ASSIGNMENT

________________________________________________________________________
HBET 3403
LISTENING AND SPEAKING IN ESL
JANUARY 2015 SEMESTER
________________________________________________________________________
INSTRUCTIONS TO STUDENTS
1. This assignment contains only ONE (1) question that is set in the language of the printed module
for the course.
2. Answer in English.
3. Download the language version of the assignment template concerned from the myVLE for
preparation and submission of your assignment. Your assignment should be typed using 12 point
Times New Roman font and 1.5 line spacing.
4. Your assignment should be between 2500 to 3000 words excluding references. Do not copy the
assignment question and instructions to your answer. Only assignment answer developed within
the approximate word limit will be assessed. The number of words should be shown at the end of
your assignment.
5. You must submit your assignment TO YOUR FACE-TO-FACE TUTOR. You are advised to
keep a copy of your submitted assignment for personal reference.
6. Your assignment must be submitted between 13th - 15th March 2015 or Tutorial 4. Submission
after 15th March 2015 or Tutorial 4 will NOT be accepted.
7. Your assignment should be prepared individually. You should not copy another persons
assignment. You should also not plagiarise another persons work as your own.
8. Please take note that PENALTY will be imposed on late submission of assignment as specified in
the Registrars Office circular 6/2012 (Refer to Registrars Announcement in myVLE).

EVALUATION
This assignment accounts for 40% of the total marks for the course and shall be assessed
based on the Rubrics or Answer Scheme attached.
You would be given feedback on the assignment before the Final Semester Examination
commences.
PLAGIARISM: MARKS DEDUCTION
Warning: The submitted assignment will automatically undergo a similarity check. If
plagiarism is detected, marks would be deducted as follows:

Assignments with 10 - 30% overlap with others: 20% deduction from the total marks
scored.
Assignments with 31 - 50% overlap with others: 40% deduction from the total marks
scored.
Assignments with more than 50% overlap with others: Zero mark would be given.

ASSIGNMENT QUESTION

INTRODUCTION: INTER-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION

1. This assignment requires you to read a journal article, reflect on its ideas and
complete all the tasks in Parts I and II.
2. The required reading (in PDF) can be downloaded from your course myVLE:
Vuckovic, A. (2006). Inter-cultural communication: a foundation of communicative
action. Multicultural Education and Technology Journal, 2(1), 47-59.
Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/17504970810867151
INSTRUCTIONS:
PART I
(a) Vuckovic (2006: 50-52) stresses the importance of roles and identities in developing
inter-cultural competence.
Discuss how roles and identities of communicators determine the success of inter-cultural
communication.
Support your discussion with suitable examples drawn from inter-cultural communication
in the local ESL context, and at least TWO related theories of/studies on roles and
identities in inter-cultural communication.
(550 words) - 10 marks
(b) Vuckovic (2006: 56) states that our capacity to be self-reflective is influenced
by the culture in which we live.
What is your understanding of this statement and how important do you think is selfreflection to a successful inter-cultural communication?

Support your discussion with relevant ideas taken from at least TWO related theories
of/studies on self-reflection and inter-cultural communication.
(550 words) 10 marks
PART II
(a) For this part of the assignment, you need to record TWO samples of conversation (which
must be authentic and in English) of not more than 15 minutes one in a mono-cultural
setting and one in an inter-cultural setting.
(b) Submit the audio/video clips and the verbatim transcriptions of BOTH conversations.
(Audio/video clips and verbatim transcriptions 10 marks)
(c) (i) Identify and analyse the differences in the way the interlocutors communicate with
each other in the two different cultural settings. Relate your analysis to the relevant
ANY TWO aspects of Vuckovics (2006) dynamic model of inter-cultural
communication.
(ii) Support your discussion with relevant ideas taken from at least TWO related theories
of/studies on listening and speaking in inter-cultural settings.
(500 words) 10 marks
**You MUST attach a copy of ALL journal articles cited in this assignment.**
[Total: 40 marks]

Assignment Rubrics

Criteria
PART 1 (a)

Weight
2.5

Missing
Item
0
Content could be
plagiarized.
Inappropriate/irrel
evant answer.
No attempt to
complete the
task.

Low

Fair

Above average

Excellent

Discussion does not

reflect any critical
thinking and originality
with very limited or no
reference to related
literature and highlight
only one or two of the
following points:

At least two logical

and relevant
explanations of the
importance of
ROLES of
communicators in
developing intercultural competence.
At least two logical
and relevant
explanations of the
importance of
IDENTITIES of
communicators in
developing intercultural competence.
Discussion is
supported with
suitable examples
drawn from the
suitable examples
drawn from intercultural
communication in the
local ESL context;

Discussion reflects very

little critical thinking and
originality with limited
reference to related
literature and highlight
only part of the following
points:

Discussion reflects some

critical thinking and
originality with some
appropriate reference to
related literature and
highlight most of the
following points:

At least two logical

and relevant
explanations of the
importance of ROLES
of communicators in
developing inter-cultural
competence.
At least two logical
and relevant
explanations of the
importance of
IDENTITIES of
communicators in
developing inter-cultural
competence.
Discussion is supported
with suitable examples
drawn from the suitable
examples drawn from
inter-cultural
communication in the
local ESL context; and
relevant ideas taken
from at least TWO
related theories
of/studies on roles and

Discussion reflects good

critical thinking and
originality with
appropriate reference to
related literature and
highlight all of the
following points:

At least two logical and

relevant explanations of
the importance of
ROLES of
communicators in
developing inter-cultural
competence.
At least two logical and
relevant explanations of
the importance of
IDENTITIES of
communicators in
developing inter-cultural
competence.
Discussion is supported
with suitable examples
drawn from the suitable
examples drawn from
the inter-cultural
communication in the
local ESL context; and
relevant ideas taken
from at least TWO
related theories
of/studies on roles and
identities in inter-cultural

At least two logical

and relevant
explanations of the
importance of ROLES
of communicators in
developing intercultural competence.
At least two logical
and relevant
explanations of the
importance of
IDENTITIES of
communicators in
developing intercultural competence.
Discussion is
supported with
suitable examples
drawn from the
suitable examples
drawn from the intercultural
communication in the
local ESL context; and
relevant ideas taken
from at least TWO
related theories

Max
Marks
10

Criteria

PART 1 (b)

Weight

2.5

Missing
Item
0

Content could be
plagiarized.
Inappropriate/irrel
evant answer.
No attempt to
complete the
task.

Low

Fair

Above average

Excellent

and relevant ideas

taken from at least
TWO related theories
of/studies on roles
and identities in intercultural
communication.
Discussion does not
reflect any critical
thinking and originality
with very limited or no
reference to related
literature and highlight
only one or two of the
following points:

A logical
interpretation of the
relationship between
self-reflection and
culture based on the
understanding of the
article
At least two logical
and relevant
explanations of the
importance of SELFREFLECTION on the
success of intercultural
communication.
Discussion is
supported with
suitable examples
drawn from the
suitable examples
drawn from intercultural
communication in the

identities in intercultural communication.

communication.

of/studies on roles and

identities in intercultural
communication.

Discussion reflects very

little critical thinking and
originality with limited
reference to related
literature and highlight
only part of the following
points:

Discussion reflects some

critical thinking and
originality with some
appropriate reference to
related literature and
highlight most of the
following points:

Discussion reflects good

critical thinking and
originality with
appropriate reference to
related literature and
highlight all of the
following points:

A logical interpretation
of the relationship
between self-reflection
and culture based on
the understanding of
the article
At least two logical
and relevant
explanations of the
importance of SELFREFLECTION on the
success of inter-cultural
communication.
Discussion is supported
with suitable examples
drawn from the suitable
examples drawn from
inter-cultural
communication in the
local ESL context; and
relevant ideas taken
from at least TWO
related theories
of/studies on self-

A logical interpretation of
the relationship between
self-reflection and
culture based on the
understanding of the
article
At least two logical and
relevant explanations of
the importance of SELFREFLECTION on the
success of inter-cultural
communication.
Discussion is supported
with suitable examples
drawn from the suitable
examples drawn from
inter-cultural
communication in the
local ESL context; and
relevant ideas taken
from at least TWO
related theories
of/studies on selfreflection and inter-

Max
Marks

A logical interpretation
of the relationship
between self-reflection
and culture based on
the understanding of
the article
At least two logical
and relevant
explanations of the
importance of SELFREFLECTION on the
success of intercultural
communication.
Discussion is
supported with
suitable examples
drawn from the
suitable examples
drawn from intercultural
communication in the
local ESL context; and
relevant ideas taken

10

Criteria

PART II (a)
and (b)

Weight

2.5

Missing
Item
0

Content could be
plagiarized.
Inappropriate/irrel
evant answer.
No attempt to
complete the
task.

2.5

Content could be
plagiarized.
Inappropriate/irrel
evant answer.
No attempt to
complete the
task.

Fair

Above average

Excellent

local ESL context;

and relevant ideas
taken from at least
TWO related theories
of/studies on selfreflection and intercultural
communication.

reflection and intercultural communication.

Work submitted may not

meet all of the
requirements below and
with very limited or no
originality and
creativity:

Work submitted fully meets

some of the requirements
below with limited
originality and creativity:

Work submitted fully meets

most of the requirements
below with some originality
and creativity:

PART II (c)
and (d)

Low

Audio/video clips of
TWO samples of
conversation one in
a mono-cultural
setting and one in a
multicultural setting
Verbatim
transcriptions of
BOTH conversations

Discussion does not

reflect any critical
thinking and originality
with very limited or no
reference to related
literature and highlight
only one or two of the
following points:

Analysis of the
differences in the way
the interlocutors
communicate with

Audio/video clips of
TWO samples of
conversation one in a
mono-cultural setting
and one in a
multicultural setting
Verbatim transcriptions
of BOTH conversations

cultural communication.

Audio/video clips of
TWO samples of
conversation one in a
mono-cultural setting
and one in a
multicultural setting
Verbatim transcriptions
of BOTH conversations

from at least TWO

related theories
of/studies on selfreflection and intercultural
communication.

Work submitted fully

meets all the
requirements below with
good originality and
creativity:

Discussion reflects some

critical thinking and
originality with some
appropriate reference to
related literature and
highlight most of the
following points:

Discussion reflects good

critical thinking and
originality with
appropriate reference to
related literature and
highlight all of the
following points:

Analysis of the
differences in the way
the interlocutors
communicate with each
other in the two different

10

Audio/video clips of
TWO samples of
conversation one in
a mono-cultural setting
and one in a
multicultural setting
Verbatim transcriptions
of BOTH
conversations

Discussion reflects very

little critical thinking and
originality with limited
reference to related
literature and highlight
only part of the following
points:
Analysis of the
differences in the way
the interlocutors
communicate with each
other in the two

Max
Marks

Analysis of the
differences in the way
the interlocutors
communicate with
each other in the two

10

Criteria

Weight

Missing
Item
0

Low

Fair

Above average

Excellent

each other in the two

different cultural
settings
Relate the analysis to
the any TWO aspects
of Vuckovics (2006)
dynamic model of
inter-cultural
communication.
Discussion is
supported with
relevant ideas taken
from at least TWO
related theories
of/studies on listening
and speaking in
cross-cultural
settings.

different cultural
settings
Relate the analysis to
the any TWO aspects
of Vuckovics (2006)
dynamic model of intercultural communication.
Discussion is supported
with relevant ideas
taken from at least
TWO related theories
of/studies on listening
and speaking in crosscultural settings.

cultural settings
Relate the analysis to
the any TWO aspects of
Vuckovics (2006)
dynamic model of intercultural communication.
Discussion is supported
with relevant ideas taken
from at least TWO
related theories
of/studies on listening
and speaking in crosscultural settings.

Max
Marks

different cultural
settings
Relate the analysis to
the any TWO aspects
of Vuckovics (2006)
dynamic model of
inter-cultural
communication.
Discussion is
supported with
relevant ideas taken
from at least TWO
related theories
of/studies on listening
and speaking in crosscultural settings.

TOTAL MARKS

40