Culture Shock

Culture shock!
Culture corner

Today’s Session

1. What is culture shock
2. Stages and symptoms of culture shock
3. Hope to cope with culture shock
4. Coming home: reverse culture shock

Culture shock!!!

Listen to the
experiences of the 5
students on their study
year abroad.

What is similar about their
experiences?

1.

They found the experience hard at
first but then it got easier.

2.

They found it really exciting at first,
then it got very hard, then
eventually easier again after some
time.

1. Honeymoon Stage

• The Honeymoon Stage is the first stage of culture

shock, and it can often last for several weeks or even
months. This is ….

2. Negotiation “culture shock” stage

• Occurs after about three-months in a new place

(though can be earlier)

• Person may feel …

3. Adjustment stage

• Thankfully this phase will come to an end as you begin

to move into the adjustment phase, usually at around
six to twelve months. This is the stage where life
gradually starts to…

4. Adaptation stage

• Finally, you reach the adaptation stage,

sometimes known as the bicultural stage.

• You now feel …

5. Reentry shock

• It’s also important to note that there can be

the fifth stage of this process. Re-entry or
reverse culture shock can happen …

Coping with culture shock:
Your ideas?

Open Ended

What is one way that you think that you can do to help make your culture shock easier?

Coping with culture shock:

1. Remember that it’s normal

Remember that most students go through this. Culture shock is not a sign that anything is wrong. It’s part of the
experience and eventually, you will be able to look back on this process with fond memories.

2. Make your own space

Travelling light is good but leave a space in your suitcase for a few luxuries that will help you to personalise your new
home.

Your favourite cushion or a framed picture can make a big difference to your space and help you feel at home more
quickly. Build yourself a safe haven that you can come back to when it all gets a bit too much.

3. Keep an open mind

One of the most effective ways of dealing with culture shock is to keep an open mind and welcome the surprising
experiences as they arise.

Commit to saying yes as much as possible. Accept invitations to events, eat strange food, offer to help out a new
friend, and discover your new home’s cultures and traditions for yourself. Of course, you should also use common
sense and be sure to stay safe, healthy and not push yourself too hard.

Coping with culture shock:

4. Explore

Try to avoid hiding away too much. Get out there and explore. Feel free to live the tourist life. A great way of doing this is via public
transport. Ride around the city with your camera or commit to visiting a new place every day, even if it’s simply a quick turn down a
new street on your way home.

5. Find something you really love

Find something you love to do in your new home. It could be anything from wandering the museum, to sipping coffee in the park, or
hiking the mountains. That way when things get difficult, you can go back to that experience or place to cheer you up and remind you
why you came to this country in the first place.

6. Set yourself a project

Find yourself a project. Whether that be learning how to prepare a local dish, practising the steps of traditional dance, or memorising
some useful phrases in the local language – keep yourself busy with something new and exciting. Having a project to work on will give
you a sense of achievement and prevent you from dwelling too much on your culture shock.

Conclusion

Remember that culture shock is an essential part of the experience of living overseas. By accepting it for what it is and finding ways to
handle it, you can prevent culture shock from keeping you down and move forward with enjoying life in your new location.

Getting and giving support

Imagine you or a friend are experiencing
culture shock in your new location.

Where might be some good places to
get extra support through this?

What ways could you give support to a
fellow student abroad experiencing
culture shock?

Reentry shock /
reverse culture

shock

● How did these students feel

when they returned home?

● What tips and advice do they

give to cope with this?

● Which do you think would be

useful to you?