Perceiving and Dealing With Culture Shock: The Study of Chinese Indonesian-Language Students

Abstract

This study reports culture shock issues such as pragmatic failures, social anxiety or loss of motivation encountered by international students, and specifically focuses on Chinese Indonesian-language students during study abroad in Indonesia. The data were collected through in-depth interviews and participant observations and were analyzed using qualitative approach. A total of eight Chinese students responded to the research that specifically stressed culture shock symptoms and the influence in respect to intercultural communicative competence. The findings put forward that students of this study had all experienced culture shock in view of intercultural communication, which could lead to inconvenience living in Indonesia. The results indicate that before entering a new cultural environment, it is very important to prepare as much beforehand as possible, especially for foreign language learners in host countries. The researcher proposed several recommendations that certain encouragement and support from teachers, media and method development from educational institutions, and a confident attitude from oneself should be provided and built as a solution for students who need to deal with culture shock problems.

Cultural Shock Among African Students in Indonesia

“…The researcher deployed qualitative research approach to collect data in this study. Since, qualitative research approach calls for studying a phenomenon in its natural and social settings by engaging the how and what questions on the socially-constructed reality (Cohen, Manion & Morrison, 2007;Thomas, 2009: Fussy, 2018; it facilitated the present study to explore aspects of culture shock, its effects in respect to students' social and academic life, and participants' experience and coping strategies to deal with it (Qun et al, 2018). The qualitative approach in this study was informed by a case study design.…”

“…In Africa for example, every year many students secure admission to continue their studies abroad, such as Europe, America, Asia and sometimes within Africa. It is believed that studying abroad is a worthy investment which not only aids students with future career opportunities but also broaden novice's world view and ways of thinking by providing more life experiences (Chen & Zimitat, 2006;Qun et al, 2018). It is important to note that students do not excel their academic life exclusively.…”

“…As a result, learning in abroad means both achieving academic merits and acculturating to the alien culture in order to survive in the host country: learning language, customs and values of the society (Huang, 2014). However, learning of this culture could be a stressful experience for example, acquisition of new academic culture and language as well as forced acculturation in the community (Qun et al, 2018). Even though it may be something you have planned and prepared for, yet the extent of the change and effects it has on you may shock you (Xioqiong, 2008).…”

“…The prevalent of students' culture shock is a global concern. Literature increasingly indicates that nearly all international students in various foreign countries are implicated different culture shocks such as language barrier, academic culture, sociocultural relations, discriminations, loneliness, lifestyles, anxiety and food outlets which could lead to inconveniences living in foreign country (Smith, 1995;Lin & Yin, 1997;Khawaja & Stallman, 2011;Qun et al, 2018). For example, Naysmith and Corcoran (2001) found that these students who embark on a journey abroad for education respond not just to one event, but to a series of events and experiences which are so dissimilar from their own.…”

“…For example, Naysmith and Corcoran (2001) found that these students who embark on a journey abroad for education respond not just to one event, but to a series of events and experiences which are so dissimilar from their own. Such events and experiences are indeed 'shocking' to them, that the term 'culture shock' is used to refer those events and experiences (Hu, 2008;Qun et al, 2018). The study highlighted that a significant culture shock was largely to lack of familiar clues in the host country, even though they attended farewell program prior to their departure.…”