ME500: Communicating and Serving Cross-Culturally (4 units) Spring 2003

Dr. Betty Sue Brewster, Director of the ESL Program and Associate Professor of Language and Culture Learning
Dr Roberta King, Associate Professor of Ethnomusicology and Communication
Dr Viggo Sogaard, Professor of Communication
Spring 2003 Pasadena

DESCRIPTION:

God’s heart is for developing relationship with people whom He created, and for communicating His message to them. In sending Jesus He gave us a model for communicating with people in their own cultural context. People in ministry, therefore, cannot afford the luxury of having a monocultural outlook. Skills in intercultural relationships and in culture learning are essential, whether you are a pastor ministering in a multicultural context or needing to give your congregation a missionary vision, a Christian worker in the inner city, a cross-cultural missionary, or a lay person planning a short-term ministry. This is a practical hands-on culture learning course to help develop cultural self-awareness, a positive approach toward other cultures, and intercultural interaction and communication skills.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• Develop a holistic view of serving cross-culturally.
• Gain an awareness of the pluralist world.
• Develop an initial understanding of doing mission in context.
• Learn the basics of communicating the Gospel cross-culturally.
• Cultivate cross-cultural sensitivities.
• Develop an understanding of the role of culture in the communication of the Gospel.
• Begin to apply skills of culture learning in intercultural communication.
• Learn how to apply biblical and missiological principles in cross-cultural ministry.

COURSE FORMAT:

Class activities include experiential culture learning activities, demonstrations, lectures, discussion, and class member presentations. Small groups meet regularly in class for discussion and prayer, and to plan and debrief fieldwork.

REQUIRED READING:

• Jandt, Fred. Intercultural Communication —— 3rd edition (text and workbook). Sage Pub, 2001.
• Kraft, Charles. Communicating Jesus’ Way. William Carey, 1999.
• Sogaard, Viggo. Media in Church and Mission. Gabriel Resources, 1993.
• Law, Eric H.F. The Wolf Shall Dwell with the Lamb. St. Louis, Chalice Press, 1993.
• Read biographies of at least 2 persons in cross-cultural ministry.

 

RECOMMENDED READING:

• Stafford-Yilmaz, Lynn. A to Zany Community Affairs. U of Michigan Press, 1998.
• Lingenfelter, Sherwood. Transforming Culture. Baker Books.
• Hunter, David and MaryAnn B. Foley. Doing Anthropology. Harper & Row, 1976.
• Mains, David. 8 Survival Skills for Changing Times (chapter 4). Wheaton, 1992.
• Mains, David and Melissa Mains Timberlake. Getting Beyond "How are You?" — Learning to Connect in a Disconnected World. Wheaton: Victor Books, 1992.
• Smith, Donald K. Creating Understanding. Zondervan, 1992.
• Spradley, James P. The Ethnographic Interview. Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1979.
• Volf, Miroslav. Exclusion and Embrace. Abingdon Press, 1996.
• Zimmerman, W. How to Tape Instant Oral Biographies. New York: Guarionex Press.

ASSIGNMENTS:

• Readings, reading interactions and class discussion
• Plan and carry out regular fieldwork in community, reflect and report on what has been learned, share the experience and reflections in small groups as well as in class.
• A paper describing the participant’s strategy for cross-cultural communication, learning, and ministry.
Th.M: Greater analytical depth in writing assignments. In addition, choose one of these:
• Complete one additional complete field experience, with written report
• Read 150-200 extra pages from the recommended readings with reading interactions
• Write an additional 1250 words for the strategy paper

PREREQUITSITES: None. Auditors must get instructor's permission. All auditors and non-credit people are expected to fully participate in the field work.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Required for MA-ICM.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.

Last Date Edited: December 9, 2002