with the topic (a White man dating a Black woman) in a light, farcical manner.

L’auberge Espagnole (2002) Fox Searchlight Pictures (122 minutes).

Xavier, a French economics major, joins an exchange program in Spain to gain exposure to Spanish culture and language while learning about Spanish economics. In Barcelona, he shares an apartment with international students from England, Italy, Denmark, Germany, and Belgium. This film depicts the challenging but rewarding process of developing intercultural friendships.

Monsoon Wedding (2001). New Delhi: iDream Productions. (114 minutes).

This film centers on a modern, upper-middle class family in Delhi, India, where telecommunications and a western lifestyle mix with old traditions (e.g., arranged marriages). The main storyline centers on a father who is trying to organize a large, chaotic, and expensive wedding for his daughter to a man she has known for only a few weeks. In this Punjabi wedding, extended family members from different generations come together from all corners of the globe including India, Australia, Oman, and the United States. At first, the bride rebels against the arranged marriage, and some of the story centers on her turmoil. The film covers the concept of social class/caste; arranged marriage, collectivism, attitudes toward children, and family life; the importance of dance to the culture; intergenerational conflict; and the influence of Hinduism in the daily life of the characters.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002) IFC Films (95 minutes).

Toula is a single, 30-year old Greek American women who helps out in the Greek restaurant that her family runs. Her father would like her to marry a Greek man and have a Greek baby, however, Toula falls in love with a White American man, Ian, after she starts to work at a travel agency. This comedy film follows their intercultural romantic relationship and their evolving relationship with her family. Although a clash in cultural values and beliefs caused some intercultural conflicts, they were able to resolve difficulties.

Outsourced (2008) Los Angeles, CA: Ocean Park Home Entertainment (103 minutes).

Todd Anderson works in a customer call center in the U.S. until his entire office is outsourced to India and he is asked to go to Bombay to train his own replacement. In the beginning, frequent cultural misunderstandings and culture shock lead to Todd wanting to escape the chaos of Bombay for the comforts of Seattle. Gradually, he develops relationships with the Indian call center workers, including a romantic relationship with a female employee. Todd begins to appreciate different ways of doing things both in the business setting and in everyday life.

Save the Last Dance (2001) Paramount Pictures (112 minutes).

A White high school girl, Sara, lost her mother in an accident and moves to a predominantly Black urban neighborhood to live with her father. At first, the new environment seems unwelcoming, until she becomes friends with a Black student, Derek. Sara and Derek share their passion for dancing and become romantically involved. They struggle with their interracial relationship due to other people’s attitudes toward Black-White relationships.

Something New (2006) Focus Features (99 minutes).

This American romantic drama film focuses on interracial relationships and traditional African American family values and social customs. A successful, single African American woman develops a friendship and then a romantic relationship with a White man. In the process, she questions her perceptions of social norms and race relations.

Suggested online resources

A Conversation with Chinese and American Students (17:47)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX_7NuOWYMk)
This video is presented by the Office for International Students and Scholars at Michigan State University to stimulate discussion about Chinese-American student interactions on campus. Undergraduate students share their candid thoughts about their experiences, including students from China and American students who have spent time in China and have meaningful Chinese friendships. The video suggests ways to enhance intercultural interactions/friendships.

The hidden influence of social networks (18:44)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2U-tOghblfE)
In a video lecture, Nicholas Christakis explains that  all people are part of vast social networks of friends, family, coworkers, and other individuals. He examines how one’s location in the network can impact one’s life.

Intercultural Marriage (Part 1) (4:23)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzAwlCSCo7s)

Intercultural Marriage (Part 2 ) (4:36)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0czUJWTbQqI)
This television program centers on interviews with intercultural married couples.
Part 1: A Pew research study shows that nearly 15% of all new marriages in the U.S. in 2008 were between spouses of different races or ethnicities.
Part 2: The face of marriage in the U.S. is evolving, as couples increasingly come from different racial and ethnic backgrounds. This episode explores the unique challenges of interracial and interethnic couples.

Interracial Relationships, Dating, and Marriage (5:15)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAlk52_tJr8)
This presentation by UNC Chapel Hill students focuses on an ethnography of interracial relationships.

Interracial Relationships Documentary (3:46)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgYOAuO3rRI)
In this video documentary, couples express their views and opinions about interracial relationships and interracial dating.

A Story about Interracial Marriage (7:17)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhDt2vORZrY)
A recent survey indicates that the rate of interracial marriage in the U.S. has reached an all-time high. This video explores answers to the following questions: What makes interracial marriages work? What challenges do interracial couples face? Yuan Wang and Ruha Benjamin, an assistant professor from the Department of Sociology at Boston University, offer insight on this topic.

Suggested Readings

Cahn, D.D. and Abigail, R.A. (2013) Managing Conflict through Communication, 5th edn,Harlow: Pearson.
This text introduces the study of conflict and covers such topics as anger management and facework in relation to interpersonal conflict, group conflict, organizational conflict, and social conflict.

Cupach, W.R., Canary, D.J., and Spitzberg, B.H. (2009) Competence in Interpersonal Conflict, 2nd edn, Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press, Inc.
This text presents a conceptual framework to explain why communication competence is central to conflict management. The authors offer constructive guidelines that provide a basis for dealing with conflicts in five settings: (1) intercultural, (2) organizational, (3) familial, (4) mediation, and (5) violence in intimate relationships.

Dai, X. and Chen, G-M (eds) (2017) Conflict Management and Intercultural Communication: The Art of Intercultural Harmony, London and New York: Routledge.
Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, this edited collection presents diverse views about ways to handle intercultural conflicts in a constructive manner in various cultural contexts.

Folger, J.P., Poole, M.S., and Stutman, R.K. (2013) Working through Conflict: Strategies for Relationships, Groups and Organizations, 7th edn, Boston: Pearson.
This accessible text provides an introduction to conflict and conflict management that is grounded in theory, research, and practice. It includes a chapter on face-saving.

Suggested films/videos/DVDs

Bend It Like Beckham (2002) Helkon SK, United Kingdom (112 minutes).

This film illustrates the intergenerational conflict that can arise in families who immigrate from one cultural environment to another. A teenager, the British-born daughter of Sikh parents, dreams of playing soccer; however, her parents do not approve and want her to learn to cook traditional dishes and prepare for an arranged marriage. She becomes involved in an interracial romance when she joins a female soccer team. Acculturation is also a theme  in this film as it illustrates different ways in which immigrants may respond to their new environment (e.g., assimilation, integration).

Cultures in conflict (2004) Edmonton, AB: Distribution Access (133 minutes).

This five-part series travels across North America and Europe to investigate how intercultural conflict can become either a source of violence or the basis of creativity.  Historical footage and current events are carefully selected to illustrate key concepts and techniques concerning intercultural communication and intercultural conflict resolution.

Darfur Now (2007) Warner Independent Pictures (98 minutes).

The film explores the Darfur conflict through the experiences of six individuals who are struggling to draw attention to this humanitarian tragedy. This production draws attention to the human cost of war and the need for a concerted, united effort to prevent conflicts from spiraling out of control.

The Day After Peace (2009) London: Peace One Day (81 minutes).

This program follows the ten-year journey of award-winning filmmaker Jeremy Gilley to establish an annual Peace Day on 21 September. The member states of the United Nations unanimously adopt Peace Day, but the struggle to end regional and international conflicts continues. The movie illustrates the perseverance of the human spirit and the power of an individual to make a difference.

Eat Drink Man Woman (1994) The Samuel Goldwyn Company, Taiwan (124 minutes).

This film explores intergenerational conflict in a Chinese family (a father and his three adult daughters). The eldest daughter works in a professional office and is the most westernized, the second one is a schoolteacher: the youngest works in a fast-food restaurant. Their increasing desire for independence does not sit well with their more traditional, conservative father.  

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967) Columbia Pictures, USA (108 minutes).

Set in the 1960s, this film centers on a dinner party hosted by a bride’s parents to meet her fiancé (a doctor) and his parents. The bride’s White parents are shocked to find that the groom is Black and the groom’s parents are also unhappy when they learn that the bride is White. This comedy drama explores interracial conflict/marriage.

Hotel Rwanda (2004) Lions Gate Entertainment (121 minutes).

In the East African country of Rwanda, hundreds of thousands of Tutsi were exterminated by the Hutu. This film depicts the true story of Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager who gave sanctuary to over a thousand Tutsi refugees during their struggle against the Hutu militia in Rwanda in 1994.

The Joy Luck Club (1993) Buena Vista Pictures (139 minutes).

This drama/comedy, which centers on intergenerational conflict, explores two generations of Chinese American mother daughter relationships in San Francisco.  The film is an adaptation of Amy Tan’s bestselling novel about the complicated lives of four Chinese American women and their daughters who, unlike them, were born in the U.S. 

Monsoon Wedding (2001). New Delhi: iDream Productions. (114 minutes)

This film centers on a modern, upper-middle class family in Delhi, India, where telecommunications and a western lifestyle mix with old traditions (e.g., arranged marriages). The main storyline centers on a father who is trying to organize a large, chaotic, and expensive wedding for his daughter to a man she has known for only a few weeks. In this Punjabi wedding, extended family members from different generations come together from all corners of the globe including India, Australia, Oman, and the United States. At first, the bride rebels against the arranged marriage and some of the story centers on her turmoil. The film covers the concept of social class/caste, arranged marriage, collectivism, attitudes toward children and family life; the importance of dance to the culture; intergenerational conflict, and the influence of Hinduism in the daily life of the characters.

The Namesake (2006) Hollywood, CA: Fox Searchlight Pictures, India/USA, (122 minutes).

This movie highlights the challenges of immigration by focusing on the experiences of an Indian family from West Bengal that moves to New York. Intergenerational conflict develops between the first-generation immigrants and their American born children.

Spanglish (2005) Culver City, CA: Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (131 minutes).

Flor, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, has been living in Los Angeles with her daughter for six years with little interaction with Anglos. As her daughter gets older, however, Flor is forced to work as a housekeeper to earn more money. She and her daughter move in the with an Anglo family. The movie then centers on their struggles between the cultures of their new and their old homes, as the courageous woman and child fight to establish their own identity. 

A thousand years of good prayers (2007) The Match Factory (83 minutes).

A Chinese man from Beijing travels to America to visit with his divorced daughter and encourage her to remarry. He discovers that a significant generational and geographical divide has arisen between them. After many heated exchanges, Mr. Shi and his daughter Yilan finally come to terms as father and daughter by forgiving each other for past transgressions.

Tortilla Soup (2001) The Samuel Goldwyn Company (103 minutes).

This comedy/drama centers on the life of a master chef who is a widowed father of three daughters. Hungry for their independence, the girls find themselves in conflict with their traditionalist father.

Suggested online resources

How to manage cross-cultural conflict (3:48)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1UCLuuSX1U)
Dr. Linda Wagener from the Headington Institute in the U.S. gives helpful advice to resolve intercultural conflict situations.

International Conflicts (6:45)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxwUx_lzhwE)
From a Global Issues Series produced by VANK, this educational video discusses international conflicts, citing examples such as the terrorist attack in New York in 2001. It urges individuals to take steps to help the world become more peaceful.

Surprising Ways To Offend People In Other Countries (2:36)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTE0G9amZNk)
This clip presents ten ways Americans can unintentionally offend people in other countries.

Why do cultures clash? (2:14)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxhGZVeRlSo)
This video provides examples of intercultural misunderstandings and explains why people who have a different cultural background may be shocked when they experience different ways of doing or saying things.

Suggested Readings

Guilherme, M. et al. (eds) (2010) The Intercultural Dynamics of Multicultural Working, Bristol: Multilingual Matters.
From theoretical and interdisciplinary perspectives, the chapters in this volume examine intercultural communication in various types of work environments and contexts (e.g., multicultural work teams).

Lauring, J. and Jonasson, C. (2010) Group Processes in Ethnically Diverse Organizations: Language and Intercultural Learning, Hauppauge N.Y.: Nova Science Pub Inc.
This book explores the complex relationship between language, identity, and intercultural communication in diverse organizations.

Nardon, L. (2017) Working in a Multicultural World: A Guide to Developing Intercultural Competence, Toronto: University of Toronto Press.
This practical book suggests ways to enhance intercultural communication in today’s multicultural and globalized workforce.

Rabotin, M. (2011) Culture Savvy: Working and Collaborating Across the Globe, Alexandria, VA: ASTD Press.
The author draws attention to how fear, stereotypes, and misunderstandings negatively impact intercultural relations. Suggestions are offered to develop respectful, rewarding friendships with individuals who have been socialized in different cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

Schmidt, W.V., Conaway, R.N., Easton, S.S., and Wardrope, W.J. (2007) Communicating Globally: Intercultural Communication and International Business, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Integrating intercultural communication theory with the practices of multinational organizations, the authors raise awareness of the potential impact of diverse worldviews in intercultural interactions and suggest ways to enhance intercultural communication in the workplace.

Scollon, R., Wong Scollon, S. and Jones, R.H. (2012) Intercultural Communication: A Discourse Approach, 3rd edn, London: Blackwell.
Grounded in interactional sociolinguistics and discourse analysis, this book explores key concepts in intercultural communication with multiple examples of corporate and professional discourse.

Weaver, G. (2014) Intercultural Relations: Communication, Identity, and Conflict, Boston: Pearson.
This book explores ways in which organizations can enhance intercultural relations and more successfully mediate conflict situations.

Suggested films/videos/DVDs

Coding Culture (2006) Watertown, MA: Documentary Educational Resources (DER), (88 minutes).

This series of ethnographic films, which centers on call centers in Bangalore, India, explores the cultures of outsourced work and the shaping of a new workforce to cater to this global high-tech services industry. The film highlights the contradictory ways in which culture is dealt with in the global corporate workplace. Although cultural sensitivity training programs acknowledge cultural difference, Indian software engineers are pressed to conform to the dominant model of global corporate culture by mastering certain communication and behavioral styles. Topics include differing systems of time/quality control and people management in new global workplaces.

Cultural essence in international business (2002) Washington, D.C.: Washington State University (18 minutes).

This program provides an overview on how cultural elements influence international business in the workplace, the marketplace, and in intercultural interactions.

Managing Diversity in Business (2005) New York, N.Y.: Films Media Group (60 minutes).

This diversity training video addresses key issues that can arise in the multicultural workplace and suggests ways to effectively and appropriately manage multicultural and sexual diversity. Segments include: Why Value Diversity?, Understanding Our Biases and Assumptions, Sexual Harassment, Recruiting and Interviewing a Diverse Workforce, Making New Employees Feel Valued, and Managing Diversity: Meeting the Challenge.

The multicultural meeting: working with diverse cultures (2002) Big World (15 minutes).

This program raises awareness of the potential challenges of intercultural interactions in the global workplace by examining a problem-plagued meeting in Tokyo between five managers from Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America, and South America. The video illustrates ways to become more effective in communicating with business professionals who have a different linguistic and cultural background.

Non-verbal communication in the global marketplace (2004) Sunrise, FL: D.E. Visuals (24 minutes).

This instructional video introduces the mechanics of nonverbally communicating through gestures, proxemics, and other NV channels and exposes viewers to differing interpretations of nonverbal behaviors in the global marketplace.

Outsourced (2008) Los Angeles, CA: Ocean Park Home Entertainment (103 minutes).

Todd Anderson works in a customer call center in the U.S. until his entire office is outsourced to India and he is asked to go to Bombay to train his own replacement. In the beginning, frequent cultural misunderstandings and culture shock lead to Todd wanting to escape the chaos of Bombay for the comforts of Seattle. Gradually, he develops relationships with the Indian call center workers and begins to appreciate different ways of doing things both in the business setting and in everyday life.

Suggested online resources

Accents – ethnic diversity in the workplace (1:53)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsB7p7M-3-Y)
This video highlights the impact of different languages and accents in the multicultural workplace, e.g., misunderstandings may arise from increasing cultural and ethnic diversity in the workplace and community.

Chinese Business Etiquette (3:26)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XHioryoMes&list=PLE38BB40F3E211F3F)
This instructional video explains how relationships (guanxi) and face are valued in China. Examples of indirect communication in business meetings are provided and suggestions are offered for ways to conduct negotiations with Mainland Chinese business professionals.

Cultural Differences in Gift Giving (7:36)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wc9HUFRA7QA)
On the CBC Information Radio show with Terry MacLeod and Marcy Markusa, Dr. Fang Wan discusses her study of cultural differences in gift giving.

Dealing effectively and respectfully with international colleagues (2:07)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAHrsko4Yj8&feature=c4-overview&list=UUZNQq7eeNhBd5z7P7LcUKpQ)
This video explores ways to deal effectively and respectfully with international colleagues.

Intercultural miscommunication in the workplace (Scenario I) (1:54)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXjQjfaFajY)
This video centers on the experiences of a Swiss German manager who has recently attended meetings in Athens at her sister company’s headquarters. She found the meetings very animated and, in her opinion, some speakers were overly aggressive. She is unsure how to deal with her Greek colleagues’ displays of emotion.

Intercultural miscommunication in the workplace (Scenario II) (1:56)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWtPc3y1wyw)
This segment centers on a Japanese salesperson who is on a sales visit to Germany. He went to the German partner’s office in Berlin to introduce a new product that his company wanted to launch in the German market. After his presentation, the Germans spent half an hour criticizing the product and the marketing plan. The Japanese salesperson felt embarrassed and humiliated. Much to his surprise, his manager informed him that the Berlin office has just called him to say that they were looking forward to launching the product.

Intercultural miscommunication in the workplace (Scenario III) (1:44)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AHHoDwOo5c)
This episode centers on a British manager who is on an international assignment in Saudi Arabia that involves managing a local engineering project. Aware of the importance of relationship building, the British manager has tried to get closer to his Arab colleagues. However, he was surprised when one of them asked if he could get his cousin a job in the company. The British manager was unsure how to respond. He now feels that people are simply trying to use him, so he avoids them at work and socially.

Intercultural miscommunication in the workplace (Scenario IV) (2:32)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASBegVfsxBs)
This episode centers on a French HR manager in Norway who is organizing a training program for 15 staff members in one department. Unable to find a time that would suit everybody, she chose a date that was okay for 13 of them and emailed the other two asking them to reschedule their other meetings and make themselves available on that day. She soon received complaints.

Japanese meeting style: Cultural contrast with the West (1:46)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2h4OOQ1it0)
This episode, from a documentary training film, centers on cultural competence in international joint project meetings. The clip shows western, Japanese, and Indonesian managers in a joint project meeting in Indonesia. The Japanese managers describe how such a meeting would be held differently in Japan. The video raises awareness of the cultural competence needed to achieve positive outcomes in meetings involving multicultural teams. For additional information on the film, visit http://www.cicd.uk.com.

Race discrimination in the workplace (1:50)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aw36fIfVte8)
This clips explains several kinds of racial discrimination that can occur in the workplace – direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, harassment, and victimization.

Suggested Readings

Byram, M., Golubeva, I., Hui, H., and Wagner, M. (eds) (2017) From Principles to Practice in Education for Intercultural Citizenship, Bristol: Multilingual Matters.
The contributors offer their views about ways to promote competences in intercultural communication and citizenship in foreign language education.

Davies, I., Sant, E., Schultz, L. and Pashby, K. (2018) Global Citizenship Education: A Critical Introduction to Key Concepts and Debates, London and New York: Bloomsbury.
In this volume global citizenship education is discussed in relation to citizenship education, global education, development education, and peace education.

Deardorff, D. (ed.) (2009) The SAGE Handbook of Intercultural Competence, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Linking theory with research and practice, this handbook raises awareness of the complexity of intercultural communication and draws attention to evolving understandings of what it means to be interculturally competent.

Gerzon, M. (2010) Global Citizens. London: Rider.
The author draws attention to the major problems facing the world today and stresses the need for individuals to become responsible global citizens to improve the world.

Harden, A. and Witte, T. (ed.) (2011) Intercultural Competence: Concepts, Challenges, Evaluations, Berlin: Peter Lang.
The essays in this volume explore a broad range of perspectives on intercultural competence, including theories and applications in the teaching and learning of foreign languages.

Suggested films/videos/DVDs

Australia as a global citizen (2010) Davis Film and Video Productions (22 minutes).

After World War Two, Australia began operating on an international level as a global citizen. Committed to promoting world peace and pursuing humanitarian goals, Australia became a founding member of the United Nations (UN) in 1945. This program reviews the nation’s role within the UN, including UNESCO, the UN conventions, and East Timor. The film explores future challenges that Australia is apt to face as a global citizen on the world stage.

Babel (2007) Hollywood, CA: Paramount Home Entertainment (143 minutes).

This film centers on four different groups of people in four different places around the world who are impacted by a single event. Stereotypes and ignorance complicate the situation and result in tragedy. If the individuals involved had been more (inter)culturally aware, problems and challenges might have been resolved more easily. The message of the movie is that the world would be a more peaceful place if people were less focused on national identities and more globally minded citizens who demonstrate concern for all humans.

The Day After Peace (2009) London: Peace One Day (81 minutes).

This program follows the ten-year efforts of award-winning filmmaker Jeremy Gilley to establish an annual Peace Day on 21 September. The member states of the United Nations unanimously adopted Peace Day but the struggle to end regional and international conflicts continues. The movie illustrates the perseverance of the human spirit and the power of an individual to make a difference.

Global Citizens: The Movie (2010) Arise Entertainment (75 minutes).

This film follows a group of students who travel to southern Mexico for a six-week adventure. As they experience challenges and triumphs in an unfamiliar linguistic and cultural environment, they develop unforgettable friendships and grow academically, culturally, personally, and spiritually. They develop a better understanding of what it means to be interculturally competent and globally minded.

Pay It Forward (2001) Warner Bros (123 minutes).

This film highlights the power of an individual to effect change. Trevor McKinney is disturbed by his mother’s alcoholism and is afraid of his abusive father. His social studies teacher gives his class an assignment that changes his life.  He and his classmates are asked to come up with an idea to change the world and then put it into action. Trevor conjures up the notion of paying a favor not back, but forward. His good deeds inspire others to help other people.

Suggested online resources

Barriers to cross-cultural communication (5:25)

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idZR_OXim38)
This educational video informally explains the difficulties and obstacles we may face when communicating in intercultural situations.

Cross Cultural Communication on the Culture of Time (4:27)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1bICOV3Lug)
This video explains that people from diverse cultural backgrounds may view time differently. To be interculturally competent, one needs cultural knowledge and awareness.

Cultural Competence: Managing Your Prejudices (6:20)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1MI_h0HIcw)
This video suggests ways to reduce prejudice and become more interculturally sensitive.

Global Citizen (1:45)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yio6kQrlYQ)
In this video, people from around the world share their views about the attributes and duties of a global citizen.

Global Citizen: Introduction (2:38)

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7NOVP6b8MU)
‘Our definition of belonging isn't working. We need Global Citizens: people who apply the idea of citizenship to a global level’. This video explains how people develop a sense of national identity and belonging and often forget that they are also global citizens with the responsibility to care about what happens to people in other parts of the world. The message is that all humans should try to eliminate poverty/suffering and protect the environment.

Media Information: Literacy and Intercultural Dialogue (8:14)

(http://www.unesco.org/archives/multimedia/index.php?s=films_details&id_page=33&id_film=2148)
Media and information literacy (MIL) empowers citizens with the skills and knowledge necessary to actively contribute to the knowledge society and understand good governance processes. The first International University Network on Media and Information Literacy and Intercultural Dialogue was launched to promote media and information literate societies and mutual understanding among cultures on a global scale. The network stimulates research that informs policies on MIL and intercultural dialogue.

Pragmatic Failures in Intercultural Communication (6:48)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b-ACqKkAMQ
The video provides examples of intercultural miscommunication that are due to a lack of pragmatic competence. Some solutions are offered to enhance sociopragmatic competence and intercultural interactions. The video is produced by the Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE in Australia.

Promoting Global Citizenship (3:40)

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeUbHTYQq4I)
This promotional video by UNICEF explains why it is important for young people to be responsible global citizens. Discussion centers on the notion of global competency and the traits/actions of global citizens.

The staircase model of intercultural communicative competence (2:30)

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5x0hWUe0EM)
This model discusses four different degrees of intercultural competence: (1) unconscious incompetence, (2) conscious incompetence, (3) conscious competence, (4) unconscious competence.