State University of Telecommunications :: Study in Ukraine

Phone:
+38 (044) 249-25-91

Discussing culture shock in English language classroom

18:24, 29-11-2021

It is a known fact that language is inseparable from its culture. While the accurate usage of sophisticated vocabulary and complex grammar structures and the acquisition of near-native pronunciation are often aimed by English language learners, few students think about the importance of cultural competence, necessary for a successful outcome of any intercultural encounter, be it a conversation with an English professor during a mobility program or an informal meeting with colleagues during an international job assignment. Moving to another country is usually coupled with culture shock experience and those, unaware of local unwritten norms, values, beliefs and behavioural patterns, are particularly vulnerable.

A Canadian anthropologist Oberg was the first to coin the term “culture shock” [3, p.178-179] in 1950s, which was later further elaborated by a number of linguists and intercultural communication scholars. According to a modern researcher Fitzpatrick [1, p. 291], culture shock is “… the increased levels of psychological stress and the process of sociocultural learning that results from the increased level of demands and lifestyle changes in a new and unfamiliar environment”. As any process, culture shock develops in stages. In general, four stages are identified:

  1. “honeymoon”;
  2. frustration;
  3. acceptance;
  4. adaptation.

In order to help newcomers to mitigate their distress and to progress in their adjustment to a host country, an academic and international business expert Marx [2, p. 11-19] offered a model which clearly defined what kind of internal changes an individual needed to undergo on their way through culture shock. They are as follows:

  • emotional changes;
  • cognitive changes;
  • identity changes.

Considering the abovementioned and that people study foreign languages in order to be able to communicate and connect with individuals across the national, cultural and linguistic borders, introducing students to the dynamics, challenges and, the most important, ways to cope with culture shock during these potential encounters will prepare them to operate successfully outside of the classroom and in unfamiliar settings.

At the same time, open discussions about other aspects of intercultural communication during English classes are no less important. The workshops on cultural awareness and sensitivity, intercultural dialogue incorporated in the English language curriculum will equip future graduates with vital soft skills required in today’s workplace.

Written by Kateryna Zalizna,
Senior teacher of Department of English language
 

Bibliography:

  1. Fitzpatrick, F. (2017) Taking The “Culture” Out Of “Culture Shock” – A Critical Review Of Literature On Cross-Cultural Adjustment In International Relocation. Critical Perspectives On International Business, 13 (4), pp. 278-296.
  2. Marx, E. (1999) Breaking Through Culture Shock: What Do You Need To Succeed In International Business. London: Nicholas Brealey.
  3. Oberg, K. (1960) Cultural Shock: Adjustment To New Cultural Environments. Practical Anthropology, 7, pp. 177-182.

For those, who are looking for really high-quality educational institution

Fill in the form of the entrant

Don't you know why people choose State University of Telecommunications?

Its easy - here is 15 reasons:

  • State University of Telecommunications - only the relevant institution of higher education in the field of telecommunications, information technology and IT
  • Free Academy CCNA courses «CISCO»
  • Provides training for reserve officers
  • The University has a certified Ukraine Academy of Hewlett-Packard
  • The University is in the top 150 universities in Ukraine (according osvita.ua)
  • The highest salaries are graduates of our University - workers in the sphere of information technologies
  • International diploma
  • Developed and effective student government
  • University laboratories equipped with equipment Alcatel-Lucent, where students gain practical skills
  • Multi-colored and rich student life
  • Provides training professionals most promising areas of IT technologies telecommunications, data protection, management and entrepreneurship
  • High levels of personnel and material support
  • The ability to study part-time and distance learning
  • The ability to simultaneously acquire two degrees from the University
  • Providing students with hostels

Our partners