Journal of Technical Writing and Communication Apr 2019

Simulation Rhetoric and Activity Theory: Experiential Learning in Intercultural Simulations

Junhua Wang University of Minnesota, Duluth

Abstract

In the field of intercultural business and technical communication, intercultural communication has been a regular topic in curriculum for decades; various teaching approaches exist for developing students’ cultural awareness and helping them achieve a theoretical understanding about the concept of culture, cultural differences, and cultural conflict. But quite often teaching and learning are limited in the classroom context, although it is true that study abroad programs are available for a small group of students. As a result, students do not have enough opportunities to interact with members of other cultures, which limits students’ potentials for gaining intercultural competence. This study explores the rhetorical nature of simulations, defines the perspective of using activity theory as a framework to understand the learning process occurring in simulations, and provides an intercultural simulation example to explain how instructors can incorporate simulations into the business and technical communication curriculum.

Journal
Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
Published
2019-04-01
DOI
10.1177/0047281618824865
Open Access
Closed
Topics
genre theory technical communication

Citation Context

Cited by in this index (0)

No articles in this index cite this work.

Cites in this index (15)

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    Technical Communication Quarterly
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    Technical Communication Quarterly
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    Journal of Technical Writing and Communication
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CrossRef global citation count: 3 View in citation network →

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