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11.2
CULTURE SHOCK
Culture shock is a feeling people get when they leave their familiar,
known environment and move to somewhere unknown and
unfamiliar. This could be a long-termmove for work or study, or even
when they go on holiday. Everyone, young and old, can be affected.
Lots of factors cause this feeling, such as different customs, different
food, different weather, unfamiliar faces and a lack of close friends to
talk to. Language differences can also cause problems but it is possible
to feel culture shock even in another area of your own country.
Experts believe we go through five (some people say four) stages of
culture shock:
1
The ‘honeymoon’ stage
When they first move to a new culture, people are generally excited
and stimulated by the differences they notice. They find new
experiences intriguing rather than worrying and, if they compare
the new culture with their own, it tends to be in a positive way.
Short holidays usually involve only this stage, and people return
home before the problems begin.
2
The ‘distress’ or ‘frustration’ stage
During this stage, people start to miss their home. They may feel
confused, frustrated and isolated from other people. This stage can
be tiring and also lead to feelings of inadequacy, as if it is somehow
your fault that you can’t function as well as you wish.
3
The ‘hostility’ stage
This is sometimes combined with the frustration stage. The
difference is that, instead of feeling inadequate, people feel hostile
towards their new environment. They compare it negatively to
home and start noticing all the faults. Experts don’t see this as a bad
thing. They say this indicates that people are remembering what
they value about their own culture.
4
The ‘autonomy’ or ‘adjustment’ stage
As you become more used to your surroundings and make friends,
life becomes easier. You feel more relaxed and make adjustments in
your habits to live more like the locals.
5
The ‘independence’ or ‘acceptance’ stage
This is the final stage, which may take months or even years to
reach. This stage doesn’t mean that people become ‘native’ but that
they feel totally at ease with all the differences between their old
and new environments.
READING AND SPEAKING
1
Work with a partner and discuss the
questions.
1
What is culture shock?
2
Who gets culture shock?
3
What does it include?
2
Read the first paragraph of an article
which gives advice to foreign students
and check your answers to the questions
in Exercise 1.
3
Read the five stages of culture shock and
match the statements from five people with
the stage they are likely to be in.
a
‘Actually, I think I appreciate all the
cultural differences and feel very
comfortable living here now. I also
appreciate my own culture and enjoy
going home on holiday.’
b
‘I think I’m getting used to living here
now and I don’t worry anymore.’
c
‘I love all the different tastes, the spices
in the food, the smells, the sights and
the sounds.’
d
‘I don’t like the way people stare at
me all the time and how they just rush
onto the trains without waiting for
people to get off.’
e
‘I feel a little bit lonely at the moment
and I miss having my sisters to talk to.’
4
Work in small groups and discuss the
questions.
1
Have you lived in another culture, or
do you know someone who has? What
have been your/their experiences with
culture shock?
2
What countries have a similar culture
to your own?
3
Do you agree with the following
quote?
A fish only discovers its need
for water when it is no longer in it.
Our own culture is like water to a fish.
It sustains us. We live and breathe
through it.
(Dr F. Trompenaars)
CULTURE
SHOCK
THE STAGES OF
