What you will learn in Business English for Cross-cultural Communication Course
- Navigate cultural differences in global business settings
- Apply Hofstede’s cultural dimensions theory
- Develop strategies for effective intercultural communication
- Recognize and overcome cultural biases
- Conduct culturally-sensitive negotiations
- Adapt business etiquette across cultures
- Manage multicultural teams effectively
Program Overview
Cultural Frameworks
⏱️ 1 weeks
- Introduces key cultural theories including Hall’s context theory and Trompenaars’ cultural dimensions.
- Students analyze case studies of cultural misunderstandings.
Communication Styles
⏱️1 weeks
- Examines high-context vs. low-context communication, direct/indirect styles, and nonverbal differences across cultures.
- Includes practice adapting messages.
Business Applications
⏱️ 1 weeks
- Covers culture-specific meeting protocols, decision-making styles, and presentation approaches.
- Students role-play challenging cross-cultural scenarios.
Global Leadership
⏱️ 1 weeks
- Focuses on managing diverse teams, resolving conflicts, and building inclusive workplaces.
- Includes developing a personal cultural competency plan.
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Job Outlook
- Career impact: 72% of employers prioritize cross-cultural skills (SHRM)
- Salary influence: Professionals with these skills earn 20-50% more in global roles
- Professional value: Critical for international business and remote teams
- Certification benefit: Recognized by multinational corporations
Specification: Business English for Cross-cultural Communication
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FAQs
- You’ll explore common cross-cultural theories—like Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, Hall’s context theory, and Trompenaars’ frameworks—and how they apply to global business communication.
- The course helps you identify potential communication misunderstandings, and develop strategies to handle them effectively across cultures.
- You’ll practice crafting written documents and delivering speeches with culturally appropriate tone, style, and language.
- Learn how to navigate negotiations, multicultural team interactions, and business ethics in cross-cultural settings.
- You’ll build skills to present professionally, adapt to global audiences, and apply cultural frameworks in real-world business scenarios.
- The course spans roughly 22 hours of total content—mostly video-based—organized into six modules.
- It follows a beginner-level, self-paced, online format—meaning you can learn on your own schedule with flexible deadlines.
- It’s usually laid out over about 2 weeks at 10 hours per week, though pace can vary depending on your schedule.
- Expect a mix of videos, readings, quizzes, peer reviews, and multi-purpose assignments.
- The six modules typically cover: Welcome, What is Culture, Communication Strategies, Management Communication, Application & Ethics, and a Concluding module.
- No prior knowledge is required—it’s explicitly labeled as Beginner level.
- The course builds on language skills from the previous Business English courses in the series, but foundational understanding—of culture and business—is explained clearly.
- Ideal for learners comfortable in English (e.g., CEFR B2 and above), though no formal proficiency is stated as a requirement.
- While designed to be accessible, it encourages cultural reflection and thoughtful engagement—great if you’re curious about global business norms.
- It serves as a practical entry point if you’re new to cross-cultural communication in business contexts.
- It’s offered by The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), a respected international research university.
- Instructors include Kin Tang, Delian Gaskell, and Sean McMinn, all from HKUST’s Center for Language Education, with expertise in business communication and language teaching.
- Kin Tang is an experienced English language lecturer with a background in academic communication and technology-enhanced learning.
- The course is part of a larger specialization—well-structured and recognized within professional circles.
- Learner feedback is strong: 4.7/5 ratings, over 30,000 learners enrolled, and a 95% satisfaction rate.
- Yes—upon completion, you receive a shareable certificate of completion that you can add to your LinkedIn profile or resume.
- Certificate access requires enrollment in the specialization—though the course can be audited for free to access material without certification.
- Financial aid is usually available through Coursera if needed.
- The certificate holds value in international business roles or remote, global teams—especially where cross-cultural skills are prioritized (highlighted in HR studies).
- Even beyond the credential, the real advantage lies in your strengthened communication skills and cultural awareness in business settings.
