Cracking Cultures for better communication

courseimage

Have you ever said exactly the right thing — and still been completely misunderstood? Or watched a perfectly reasonable email turn into an unexpected conflict? Chances are, culture was in the room.

This course explores how cultural differences shape the way we communicate — at work, in teams, and across borders. Through real stories, case studies, video lectures, film extracts, and hands-on tasks, you'll develop the awareness and practical skills to navigate multicultural professional environments with confidence.

Over 10 weeks, you'll explore topics including the foundations of communication, attitudes towards time and scheduling, low- and high-context communication styles, giving and receiving feedback across cultures, the art of persuasion, leadership and hierarchy, and cultural stereotypes. Each module combines theory with reflection, so you don't just learn about culture — you start to see your own.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Identify how cultural background shapes communication beyond language
  • Adapt your communication style to multicultural contexts
  • Give and receive feedback effectively across cultural differences
  • Persuade, lead, and collaborate in diverse professional settings
  • Recognise and move beyond cultural stereotypes

No prior knowledge required — just an open mind and a willingness to look at the world a little bit differently.

Category
Courses by EdTech4BY educators
Language
English
Level
Intermediate
enrolled
23
Instructors
  • Volha Bolbas Volha Bolbas
Overview

Have you ever said exactly the right thing — and still been completely misunderstood? Or watched a perfectly reasonable email turn into an unexpected conflict? Chances are, culture was in the room.

This course explores how cultural differences shape the way we communicate — at work, in teams, and across borders. Through real stories, case studies, video lectures, film extracts, and hands-on tasks, you'll develop the awareness and practical skills to navigate multicultural professional environments with confidence.

Over 10 weeks, you'll explore topics including the foundations of communication, attitudes towards time and scheduling, low- and high-context communication styles, giving and receiving feedback across cultures, the art of persuasion, leadership and hierarchy, and cultural stereotypes. Each module combines theory with reflection, so you don't just learn about culture — you start to see your own.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Identify how cultural background shapes communication beyond language
  • Adapt your communication style to multicultural contexts
  • Give and receive feedback effectively across cultural differences
  • Persuade, lead, and collaborate in diverse professional settings
  • Recognise and move beyond cultural stereotypes

No prior knowledge required — just an open mind and a willingness to look at the world a little bit differently.

Content
9 topics

  1. courseimage Culture Cracks - Weekly updates
  2. courseimage Your Journey - Course Map

  1. courseimage Module 1 Intro Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  2. courseimage Introductory story Module 1 Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  3. courseimage Presentation. Module 1: Introductory story. Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  4. courseimage Module 1 Communication. Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  5. courseimage Presentation. Module 1: Foundations of Communication. Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  6. courseimage "📺 Further Watching — Models of Communication"
  7. courseimage Reflection Task: Who Is “Normal,” Anyway?
  8. courseimage Module 1 Part 2 Culture and Cultural identity. Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  9. courseimage Presentation. Module 1: Culture and cultural identity. Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  10. courseimage Reflection task: The Invisible Lens
  11. courseimage "The Invisible Lens — Submit Your Profile"
  12. courseimage Game. Module 1 "What Words don't Say"

  1. courseimage Module 2 Intro Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  2. courseimage Is punctuality in your royal blood?
  3. courseimage Module 2 Part 1 Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  4. courseimage Culturally modified. How different cultures understand time
  5. courseimage Presentation. Module 2. Part 1: The first culture shock. Time Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  6. courseimage Case study analysis “Lunch vs Meeting: scheduling a meeting between a Brit and a Belarusian”
  7. courseimage Module 2 Part 2 Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  8. courseimage Presentation. Module 2 Time Perception. Part 2 Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  9. courseimage Deadline Dilemmas - US vs India
  10. courseimage Deadline Dilemmas — Submit Your Analysis
  11. courseimage Module 2 Optional video-lecture Time perception in different cultures Cracking Cultures for Better Communication

  1. courseimage Module 3 Intro Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  2. courseimage Module 3 Part 1 Cracking cultures for Better Communication
  3. courseimage Presentation. Module 3 Part 1 Low-Context-vs-High Context cultures Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  4. courseimage "🇬🇧 Lost in Translation — British Understatement"
  5. courseimage Module 3 Part 2 Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  6. courseimage Presentation: Module 3 Lecture 2 Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  7. courseimage So Where Do You Sit on the Scale? - Mapping your own context
  8. courseimage So Where Do You Sit on the Scale? — Submit Your Reflection
  9. courseimage Module 3 Part 3 Lecture Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  10. courseimage Guest interview: "Between worlds" with a senior consultant in intercultural and technical communication - Aryan Askary
  11. courseimage Message Makeover: Low vs High Context Edition

  1. courseimage Module 4 Intro Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  2. courseimage Module 4 Lecture 1 Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  3. courseimage Presentation Module 4 Lecture 1 Feedback Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  4. courseimage 🌍 When a Story Takes a Twist — Interactive Exercise
  5. courseimage Module 4 Lecture 2 Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  6. courseimage Presentation Module 4 Lecture 2 Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  7. courseimage 🪞 Turn the Lens Inward — Self-Awareness Exercise
  8. courseimage Module 4 Lecture 3 Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  9. courseimage Presentation Module 4 Lecture 3 Final Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  10. courseimage Feedback across cultures: From direct to diplomatic - Complete the email

  1. courseimage Module 5 Intro Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  2. courseimage Module 5 Lecture 1 Part 1 Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  3. courseimage Module 5 Lecture 1 Part 2 Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  4. courseimage Presentation Module 5 Lecture 1 Persuasion Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  5. courseimage Knowledge Check: The Art of Persuasion: Aristotle, Culture, and Why Logic Alone Never Wins
  6. courseimage Module 5 Lecture 2 Persuasion: How We Convince
  7. courseimage Presentation Module 5 Lecture 2 "Do You Jump or Walk Around?" Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  8. courseimage Practical Scenarios — What Would You Do?
  9. courseimage Practical Scenarios — What Would You Do?
  10. courseimage Module 5 Optional lecture "The philosophical framework" Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  11. courseimage Presentation: Module 5 Optional lecture "The philosophical perspective" Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  12. courseimage Optional reading "Worthy of being CHEAP"
  13. courseimage Module 5 Lecture 3 Blueprint your pitch - How to beat Aristotle
  14. courseimage Presentation Module 5 Lecture 3 Blueprint Your Pitch Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  15. courseimage Blueprint Your Pitch: Can You Beat Aristotle?
  16. courseimage Blueprint Your Pitch: Can You Beat Aristotle?
  17. courseimage Optional Reading “La galère”: Cultural Nuances Behind the Company Name ‘Galley Group’

  1. courseimage Module 6 Intro Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  2. courseimage Module 6 Lecture 1 Power Games Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  3. courseimage Presentation Module 6 Power Games Lecture 1 Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  4. courseimage Reflection Tool: Where Do You Sit? - Leadership Scale
  5. courseimage Assignment: Where Do You Sit? - Leadership Scale
  6. courseimage Module 6 Lecture 2 What Makes a “Good Boss”? Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  7. courseimage Presentation Module 6 Lecture 2 "A good boss" Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  8. courseimage Reflection Tool: What Does Your Ideal Boss Look Like?
  9. courseimage Module 6, Lecture 3 – Yes, Boss ... or Maybe Not? Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  10. courseimage Presentation Module 6. Lecture 3 "Yes, Boss ...or Maybe not?" Cracking Cultures for Better Communication.pdf
  11. courseimage "Sorry, Did I Just Say That?" — Disagreeing Across the Divide

  1. courseimage Module 7 Intro Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  2. courseimage Module 7 Lecture 1 How biased are you? Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  3. courseimage Presentation Module 7 Lecture 1 How biased are you? Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  4. courseimage How biased are you?
  5. courseimage Module 7 Lecture 2: Culture in Motion: How Cultures Change Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  6. courseimage Presentation. Module 7 Lecture 2 Culture in Motion Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  7. courseimage The Onion Test — Surface vs. Core
  8. courseimage Module 7 Lecture 3 Beyond the Box:Developing a More Nuanced Approach to Intercultural Communication
  9. courseimage Presentation Module 7 Lecture 3 Beyond the Box Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  10. courseimage Reflective Analysis: Stereotype Breakdown: Rethinking an Interaction

  1. courseimage Module 8 Intro Cracking Cultures for Better Communication
  2. courseimage Mind the Gap - Navigating Cultures
  3. courseimage Guest Interview: "Crossing the bridge" with a strategic marketer and brand positioning specialist - Aksana Kniazeva
  4. courseimage Module 8 Final Cracking Cultures for better communication
  5. courseimage 🌍 Think Global, Communicate Smart — Interactive Strategy Exercise
  6. courseimage 🌍 Think Global, Communicate Smart - Submit Your Strategy
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