HUE UNIVERSITY OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES

DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

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CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION 1

ESSAY TITLE: INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AND CULTURE SHOCK

STUDENT’S FULL NAME (in Vietnamese): Nguyễn Ngọc Thư Trang

STUDENT’S ID: 20F7511221

SEMESTER 2 – 2022-2023
 I. Introduction

In today’s world, along with globalization, society is becoming more and more developing. People are now interacting with new

cultures by travelling, studying abroad, and even settling down in another country. A large number of international students, including

Vietnamese students, choose to start a new life and pursue their own dreams in new countries. These students went with great ambition

and dreamed of a new life where they would receive a better education, health care, and social welfare. However, when they moved there,

they started to feel overwhelmed. They realized that adapting to a new culture in another country is a major difficulty. This phenomenon

is often called “culture shock”. Therefore, it is important to understand the phenomenon of cultural shock and provide some solutions to

overcome the phenomenon.

II. Literature review

1. What is “culture shock”?

The term “culture shock” was first mentioned in literature by Kalervo Oberg in 1960, who defined it as being “precipitated by the

anxiety that results from losing all our familiar signs and symbols of social intercourse. These signs or cues include the thousand and one

ways in which we orient ourselves to the situations of daily life” (Oberg 1960, cited in Gibson, 2000, p.26). Elisabeth Marx called it “the

experience of foreignness” (Marx, 1999, p.xiii), while Bock considered it as a disturbing feeling of disorientation and helplessness

produced by the direct exposure to an alien society (Bock, 1970, p.ix). Those definitions have something in common, that culture shock

basically refers to the feeling of confusion or disorientation upon finding yourself in a culture or environment which you are unfamiliar

with. This is something which is commonly experienced by nearly all abroad students, immigrants and refugees.

2. Symptoms of culture shock.

Some typical symptoms of culture shock are:sense of loss, feeling rejected, confusion, anxiety, helplessness,…All these symptoms

may look normal and visible, but when these reactions become excessive will find it difficult to adjust with daily life in a foreign country.

This suggests that not coping with culture shock symptoms when they appear can lead to a very negative situation (Marx, 1999, p.xxii).

3. Stages of culture shock

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 Culture shock usually moves through four nonidentical phases: honeymoon, frustration, adjustment, and acceptance. Individualities

witness these stages differently, and the impact and order of each stage vary extensively. They can, however, give a guideline of how we

acclimatize and cope with the new culture.

a) The honeymoon stage

This is the starting stage before international students set foot in a new place. This honeymoon stage may last from a few days or

weeks to six months depending on circumstances y (Oberg, 1960). At this time, international students feel eager and fascinated by the

new environment. These experiences are like an excursion, like a normal morning, changing on public transport. At this time,

international students are eager to try everything. Most of the things like food, scenery, people, customs are interesting and wonderful in

their eyes. If this is just a short trip, the honeymoon phase can take up the whole experience because the later effects of culture shock

don't have time to take shape. But in exchange for the long haul, the final honeymoon phase will often disappear.

b) The frustration stage

This is the most difficult stage of culture shock. Oberg (1960) describes people in this stage as revealing a hostile and aggressive

attitude towards the host country and developing stereotypes. This stage occurs when life, work, study have stabilized. The passion, the

feeling of enjoyment at the beginning will gradually disappear. Instead it is the difficulty of dealing with the differences between the two

cultures. Cultural differences will gradually accumulate. Many international students feel frustrated and annoyed by the things they don't

like at home. They end up trying to work things out their own way. This leads to a vicious cycle of stress, sadness, anger. At this point,

bouts of depression or homesickness often occur during periods of frustration.

c) The adjustment stage

Frustration often subsides as international students begin to feel more familiar and comfortable with the culture, people, food and

language of their new environments. Entering the third stage of culture shock, they have a thorough understanding of the new culture, the

new environment. They changed their perspective and began to look at the host culture more objectively. They appreciate everyone and

everything in the new culture. And international students have learned to see the value of almost anything. They often achieve this

equilibrium while studying abroad, and can use their newly acquired skills in future international projects.

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 d) The acceeptance stage

At this stage, the attitude of international students will completely change. They know how to balance two cultures at home and

abroad. They have successfully immersed themselves in a new environment with a more realistic perspective. Usually people in this stage

have a good orientation about daily life and way of thinking, are more comfortable, confident, and assertive. International students don't

feel so lonely anymore, but instead, this new environment begins to become their second home.

4. Reasons

a) Objective reasons

- Language:

Listening and speaking in foreign languages all the time can cause stress for international students. From time to time they will feel

nostalgic for their country. Even if international students are very fluent in the foreign language where they come from, the intonation and

manner of speaking of the locals make it take time for them to get used to it.

- Principles of conduct:

Besides the visible things that affect you immediately when you arrive at the airport in a foreign country such as lights, sounds,

smells, tastes, every culture has its own unwritten principles. affect the way people behave towards each other. These things can be hard

to notice right away, but sooner or later you will have to go through and you will feel lost, disoriented. Social behavior can sometimes be

confusing, surprising, or offensive.

- Values:

Although international students may gradually get used to the cultural differences in the physical world they see such as food,

clothing, and manners, they will find that people from different cultures each other has a very different way of seeing the world than they

do. Culture is made up of sets of values, standards, prejudices, and beliefs. Sometimes they'll be surprised and disappointed that everyone

else doesn't share the same values as us, because we all assume our values are the norm.

b) Subjective reasons

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 In addition to the objective reasons due to differences between cultures, the subjective cause is that international students do not have

the necessary preparation and necessary equipment to adapt to the new culture:

- Have not found out where they are going: if they have not researched or learned carefully about the country, people, culture and

habits of the place they are going to, it will take longer for them to adapt to the new culture. and also more prone to "shock".

- Lack of necessary baggage: Language, skills and friendliness are necessary baggage when coming to a new culture. It is difficult to

not be familiar with the common language or the native language.

- Not prepared solutions if facing difficulties: In all cases, all problems; The research, understanding and preparation of solutions is

always essential, especially. Knowing where you are lacking and the possible difficulties and preparing solutions to overcome those

difficulties will help avoid or quickly overcome “culture shock” and do your job well. .

- Living a closed life and not wanting to make friends: Making friends is extremely important not only in your own country but also

when coming to your country. This helps to adapt more quickly to the new environment.

5. Solution

From unfamiliar cuisines to foreign languages, adjusting to life in a new country can be challenging for most international students.

Do not worry, though – culture shock, as we know, is natural. Adjusting to your new environment will take time – and may require some

professional guidance. Follow these tips on how to overcome culture shock while studying abroad.

a) Keep an open mind

You need to keep your mind always ready to absorb new things, ready to learn other cultures to join the custom. You also need to

accept and respect national differences.

b) Regular contact with family

When going away, feeling homesick is inevitable. Contact with relatives and family is an important thing to help you keep your

spirits up when studying abroad. Nowadays, communication has become extremely easy thanks to the advent of the Internet. However, in

the early stages of getting used to a new life, you should pay attention not to call home too much because it will inadvertently make it

difficult for you to integrate into the foreign community.

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 c) Connect with the community

Culture shock often makes international students want to withdraw. But separating from the community will only make your problem

worse. Create opportunities to get to know the people around you by joining groups, clubs, playing sports, cultural exchanges, etc. If you

have any difficulties, boldly ask your teacher or teacher in charge, Friends and neighbors help instead of fending for themselves.

d) Prepare mentally and knowledge

This is the most important step before you go to study abroad. In addition to preparing documents and records, you also need to

prepare knowledge about the country you are going to. Knowing the good and bad sides, the differences in climate, customs and traditions

will help you feel less surprised when communicating with foreigners and even living in a foreign country.

III. Conclusion

In conclusion, culture shock refers to the feeling of disorientation and confusion that results from being immersed in a new and

unfamiliar culture. Experiencing culture shock has a positive long-term impact if you are ready to face the initial hurdles with

perseverance and confidence. It teaches us the valuable lesson that despite our differences in cultures, languages, and ethnicities, we can

connect to each other. We all share similar aspirations to find love, enjoy what we do, protect our family, and earn a good living. The

culture shock truly reinforces the idea that we all share the same human experience in this beautiful world.

REFERENCE

Bock, Philip K. (1970). Culture shock: A reader in modern cultural anthropology

https://www.scribd.com/document/532263135/Culture-Shock-A-Reader-in-

Modern-Cultural-Anthropology-by-Philip-K-Bock

Gibson, R. (2000). Intercultural business communication

https://www.scribd.com/document/545498623/Gibson-r-Intercultural-Business-

Communication#

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Oberg, K. (1960). Cultural Shock: Adjustment to New Cultural Environments.

Practical Anthropology, os-7(4), 177–182.

https://doi.org/10.1177/009182966000700405

Marx, E. (1999). Breaking through culture shock: What you need to succeed in international business

http://ndl.ethernet.edu.et/bitstream/123456789/35423/1/73.Elisabeth

%20Marx.pdf

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Gibson, R. (2000). Intercultural Mục II.1

business communication

https://www.scribd
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5498623/Gibson-r-
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Business-
Communication#
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through culture shock: What you

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tural anthropology

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