Germans and other nationalities, who plan to study and work in the USA, will benefit greatly from this course. The premise is simple: understanding your culture and your own ‘mental software’ is a prerequisite to understanding other cultures. By first clarifying the (un-conscious) behavioral patterns of the Germans and then comparing them with Americans, we will increase cultural awareness, leading to more effective intercultural communications.

Topics include:

• Examining the term ‘culture’
• Overcoming ethnocentrism
• Discovering American and German cultural values
• Contrasting communication styles of the Germans and Americans
• Negotiating and resolving German-American conflicts
• Becoming aware of the different developing stages of intercultural competence.

2-4 ECTS