Winter 2017, CairoThematic Course
An Invitation to Collaborate Across Differences
Course details
- Cycle
- Winter 2017, Cairo
- Taught in
- Arabic / English
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About the course
What’s a monocultural society? Or for that matter a multicultural one? What is meant by ethnocentrism? Or for that matter by Eurocentrism?
This course invites you to explore your relationship with the (cultural) “Other”. Our exploration will climb two stages: you will be introduced to the basic theoretical frameworks and key elements that constitute Cross Cultural Communication and Intercultural Learning, followed by a survey of practical application.
It is often said that to be able to know the Other, we need to know ourselves first. We will study the topics of identity, self- and other-awareness, perception, and belonging: the age-old ”us” vs ”them” paradigm that inevitably leads to stereotypes and prejudice. The process of acculturation presents yet another major theme and will serve as a conceptual bridge to studying ethnocentrism.
The second stage will be more hands on as it engages with the practical application of the different cross-cultural communication frameworks. With the use of experiential learning methods, we will consider the tools necessary when decoding others’ behaviours and communication patterns to build up competencies for successful and meaningful interaction with the Other. Here we will introduce the notion of ethnorelativism.
Our study of the Other will be enriched by writings of Martin Buber and Tzvetan Todorov. Joseph Shaules and the Bennetts will be our guides on the introductory tour of the cross-cultural field.
What to expect
Opening up to learn about yourself and others in a safe environment through sharing of personal experiences and observations
Participate in experiential learning activities; some of which may take place beyond the classroom
Weekly engagement with assigned readings and voicing of your opinion in class discussions
To produce a final individual or group mini-project based on the learning and experiences from the course
Why apply
To gain deeper insight into who you are through self- and other-reflection
To examine your attitudes towards the “Others” and your default settings when interacting with strangers
To learn how to decode others’ behaviours and communication patterns
To (re-)discover and strengthen your cross-cultural skills
To explore the nature of ethnocentrism and enthorelativism and their implications in today’s world
Who teaches it
Jana Hollá has always been intrigued by how and especially why we humans behave in the ways we do. Choosing Cultural Anthropology therefore seemed like the right way to go. At some point, however, the passive observation was not enough. In a search for more, she came across the field of cross-cultural communication during her MA studies. By the time she enrolled in the Anthropology PhD program at Charles University in Prague she was a strong believer in the application possibilities the cross-cultural tools offered on top of the theoretical anthropological basis. Her academic interests refocused on the issues of identity and belonging in relation to interactions with the (culturally foreign) Others. Her PhD dissertation thus ended up examining a group of young middle class Cairenes and how their daily interactions with their semi-international shilla influenced the ongoing construction of their personal identities. By this time, a year-long study stay in Cairo turned into a proper expatriation. Career-wise she moved away from academia and became a cross-cultural consultant, trainer and group facilitator working both with the profit and non-profit sectors. After well over a decade, Jana enjoys her expat life in Cairo, living what she preaches: embracing the challenges and opportunities living abroad offers with full awareness and deep appreciation.
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