Culture Shock:

Maximizing Study Abroad

TNT Development© 2011

Ignite emotions and creativity

Have fun and experiment

Share experiences

Assess your readiness

Prepare

What do you want to learn from this session today?

How much or what type of international experience do you have?

What specific questions would you like to explore?

Give up or lose?

Adapt or Change?

Differences exist, even though we don’t always know what they are, we experience them.

Making the effort to change and adapt our behavior creates different feelings ranging from excitement and creativity to frustration and exhaustion

What can you do to adapt and adjust when you are abroad? Is being yourself a successful strategy?

How do you think you’ll manage the cultural differences and adjusting your behavior?

Culture Shock

BoredHomesick

Fatigued

Anger

Daily dilemmasStress of the unfamiliar

Difficulty letting go of old ways

Old behaviors do not produce same resultsExcitement and anxiety

Stereotyped or Judged

New relationships

common

real

minimize the effects

recognize its signs

tension, stress, anxiety and illness

FIGHT!

FLIGHT!

Open-minded and curiositySense of humorCommunicationFlexibility and adaptabilityPositive and realistic expectationsTolerance for difference and

ambiguityPositive attitudeSelf awareness and confidenceCultural knowledge

What experiences do you want to have while you are abroad?

What can you do to increase the chances of them happening?

Stay connected, create a photo album, post updates, get support, ask for tips and advice

Let friends and family follow you: monuments, museums, restaurants, and events

Video journal, capture special moments, share lessons and cultural tips

Blog: share stories, report current events, photo journal

What do you know now that you wish you new before you went abroad?

What was your biggest cultural mishap?

Did you experience culture shock? How did you know? And what did you do?

Share any important culture specific behaviors that will help students “fit in” and adapt?