The result can lead togrowth and a new appreciation of the culture for the study abroad student as well as thefriends from the host country as both learn about each other''''s culture.2.Cul
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ĐỀ TÀI THẢO LUẬN HỌC PHẦN TIẾNG ANH CHUYÊN NGÀNH 2
Đề tài:
Cultural difficilties abroad
Trang 2Mục lục
MỤC LỤC 1
I.INTRODUCTION 2
II.BODY 3
1.Origins and definition of cultural difficulties abroad 3
2.Cultural difficulties abroad in many ways 5
3.Effects of cultural difficulties abroad 8
3.1.Advantages 8
3.2.Disadvantages 10
4.Tips for dealing with cultural difficulties abroad 11
III.CONCLUSION 14
Trang 3I INTRODUCTION
Culture is an individual's formative experience Culture has an important role in all human endeavors, that is, it tends to establish an individual as different from another or a group of people from another group Intercultural communication is also very important
It is the foundation for successful international business in today’s globalized world However, intercultural communication in the current context still has many barriers and great challenges
Trang 4II BODY
1 Origins and definition of cultural difficulties abroad.
Culture can be defined as all the ways of life including arts, beliefs and institutions of
a population that are passed down from generation to generation Culture has been called
"the way of life for an entire society." As such, it includes codes of manners, dress, language, religion, rituals, art
Cultural Differences is Variations in cultural traits between cultures, including different music, different language, different religion, different cultural mores, and so forth These factors will affect human behavior and culture
Each culture may have different social conventions For example, American business partners prefer small talk to build a relationship first, whereas Brits may try humor, and Germans tend to get straight to the point without beating around the bush Thais, on the other hand, think nothing of asking what are considered rather personal questions in the western world, for example about your marital status or job Similarly, Americans like to use first names when addressing others, while in Austria, titles should be used to avoid sounding disrespectful Germans will want to shake hands, while people in Thailand place their palms together at chest level and bow instead
However, this difference has led to culture shock in some people Culture shock is a series of unusual feelings that hit you when you move to a country where the culture is very different from the culture you got used to This is a completely natural reaction when
Trang 5we are exposed to new situations, languages, gestures, customs, symbols Culture shock can also happen when people go on vacation, travel in retirement or business, or study abroad Culture shock can be shocking for two reasons Either something new and extraordinary happens in the host culture or a crucial cultural element of your home culture is missing
Culture shock is also a cause of communication difficulties The culture in which individuals are socialized influences the way they communicate, and the way individuals communicate can change the culture Culture provides its members with an implicit knowledge about how to behave in different situations and how to interpret others' behavior in such situations Culture shock can affect communication by leading to misunderstandings People in their daily lives use more nonverbal communication and body language than they do the spoken language Not all nonverbal and body language, however, translate to the same thing cross-culturally
Culture shock can produce a range of symptoms, which can vary greatly from person
to person in terms of scope and intensity These may include: Being homesick, feeling helpless, feeling isolated, disorientation, lack of concentration, irritability, sadness, sleep
or eating disturbances, paranoia,
This adaptation or adjustment process usually starts with an initial euphoria about the foreignness of the host culture Everything is new and exciting and the sojourner is in the role of a tourist exploring the foreign environment The euphoria is followed by a crisis, the actual Culture Shock During the crisis phase, many different psychological and physical symptoms of Culture Shock can occur with varying severance Once the crisis stage is overcome the sojourner starts to accept the differences of the host culture and becomes functioning They learn how to cope with the situation and handle the challenges of everyday life This stage is referred to as the recovery stage It results in the final adjustment stage, where the individual reaches a certain state of acculturation For example, international students that have come to the United States for a study abroad semester can experience culture shock Language barriers and unfamiliar customs
Trang 6can make it challenging to adjust, leading some students to feel angry and anxious As a result, students can withdraw from social activities and experience minor health problems such as trouble sleeping Over time, students become more familiar with their new surroundings as they make new friends and learn social cues The result can lead to growth and a new appreciation of the culture for the study abroad student as well as the friends from the host country as both learn about each other's culture
2.Cultural difficulties abroad in many ways
a,Language
The first obstacle to overcome is usually language
In the business aspect, knowing the language of the country you're targeting helps you succeed in business there
You don't have to master every language before breaking into foreign markets, but knowing some keywords and forms of address is generally enough to establish a feeling
of trust conducive to effective negotiation.Even if you are able to use a translator, there is always the risk that something will be lost in translation It is also worth noting that different languages have different levels of formality.For example, in German, “du” is used for friends and family, while “Sie” is used for business associates If you use the wrong form of address, it can cause offense
In the educational aspect, overseas student linked their academic difficulties to the fact that they struggled with class discussions, taking notes, and giving oral reports.A
1994 study found that international students, who experience the difficulties above, are more likely not to complete their degrees Also, international students with difficulties in English are more likely to have disparate professional development and have a harder time with job placements For example, although the majority of international students understand English, very few are proficient in speaking the language As such, English deficiency has been cited as the primary academic obstacle for many international students; specifically Asian students
b,Workspace
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Trang 8First of all, the most common problems in the working environment is behaviors and
belief Cultural differences cause behavioral and personality differences like body
language, gestures, mindsets, communication, manners, and norms, which may lead to miscommunication.Eye contact, for example, is significant in some cultures, but rude and disrespectful to others Different cultures are also have different understandings of time Some countries like Germany, Netherlands, Scandinavia, Switzerland, and the United States tend to view time as linear Time is money, and punctuality is a great value Things tend to be done one at a time, to be able to focus on it and finish the task within a fixed time frame
Other countries, for example, many Southern European countries like Spain or Italy, see time as multi-active; this means that the more things they do simultaneously, the happier and more fulfilled they feel The present reality, especially personal relationships, are more important and valued than schedules or punctuality
In addition, some physical contact such as greeting a colleague with a kiss on the cheek may be conventional in France and Spain, while colleagues in the United States tend to go for a handshake and minimize physical contact In some cultures, such as the Mediterranean and South American countries, physical contact is a regular part of
conversation and connection In Eastern cultures, however, it is inappropriate, particularly between different genders
Secondly, teamwork is also a barrier for people who come from different countries
Some individuals find it challenging to understand the concept of working together
because self-sufficiency is foundational in their native society This is very true in certain Asian countries where self-sufficiency is highly valued and expected Other cultures may rely more heavily on teamwork and community to solve problems, and these individuals prefer working together Understand that besides an individual’s personality, cultural influence may inform how a person works to get the job done
The last one is gestures which may be included in behaviors but needed to be
described more Gestures acceptable in the United States, such as talking during a
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Trang 9business lunch, crossing your legs, or giving a thumbs-up sign, may not go over well in other cultures Look at some of the more common ones to prevent running into trouble:
Giving the ok sign by making a circle with your first finger and thumb is like giving someone the middle finger in Brazil
Don’t point with your index finger in Malaysia Instead, point your right thumb to be on the safe side
In Spain and Italy, avoid the “hang loose”—thumb and pinky in the air with the other three fingers folded down—and “rock on”—with the index finger and pinky because the sign symbolizes a husband whose wife is unfaithful
In Thailand, don’t touch someone’s head or point the feet They consider the head the most sacred part of the body, so avoid touching someone else’s The feet are the dirtiest part of the body, and pointing a toe or foot can be insulting
Avoid motioning to a person with your hand in the Philipines, either with a single finger or with the whole hand, palm up They consider it demeaning because it’s how people summon dogs
Don’t cross your legs in the Middle East or South Africa because the sole of your foot might show (and that’s considered rude!)
c,Academic barriers
Regarding academic barriers, a lack of awareness of the educational system combined with poor communication skills are extra pressures because many students report that they are unable to grasp concepts due to the pace of the lecturing
Furthermore, instructional methods are another factor that affects the academic success of international students, particularly in post-secondary education settings To demonstrate,
a typical American college classroom centers on class participation (Gunderson, Odo, and D’Silva) However, African, Asian, and Middle Eastern students may find this to be an additional stress Classroom instruction styles in these countries differ greatly from American instruction styles Students from these countries are taught to be reserved and
Trang 10quiet in the classroom; they take notes while the professors lecture American classrooms promote student participation; some professors even allow students to eat and drink Understandably, this is a major adjustment for international students who attend American colleges and universities Wan (2001), states that many international students are discouraged from interrupting a professor during a lecture, even if just to ask for clarification because it is considered disrespectful or insulting Furthermore, most professors in other countries dress in formal attire when attending class and many expect their students to do the same By contrast, many American professors adopt more informal instruction methods For instance, American professors are more likely to sit on
a desk, or walk through the classroom during a lecture As such, American professors exhibit a more interactive and flexible classroom environment, thereby fostering a more creative learning atmosphere.International students often find this type of instruction to
be unstructured and discombobulating Kuo (2011) found that Asian students are the least likely of all international students to add or drop courses In order for international students to improve their academic performance, it is crucial that they adapt to teaching styles
3 Effects of cultural difficulties abroad
To go abroad is a dream whether you study abroad or live abroad However, to get a job abroad is another story and a bit more complicated No one said transplanting your life and career to another country would be easy But there are advantages and
disadvantages of working abroad to know before you commit
3.1.Advantages of cultural difficulties in working and studying abroad
- Attain foreign language skills :
One of the most obvious benefits of working abroad is learning a new language The world treats English as the universal language, and there are others to know If you want
Trang 11to work in a country long-term, learning the language is necessary It is a valuable skill to have working or traveling abroad too
Verbal communication is not the only way to communicate either Depending on where you work, you may encounter a country’s version of sign language Be open to new language opportunities when you go abroad
- Enhance intercultural communication and Connect with people of different
backgrounds:
Speaking of language learning, intercultural communication is another positive side
of working abroad Working in a multilingual environment often means working in a multicultural environment too Through those meetings, work retreats, emails, etc., you will be communicating with people of differing backgrounds
All of those interactions will help you better understand how to communicate with people The practices you may use in the workplace at home need to be adapted Most of the time, you learn from your colleagues and pick up a few new strategies too Your intercultural communication competence increases and is a transferable skill to any work after that
Though it can be nerve-wracking to make new friends when you do, it is worth it You get exposed to new people, cultures, and a new meaning of “home” and “family.” With a strong community, the disadvantages of working abroad do not seem so bad The people you meet are one of the advantages of living abroad Be bold and connect with others It only adds to the working abroad experience
- Better standard of living :
Very rarely do people choose destinations to work abroad they do not like – at least not initially Thus, one of the advantages of working abroad is picking where you want to live To work abroad means to choose a country that offers a standard of living that is better for you “Better” can include a more walkable city, access to healthcare, cheaper cost of living
- More travel opportunities :