English as a Lingua Franca and Inclusive Communication in Multicultural Teams 2600-DSz3ELFen
The course focuses on communication challenges and inclusive practices in multicultural teams where English is used as a lingua franca. Students analyse how cultural differences, power relations, language confidence, and organisational design shape participation and collaboration. The course moves from understanding communication challenges to identifying practical strategies for inclusive teamwork. Classes are discussion-based and use short readings, case scenarios, and group tasks.
Course coordinators
Type of course
Mode
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, students:
• understand the role of English as a lingua franca in multicultural teams,
• recognise how cultural norms influence communication styles and interpretation,
• identify power dynamics and inclusion challenges in team communication,
• apply principles of inclusive communication to practical team scenarios,
• reflect critically on their own role as communicators in multicultural environments.
Assessment criteria
• Active participation in discussions and group work
• Short reflective tasks (written, audio, or visual format)
• Group-based applied task analysing a multicultural team scenario
Assessment focuses on understanding, application, and reflection, not linguistic accuracy.
Bibliography
Edmondson, A. C. (2019). The fearless organization: Creating psychological safety in the workplace for learning, innovation, and growth. Wiley.
Jenkins, J., Baker, W., & Dewey, M. (2018). The Routledge handbook of English as a lingua franca. Routledge.
Kingsley, L. (2013). Language choice in multilingual encounters in transnational workplaces. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 34(6), 533–548.
Ladegaard, H. J., & Jenks, C. J. (2015). Language and intercultural communication in the workplace: Critical approaches to theory and practice. Language and Intercultural Communication, 15(1), 1–12.
Meyer, E. (2014). The culture map: Breaking through the invisible boundaries of global business. PublicAffairs.
Tange, H., & Lauring, J. (2009). Language management and social interaction within the multilingual workplace. Journal of Communication Management, 13(3), 218–232.