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Culture shock abroad and back home IdA I & II – 1st Networking Event 27 March 2012 Berlin

Culture shock abroad and back home IdA I & II – 1st Networking Event 27 March 2012 Berlin Marion Scholten. Will presumably be published in 2012. Q.v .: Bertels , Ursula und Bußmann, Claudia: Handbuch Interkulturelle Didaktik. Münster et al.

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Culture shock abroad and back home IdA I & II – 1st Networking Event 27 March 2012 Berlin

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  1. Culture shock abroad and back home IdA I & II – 1st Networking Event 27 March 2012 Berlin Marion Scholten Will presumablybepublished in 2012. Q.v.: Bertels, Ursula und Bußmann, Claudia: Handbuch Interkulturelle Didaktik. Münster et al.

  2. Ethnologie in Schule und Erwachsenenbildung – ESE e.V. • Contribution towards better understanding between people of different cultural origins. • Working areas: • Child and youth education • Adult education • Research and teaching • Publications • IdA I + II

  3. Definition ofIntercultural Competence Intercultural competence is the ability gained over a learning process to achieve the highest possible level of communication and understanding in direct or indirect interaction with people from different cultures.

  4. Aspects of intercultural competence Appropriation and acquisition of information and development of interest Practising a change of perspective Recognising and overcoming ethnocentrism Reflecting on intercultural interactions Promoting attitudes and values from: Bertels, Ursula u.a.: Ethnologie in der Schule. Eine Studie zur Vermittlung Interkulturelle Kompetenz. Münster et al, 2004.P. 38 et seq.

  5. Culture shock • Adjustment process • Registering / processing of rules of behaviour • Psychological reaction to what is new and unfamiliar • The way culture shock develops differs from person to person cf. Wagner, W. (1996): Kulturschock Deutschland. Hamburg: Rotbuch Verlag, S. 19ff.

  6. Foreign culture shock model Communication Euphoria Misunderstandings Alienation Escalation amended pursuant to Wagner, W. (1996): Kulturschock Deutschland. Hamburg: Rotbuch Verlag, page 19.

  7. Culture shock – 1st phase: Euphoria • High level of cultural competence in one's own culture; own culture is not questioned • Sensory overload • Fascination with the 'exotic' • Selective perception of foreignness • Honeymoon phase cf. Wagner, W. (1996): Kulturschock Deutschland. Hamburg: Rotbuch Verlag, S. 19ff.

  8. Culture shock – 1st phase "Everyone is so nice here!" „Here it‘s like in paradise!" "I've never experienced anything like that before!" "Everything is so different, much nicer than home!" Euphoria "I'm coping much better with the language than I thought." "I could imagine living here!" "I've got to know so many people already!" We even got into a conversation outside the supermarket. The people show a real interest".

  9. Culture shock – 2nd phase: Alienation • Increasing awareness of strangeness of new culture • Non-validity of internalised behavioural patterns • Rules, ideas of morality and values need to be re-learned • Stress, uncertainty, disillusionment and disorientation cf. Wagner, W. (1996): Kulturschock Deutschland. Hamburg: Rotbuch Verlag, S. 19ff.

  10. Culture shock – 2nd phase: Alienation • First difficulties with social contact appear • Self-doubt, self-blame • There is a longing for the 'familiar' • 'Taste of home' phase • Withdrawal, lots of sleep • "controlled withdrawal", taking time out cf. Wagner, W. (1996): Kulturschock Deutschland. Hamburg: Rotbuch Verlag, S. 19ff.

  11. Culture shock - 2nd phase "What's wrong with me? I've never known myself to be like this". "I can't be myself!" Alienation "I'm so dependent!" "Yes ≠ Yes" "It's all too much for me here!" "I don't understand anything any more!"

  12. Culture shock – 3rd phase: Escalation • Apportioning blame to foreign culture • What was once positive is now considered negative • Glorification of one's own culture • Superiority, ethnocentrism, anger • Homesickness, illness • May result in termination of stay abroad • Exchange is helpful ('fellow sufferers', 'cultural agents') cf. Wagner, W. (1996): Kulturschock Deutschland. Hamburg: Rotbuch Verlag, S. 19ff.

  13. Culture shock - 3rd phase "Why don't they just say what's wrong? I much prefer our way of doing things." "They're lying to me and enjoying giving me the runaround!" "Nothing works here!" Escalation "You just wouldn't get that at home!" "They treat me like a child!" "I have to get away from here!" "I don't trust anyone here!" Friendship?! It's just superficial hypocrisy! They haven't a clue what friendship is!"

  14. Culture shock – 4th phase: Misunderstandings • Recognition that difficulties with communication are based on cultural differences • No apportionment of blame • Clarification/enlightenment cf. Wagner, W. (1996): Kulturschock Deutschland. Hamburg: Rotbuch Verlag, S. 19ff.

  15. Culture shock - 4th phase "We had even spoken about it in advance." "Now I understand it!" Misunderstandings "I see!" 'Lying' was necessary, anything else would have been rude by their cultural standards of behaviour." "There is actually method behind this madness."

  16. Culture shock – 5th phase: Communication • Learning behavioural patterns, standards and values in the foreign culture, misunderstandings become less frequent • Acquisition of competencies in both cultures • Rapprochement cf. Wagner, W. (1996): Kulturschock Deutschland. Hamburg: Rotbuch Verlag, S. 19ff.

  17. Culture shock – 5th phase "In hindsight it was just a funny misunderstanding." "Once again I can imagine staying on here." "I've learned a lot about myself and my own culture." Communication "Thankfully nobody really took offence at my behaviour." "Things here don't always run according to plan, but I've got used to that. If only people in my country could sometimes be a bit more relaxed about things too."

  18. Culture shock on returning home • Own culture shock / reverse culture shock • Usually more severe, as a reintegration into one's own culture is not anticipated • Same model applies cf. Wagner, W. (1996): Kulturschock Deutschland. Hamburg: Rotbuch Verlag, S. 19ff.

  19. Culture shock modelReverse culture shock Euphoria Communication Misunderstandings Alienation Escalation amended pursuant to Wagner, W. (1996): Kulturschock Deutschland. Hamburg: Rotbuch Verlag, page 19.

  20. Own culture shock 1st phase: Euphoria • Enjoying all that is familiar: home, family, friends, food, freedoms, hobbies etc. • Phase is much shorter than abroad cf. Wagner, W. (1996): Kulturschock Deutschland. Hamburg: Rotbuch Verlag, S. 19ff.

  21. Own culture shock – 1st phase "It‘s my friend’s birthday tomorrow, then I'll finally see everybody again." "I wonder if my mother will prepare my favourite dish." Euphoria "I'm so looking forward to my own room and some more privacy.”

  22. Own culture shock 2nd phase: Alienation • Uncertainty, as one is not aware of the personal change • Blame is apportioned to oneself • Important to take time to adjust cf. Wagner, W. (1996): Kulturschock Deutschland. Hamburg: Rotbuch Verlag, S. 19ff.

  23. Own culture shock - 2nd phase "I was really looking forward to coming home but it's all so different to what I imagined." "Nobody is interested in me and my experiences!" "Everyone says I've changed so much!" Alienation "I can't really connect properly with my friends any more." "I don't know where I belong any more."

  24. Own culture shock 3rd phase: Escalation • Apportioning blame to one's own culture • Glorification of foreign culture • Arrogance, anger, craving for travel • Withdrawal cf. Wagner, W. (1996): Kulturschock Deutschland. Hamburg: Rotbuch Verlag, S. 19ff.

  25. Own culture shock - 3rd phase "That's just typical!" "Let people off first! They push like a flock of sheep here!" "Don't they have any manners?" Escalation "You just wouldn't get that in XY!" "My friends just hang around – and they're happy with that." "You haven't a clue what I'm talking about!" "I need to get away from this place again as fast as possible!" cf. Wagner, W. (1996): Kulturschock Deutschland. Hamburg: Rotbuch Verlag, S. 19ff.

  26. Own culture shock 4th phase: Misunderstandings • Recognition that difficulties with reintegration are based on changes on both sides • No apportionment of blame • Different perception • Clarification/enlightenment cf. Wagner, W. (1996): Kulturschock Deutschland. Hamburg: Rotbuch Verlag, S. 19ff.

  27. Own culture shock - 4th phase "I would just never have imagined that I would find it so difficult to adapt." "We've all changed." Misunderstandings "I can't expect everyone to be interested in my experiences if I don't even ask what's been happening here." cf. Wagner, W. (1996): Kulturschock Deutschland. Hamburg: Rotbuch Verlag, S. 19ff.

  28. Culture shock – 5th phase: Communication • Re-acquisition of competencies in both cultures • Communication and discussions • "Reconciliation with oneself" cf. Wagner, W. (1996): Kulturschock Deutschland. Hamburg: Rotbuch Verlag, S. 19ff.

  29. Own culture shock – 5th phase "On coming back home I viewed myself, my surroundings and my culture in a different light again." "It's actually quite nice, too, when you feel so at home that you don't want to go abroad." Communication "It just took a while until we got used to each other again."

  30. Ways of preparing for the culture shock of life abroad • Addressing the key elements of culture shock (and own culture shock) before you leave • Make a self-assessment, identify the findings and take them with you abroad. • Self-reflection, observation by support staff and participants, learning diary • Informal discussions, 1-to-1 and weekly group discussions.

  31. Ways of preparing for the culture shock of life abroad • Conflict management training • Develop strategies to overcome 'down' phases • Take familiar things with you • Stress management techniques • What do I do otherwise to combat stress? • Take time and play for time with the desire to return home

  32. Preparation for culture shock on returning home • Review of key issues shortly before returning home • What am I looking forward to? • What will have changed? • Will I have changed? • What can I do if I'm missing XY etc.? • …

  33. Preparation for culture shock on returning home • Dealing with issues in the group is important • Base the course of the project on this as far as possible • Plan the 'post-processing' phases • Joint teaching phases • Formal and informal follow-up meetings • Communications structures (mail, blog etc.) • Maintaining foreign contact

  34. Knowledge of the culture shock is helpful and easy to implement methodically Thank you for your attention!

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