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Challenges faced by International Students when Adapting to New Culture

• As an international or exchange student, adjusting to a new home and culture can be a very challenging experience. Students are faced with setbacks such as homesickness and culture shock. According to a study in Illinois, reasons for Culture Adoption Challenges can include change, loss (of family, friends, social position in home culture, etc.), value differences, expectations for the international experience, social skills, and host country receptivity. The same study outlines the four stages of culture adoption:

-Honeymoon Stage: Everything seems new and exciting; Individuals are energetic and enthusiastic

-Culture Shock Stage: Individuals become very aware of the differences and conflicts between their visiting country and home country. Individuals feel confusion, anxiety, homesickness, and/or anger

-Recovery Stage: Stress from Stage 2 is resolved. Individual develops a better understanding of the new culture. Individual feels a mixture of the feelings from Stage 1 and Stage 2

-Adaptation Stage: Individual comes to accept and appreciate the differences and similarities between cultures (University of Illinois Counselling Centre, 2007)

• Another study focused on individual factors that had an impact on culture adaption. The results stated that for individuals going on an exchange or for international studies alone, the main factor that impacted their ability to adjust to the new culture was personality type. With traits such as extroversion, openness, and contentiousness being related to greater acquisition of new cultural identity and cultural knowledge. For individuals going on an exchange or for international studies in a group, the main factor that impacted their ability to adjust to the new culture was adherence to home cultural norms and values (Jang & Kim, 2010)

• A third article outline strategies that host universities can take to assist their international and exchange in adapting to their new culture and surroundings:

-Provide learning opportunities in tutorials and laboratory sessions that enable international students to work collaboratively with local students. Structure learning groups so that they can change during the semester so students meet a range of different students

-Provide opportunities in class for students to share their culture

-Provide access to information on social opportunities available within the educational institution, including peer mentoring

-Provide access to locality based information about sporting and special interest groups

-Implement a “buddy system” where each new international student is supported by a more senior local student 

(Smith, Nayda & Rankin, 2011)

Works Cited:

• Jang, D., & Kim, D. (2010). The influence of host cultures on the role of personality in the acculturation of exchange students. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 34(4), 363-367.

• Smith, M., Nayda, R., & Rankin, E. (2011). Assisting international students’ adjustment to a new culture. Nurse Educator, 36(3), 93-95.

• University of Illinois Counselling Centre (2007). Cross cultural journey for international students. Retrieved from http://www.counselingcenter.illinois.edu/self-help-brochures/diversity-and-cultural-differences/crosscultural-international-students/