ILR 599: Cross-Cultural Work Experience
2008 Course Information and Registration Instructions
School of Industrial & Labor Relations
Faculty:
Professor William J. Sonnenstuhl
School of Industrial and Labor Relations
Graduate Programs
214 Ives Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853
phone: 607-255-1522
email: wjs7@cornell.edu, jlw297@cornell.edu
Please Read this page thoroughly BEFORE registering
Eligibility and Procedures:
This course is open only to MILR students who will be working in the summer of 2008 in a country other than that of their citizenship or past work experience. This option is only available for students who have been enrolled for one academic year by the time the Internship begins. ILR 599 is a 1 credit, S/U course. To take ILR 599, you must register on line here, AND you must also enroll in ILR 599 through the regular course enrollment procedures for Fall 2008. The grade for ILR 599 will be posted in the Fall of 2008 after the requirements are satisfied.
Prior to registering for the course on this web site, students must obtain a summer internship offer and complete the information section that follows this description. After you register on line for the course, you will receive an approval email from Sarah Hilsman at the International Students & Scholars Office. The email will explain that you need to bring a copy of that email along with your job offer letter to the ISSO (B50 Caldwell Hall) in order to obtain your work authorization. REMEMBER that in addition to registering on line and getting your work authorization at the ISSO, you must also enroll in ILR 599 through the regular course enrollment procedures for Fall 2008. More information about Curricular Practical Training work authorization is available here. Come to the ISSO to discuss any questions you have about CPT or email us at: isso@cornell.edu.
You MUST notify Professor Sonnenstuhl and Sarah Hilsman if you change or drop the internship after registration. The internship may not be extended beyond the summer, and you may not drop the course after completing the internship without invalidating your work authorization and jeopardizing your legal status in the U.S..
Objective and Assignment:
The goal of this course is to promote an understanding of the challenges encountered in the work environment as a result of cultural differences. To that end, students are required to complete a 10 page paper following their summer internship that explores these differences. You may focus on national cultures (e.g., China vs. the U.S.) or, if more appropriate to your circumstances, regional or industry cultures (e.g., banking vs. high-tech).
The paper should begin with a brief description of your background and the internship (N.B., do not fill this section with long quotes from the company literature or summaries of your summer projects).
The body of the paper should focus on three incidents from the summer that illustrate the cultural differences. Include in your descriptions who was involved, what occurred, why it was significant, and how it might have been handled in your previous job or home country. Examples of types of issues to draw on include hierarchies, time management, team- work, gender roles, communication channels and styles, or work/life balance.
The conclusion should state your main take-aways from these experiences in terms of the more general assumptions you brought to the new environment and how you adapted.
It is a good idea to keep a journal during the internship to record the situations and observations on which the final paper will be based. It is also a good idea to write a brief outline for the paper before you start. The final paper is due in the ILR Graduate Office by October 15. Revisions may be required before the final grade is posted.
Please go to next page to register online.