CULTURE SHOCK!!!CULTURE SHOCK!!!

Amanda Mitchener Amanda Mitchener

Certificate IV English for Further studyCertificate IV English for Further study

Canberra Institute of TechnologyCanberra Institute of Technology

20072007

CULTURECULTURE

Is a coherent, learned, shared view of a Is a coherent, learned, shared view of a group of people about life’s concern that group of people about life’s concern that ranks what is important, furnishes attitudes ranks what is important, furnishes attitudes about what things are appropriate and about what things are appropriate and dictates behavior. dictates behavior. ((Iris Varnir, Linda Beamer; Intercultural Iris Varnir, Linda Beamer; Intercultural

Communication in the Global Workplace, third edition, McGraw-Hill Irwin, Communication in the Global Workplace, third edition, McGraw-Hill Irwin, New York, 2005, P.5)New York, 2005, P.5)

Culture shockCulture shock

We can describe culture shock as the We can describe culture shock as the physical and emotional discomfort one physical and emotional discomfort one suffers when coming to live in another suffers when coming to live in another country or a place different from the place country or a place different from the place of origin. Often, the way that we lived of origin. Often, the way that we lived before is not accepted as or considered as before is not accepted as or considered as normal in the new place. normal in the new place.

The Culture Shock W-curve that reflects the The Culture Shock W-curve that reflects the stages of initial culture shock and reverse culture stages of initial culture shock and reverse culture

shockshock

Stages of culture shockStages of culture shock

Euphoria ; the honeymoon period.Euphoria ; the honeymoon period.

Everything about the exciting new Everything about the exciting new adventure is wonderful.adventure is wonderful.

FrustrationFrustration

Symptoms: Symptoms:

Sadness, loneliness, Sadness, loneliness, melancholy melancholy

Preoccupation with health Preoccupation with health

Aches, pains, and allergies Aches, pains, and allergies

Insomnia, desire to sleep too Insomnia, desire to sleep too much or too little much or too little

Changes in temperament, Changes in temperament, depression, feeling vulnerable, depression, feeling vulnerable, feeling powerless feeling powerless

Anger, irritability, resentment, Anger, irritability, resentment, unwillingness to interact with unwillingness to interact with others others

AdjustmentAdjustment

The expatriate sees theThe expatriate sees the

both sides and learnsboth sides and learns

more about how themore about how the

other culture works.other culture works.

New stage of friendshipNew stage of friendship

with local peoplewith local people

New business might beNew business might be

conducted successfullyconducted successfully

IntegrationIntegration

An expatriate becomes fluent enough in An expatriate becomes fluent enough in the other culture to move in easily within it.the other culture to move in easily within it.

Linguistic fluency improved.Linguistic fluency improved.

Reverse culture shockReverse culture shock

A sojourner returns home.A sojourner returns home.

Home has change in to a different world Home has change in to a different world from what it used to be.from what it used to be.

How to fight culture shockHow to fight culture shock

Maintain contact with your ethnic group. This will Maintain contact with your ethnic group. This will give you a feeling of belonging and you will give you a feeling of belonging and you will reduce your feelings of loneliness and alienation reduce your feelings of loneliness and alienation Maintain contact with the new culture. Learn the Maintain contact with the new culture. Learn the language. Volunteer in community activities that language. Volunteer in community activities that allow you to practice the language that you are allow you to practice the language that you are learning. This will help you feel less stress about learning. This will help you feel less stress about language and useful at the same time. language and useful at the same time. Allow yourself to feel sad about the things that Allow yourself to feel sad about the things that you have left behind: your family, your you have left behind: your family, your friends,etcfriends,etcIf you feel stressed, look for helpIf you feel stressed, look for help

ConclusionConclusion

Culture shock could create a serious Culture shock could create a serious problem for a new comer to a foreign problem for a new comer to a foreign place.place.

Culture could be learned and adapted Culture could be learned and adapted easily with open mind while prepare to easily with open mind while prepare to adjust the behavior to match the new adjust the behavior to match the new culture to avoid the culture shock.culture to avoid the culture shock.