Cultural differences that make life in the UK 'difficult' for international students

Résumé du document

Every year the United Kingdom (UK), attracts students from all over the world who expect to enrol themselves in a Higher Education program. Their impact on the British educational system is significant, as non-UK domiciled students constitute 13% of all the students, 16% of full-time students, and bring in over a billion pounds of fee income annually. The reasons which make international students come to the UK instead of any other place are, according to McNamara and Harris, the language, the recognition of the UK education by government and companies around the world, the education quality and reputation. These students come from different backgrounds and by the time they arrive in the UK some of them can experience a slight or a considerable culture shock depending on their lifestyle back in their home town. According to UKCOSA Guidance Note for Students, the term Culture Shock 'describes the impact of moving from a familiar culture to one which is unfamiliar'. This is a study of Cultural differences that make life in the UK 'difficult' for international students. This essay will explore the experience of different overseas students in the Business School of an English university. This educational centre has around 16226 students of which 1641 are international students representing more than 10% of the university's population.

Extraits

[...] Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. Hess, J The Whole World Guide to Culture Learning. Yarmouth: Intercultural Press. Hofstede, G Cultures and organizations. New york: McGraw Hill. Holden, N Cross cultural management. Essex: Prentice Hall. Okorocha, E Cultural issues in working with international students. A summary of research findings. [...]

[...] In order to overcome the negative aspects of culture shock if is necessary that the person first has to accept that is experiencing it, once the individual has recognized what is happening, then is possible to proceed to take some actions like (Hess 1994): a. The person has to find people to interact with. As the person shows interest in them, his/her feelings will have a focal point outside of himself/herself. b. The person has to make the near environment reinforcing and pleasant, this is possible to achieve through familiar objects (pictures, CDs, etc). c. [...]

[...] Ending Suppose you had one minute to talk to a friend who is coming to study to the UK. What would you advice him/her to cope/manage with the English culture? Final question Is there anything that we should have talked about but didn't? 2. International Office Interview What the international office have done to encourage international students to integrate more in the English society. How do you describe the interaction between international students and English in the academic level and social level? [...]

[...] Cultural differences that make life in the UK 'difficult' for international students Abstract This research investigated cultural differences that make life difficult for international students. This research provides theories related to culture and culture shock. International students of an English university from Latin America, Asia and Europe provided through focus groups their experiences in the ambit of cultural differences and the role of new technologies in this process. Levels of cultural shock were different from one group to another. More important is to see how students with similar cultural backgrounds have adapted in different ways to cope with cultural differences. [...]

[...] The honeymoon, at this stage the new arrival could feel exited and curious to be in another culture, also the individual is protected by close memories of his/her home town. b. Loneliness, the person later on starts to realise about the cultural differences and symptoms of culture shock like fatigue, frustration, negative approach toward the native culture etc. start to appear. c. The slow climb, through activities as meeting people, becoming involved, adapting to new procedures, creating new patterns in this period the individual is looking for solutions to maladjustments. d. The integration pathway, in order to redefine the new arrival's own cultural borders. [...]