Cross-cultural Communication: Culture Shock

Cross-cultural communication

Culture shock

Table of contents: Part I: Culture shock – An overview Part II: Results of interviews about culture shocks Part III: Conclusion

Part I: Culture shock – An overview

I.1. What culture shock?

The term was introduced for the first time in 1958 to describe the anxiety produced when a person moves to a completely new environment. This term expresses the lack of direction, the feeling of not knowing what to do or how to do things in a new environment, and not knowing what is appropriate or inappropriate.

I.2. Symtoms of culture shock       

Sadness, loneliness, melancholy Preoccupation with health Aches, pains, and allergies Insomnia, desire to sleep too much or too little Changes in temperament, depression, feeling vulnerable, feeling powerless Anger, irritability, resentment, unwillingness to interact with others Identifying with the old culture or idealizing the old country

I.2. Symtoms of culture shock       

Loss of identity Lack of confidence Feelings of inadequacy or insecurity Developing stereotypes about the new culture Developing obsessions such as over-cleanliness Longing for family Feelings of being lost, overlooked, exploited or abused

I.3. Stages of Culture Shock - The first stage is the incubation stage – or "honeymoon" stage, as everything encountered is new and exciting. - The second stage starts when a person may encounter some difficult times and crises in daily life. - The third stage is characterized by gaining some understanding of the new culture. A new feeling of pleasure and sense of humor may be experienced. One may start to feel a certain psychological balance.

I.3. Stages of Culture Shock - In the fourth stage, the person realizes that the new culture has good and bad things to offer. - The fifth stage is the stage that is called the "re-entry shock." This occurs when a return to the country of origin is made. One may find that things are no longer the same. For example, some of the newly acquired customs are not in use in the old culture.

Part II: Results of interviews about culture shocks

Types of culture shocks from interviews: Group 1: Perception  Name: Chon Goo Soo  Nationality: Korean  Length of stay: 18 months  Job: Student of Law Department - VNU  Setting: Wear informal clothes to class

How did Vietnamese teachers and students react? A. No reaction B. Feel surprised, but not directly tell him about that C. Tell him it is not appropriate to wear informal clothes D. Agree with the new style, and follow that style

Group 2: Religion

Group 2: Religion       

Name: Hiranami Nationality: Japanese Age: 30 Job: Teacher Setting: walking along Sword Lake and West Lake Length of stay: 6 month Situation: beggars

What would you do? A. B. C. D. E. F.

Ignore Give money to all of them Give money to some Ask others to help Go with a local friend Other ways

Group 3: Beliefs  Name:

Mrs. Wendy  Nationality: Australian  Length of stay: 18 months  Setting: She had a 3-month baby. Many Vietnamese people visit and give her advice about how to take care of her new born baby

How did she react? A. B. C. D.

Thank for the advice and accept it. Not say anything and feel like people want to teach her Show her surprise. Show her anger.

Group 4: Language/ level of civilization       

Name: Vo Huy Hoan Nationality: Vietnamese Age: 35 Job: Teacher Setting: Conference in Singapore Length of stay: 10 days Situation: Bad English/ electronic-ticket machine/choosing food/ eating-out habit

“Would you come back to India? ” “Are you kidding me? Never again” Ngoc, 23, graduate

an

Indian

university

“When someone travel overseas, they are like a fish out of water"

Finding out about a new culture is never enough Thu, 25, Korean university graduate

A Thai teacher at CFL - VNU

Part III: Conclusion III.1. Solution: There is no solution to culture shock except to try to learn the culture, and the way to do that is to watch and listen while withholding judgment for a while. Be careful of what you say and do, because it is easy for others, not knowing your culture, to misunderstand you. In time, you will learn the other culture and then you can participate at ease.

III.2. Suggestions: There are some suggestions to help people overcome culture shock:  Be patient, the act of immigrating is a process of adaptation to new situations. It is going to take time  Learn to be constructive. If you encounter an unfavorable environment, don't put yourself in that position again. Be easy on yourself.  Don't try too hard.

 Learn

to include a regular form of physical activity in your routine. This will help combat the sadness and loneliness in a constructive manner. Exercise, swim, take an aerobics class, etc.  Relaxation and meditation are proven to be very positive for people who are passing through periods of stress