Name: Muvida Dheliana

Registered Number: F041201065

Task 1
Problems That Must Be Faced When Studying Abroad
Studying abroad is a desire to gain knowledge and seek experience in other countries. This
is a call and encouragement that we have the desire to learn and seek knowledge even though
the place is far and foreign to us. Studying abroad helps us learn a new language, appreciate
other cultures, overcome the challenges of living in another country and gain a greater
understanding of the world. There are several things that we must know and be able to
overcome if we want to study abroad are cultural differences, cultural shock, and adaptation.
Cultural inherent in a person comes from his own country. Therefore, when we enter a new
environment, we realize that some things are different and we have to learn to adapt. For
example, environmental conditions, such as campuses and classes that do not meet
expectations, can be one of the factors causing cultural differences. To overcome cultural
differences when we study abroad, we must first study the daily habits of residents in our
destination country because our habits are not necessarily the same. For example, late hours
in Indonesia, not necessarily people there are open with a delay of only one minute. Different
cultural values also form different senses of humor. Humor can make relationships with other
people to be harmonious. The next way to overcome cultural differences is that we must try
to adapt to that culture. However, it would be nice if our adaptation did not forget the culture
of our homeland, so that we still carry our own cultural characteristics with pride. Of course,
there must be a balance between understanding and accepting other cultures without leaving
our identity as Indonesians.
Culture shock refers to feelings of uncertainty, confusion, or anxiety that people may
experience when moving to a new country or experiencing a new culture or surroundings.
This cultural adjustment is normal and is the result of being in an unfamiliar environment.
Culture shock can occur when people study abroad for school. For example, international
students studying abroad for a semester in another country may experience a cultural
adjustment due to unfamiliarity with the weather, local customs, language, food, and values.
There are several ways to deal with culture shock. The first way to overcome this is to first
learn the ins and outs of the destination country, learn about the culture, traditions, customs,
regulations, and behaviours of the surrounding community that developed in the area. try to
memorize important locations in the area. For example, by memorizing where the road to the
station is, how the route of public transportation to public places, the location of
supermarkets, hospitals, police stations and so on. Also pay attention to the various buildings
that are around the residence so that you can memorize the characteristics of the nearest
neighbourhood area. The next way to overcome culture shock is to build networking or
relationships in new areas. in this way we will find it easier to get help and information. The
last way is to apply an open mindset. With an open mind, we will find it easier to learn
something, be mature and wise in assessing the point of view of the people in the area, we
will also be more patient in understanding the problems and obstacles faced while studying
abroad.
Adaptation is a problem that needs to be solved when a person or group of people
communicated with others from different cultures. Cross-cultural adaptation process is an
interactive process that evolves through communication activities between individual entrants
with new socio-cultural environment. There are 5 theories in adaptation to overcome this,
namely Integrative Communication Theory, Anxiety / Uncertainty Management Theory,
Uncertainty Reduction Theory, Theory of Acculturation and Culture Shock, and Co-cultural
Theory.
1. Theory Anxiety/Uncertainty Management Theory (AUM)
This theory is a theory developed by William Gudykunst through his research in 1985
using existing theories as a starting point. AUM is a theory that talks about the
effectiveness of intercultural communication. The theory says that the basis for being
able to achieve effective communication with foreigners or people from different
cultures is the ability to control feelings of anxiety and uncertainty.
2. Uncertainty Reduction Theory
There are two processes in reducing uncertainty, namely proactive and retroactive.
Proactive uncertainty reduction occurs when a person thinks before communicating
with others. For example, when we see a stranger in the terminal, we then think about
asking the stranger to get acquainted and arrange what we will say when we meet that
person. This is done to reduce our uncertainty to the strangers we meet. Retroactive
uncertainty reduction occurs when explaining behaviour after the encounter. For
example, when we and the stranger who met at the terminal have been acquainted, we
then think whether the foreigner likes us, or is happy to meet us, or whether he wants
to meet and talk to us again, and so on.
3. Acculturation Theory
Proposed by Berry (1987) Acculturation is a process in which we adopt a new culture
by adopting its values, attitudes, and habits. Acculturation is a term used to describe
 what happens when people from one culture enter a different culture. Acculturation is
always characterized by physical and psychological changes that occur as a result of
the adaptations required to function in a new or different cultural context.
4. Co-cultural Theory
Put forward by Mark Orbe. Co-cultural is a theoretical thought that explains the need
for cultural equality. Mark Orbe and his colleagues chose the word co-cultural over
the terminology of sub-cultural, subordinate, and minority, because the term co-
cultural wants to show that no one culture in society is superior to other cultures. Co-
cultural theory is based on the theoretical thinking of Muted Group (Cheris Kramarae)
and Standpoint. Muted Group Theory (Miller, West & Turner, 2007) explains that
language provides its creators (and people in the same group as its creators) better
conditions than people from other groups who must learn to use language as best they
can. The mute group created their own language to compensate for their problems.
In order to study abroad, we must be able to overcome several problems that we will face
when studying abroad, firstly, cultural differences, to overcome cultural differences when we
study abroad, we must first study the daily habits of residents in our destination country and
we must try to adapt to that culture. Next is culture shock. Culture shock can occur when
people study abroad for school. For example, international students studying abroad for a
semester in another country may experience a cultural adjustment due to unfamiliarity with
the weather, local customs, language, food, and values. the last is how to adapt quickly. There
are 5 theories in adaptation to overcome this, namely Integrative Communication Theory,
Anxiety / Uncertainty Management Theory, Uncertainty Reduction Theory, Theory of
Acculturation and Culture Shock, and Co-cultural