CULTURE LEARNING APPROACHES TO ACCULTURATION

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CULTURE LEARNING APPROACHES TO ACCULTURATION
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CULTURE LEARNINGLearning the behaviors
and skills necessary to survive and thrive in a
new cultural milieu
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Intercultural Communication Verbal Language R
ules and ConventionsNon-Verbal Eye
Contact Proxemics Body postures Gestures Silen
ce Display of Emotion
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Dimensions of VariabilityCommunication

• High and low contact
• High and low context

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Dimensions of Cultural Variability

• Individualism-collectivism
• High and low power distance

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SOCIO-CULTURAL ADAPTATION
The capacity to fit in or negotiate
interactive aspects of a new cultural
milieu Measured in terms of social
difficulty making friends going
shopping understanding the local language
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Sociocultural Adaptation Rating Task as Greatly
or Extremely Difficult (N 150)

• Dealing with bureaucracy 26.9
• Dealing with unsatisfactory service 19.5
• Making friends 16
• Talking about yourself and your experiences
  14.9
• Understanding cultural differences 14.8
• Going to parties or social functions 12.8
• Dealing with someone who is unpleasant 11.3

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ACADEMIC ADAPTATION OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
RATING TASK AS GREATLY OR EXTREMELY DIFFICULT(N
150)

• Making oral presentations 25.3
• Doing all the assigned readings 24.2
• Expressing my own opinions to lecturers 22.5
• Memorising relevant material 18.2
• Getting the necessary feedback from
  lecturers 17
• Identifying what the lecturer thinks is
  important 16.2
• Taking tests and exams 14.9
• Understanding what is expected of me 14.1
• Writing assignments 13.6
• Thinking critically 12.8
• Taking notes during lectures 11
• Managing my academic workload 10.8
• Studying 10.l

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Sociocultural Adaptation

• Which factors predict sociocultural
  adaptation?
• How does sociocultural adaptation change over
  time?
• Does sociocultural adaptation vary between
  sojourning and sedentary groups?
• Does sociocultural adaptation vary across
  sojourning groups?

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Predictors of Sociocultural Adaptation

• Culture specific knowledge
• Language fluency
• Contact with host nationals
• Cultural similarity
• Length of residence in host culture

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Sociocultural Adaptation in Sojourning and
Sedentary Groups New Zealand secondary
students who studied abroad (AFS) reported more
sociocultural difficulties than those who
remained at home.
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Britons Americans Malaysians Chinese
Japanese Singaporeans in
Singapore in Singapore in Singapore
in Singapore in NZ
Malaysians in NZ
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Culture Learning Theory
Applications Training
Memory Understanding DoingFor knowledge,
skills, abilities and attitudes, e.g., culture
assimilators
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QUESTIONS

• What strategies or programmes could be
  implemented to assist international students to
  adapt to life in New Zealand?
• To study at VUW?