Jun´s Classes

Exploring Cultures

• GHiTv Exercises
  
• Culture Shock
• Cross-cultural Communication Barriers
  
• Countries for Research

Service Project

Writing Tips

• Outline
• Introductions
• Conclusions

Culture Shock and Its Stages by Geert Hofstede

Culture Shock is profoundly personal experience and is not the same for two persons or for the same person during two different occasions.  It is frequently described as a series of stages that a person goes through.

EXERCISE #1:  Match each stage to its appropriate definition.

1. Honeymoon
2. Disorientation
3. Irritability and hostility
4. Adjustment and integration
5. Biculturality
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

___ This stage involves disintegration of almost everything familiar. The individual is overwhelmed by the requirements of the new culture and bombarded by the stimuli in the new environment. One feels disoriented and experience self-blame and a sense of personal inadequacy.Paragraph. Haz clic aquí para modificar.

___ One typically experiences anger and resentment toward the new culture for its having caused difficulties and having been less adequate than the old familiar ways.

___ In this stage a person has become fluently comfortable in both the old and the new culture. There is some controversy about whether anyone can really attain this stage.

___This is where the newly arrived individual experiences the curiosity and excitement of a tourist, but where the person’s basic identity is rooted back home.

___ This involves integration of new cues and an increased ability to function in the new culture. One increasingly sees the bad and the good elements in both cultures.

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EXERCISE #2: Complete the following exercise developed by The Peace Corps. Place the number for the stage of adjustment next to the statement you think the person was in who made the remark.

1. Honeymoon
2. Disorientation
3. Irritability and hostility
4. Adjustment and integration
5. Biculturality
   

SITUATION

1. I'm sick of these bugs.
2. I thought I knew this stuff
3. You call that a toilet?
4. I'd give anything for a meal without rice.
5. These people are all so nice.
6. Homesick? For what?
7. I'm getting used to these toilets, believe it or not.
8. I'm looking forward to actually doing my job.
9. This language actually makes sense once in a while.
10. I don't believe it! They said I shouldn't jog here.
11. Bugs? What bugs?
12. You know, I actually prefer Turkish toilets
13. I'll never learn this language.
14. Are you kidding? I can't eat curry (or beans) without rice.
15. No one said my job would be like this?
16. I never thought my problem would be too much free time.
17. I actually prefer soccer to jogging; you meet more people.
18. What a great place!

STAGE

1. ___
2. ___
3. ___
4. ___
5. ___
6. ___
7. ___
8. ___
9. ___
10. ___
11. ___
12. ___
13. ___
14. ___
15. ___
16. ___
17. ___
18. ___

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EXERCISE #3 

Situation. You are a female working under an older man who is much less technically competent than you. At staff meetings, you routinely outshine this man, which has begun to cause him acute discomfort. Today he has asked you not to speak at these meetings and especially not to contradict or disagree with him when he speaks, even (and especially) if what he says is incorrect. What should you do? 

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EXERCISE #4

Situation. You are an outgoing, gregarious woman, interested in people and naturally friendly. Today your boss has called you into his office and explained that your friendliness has been remarked upon and is causing misunderstanding in certain quarters. The women who work in the office think you are acting flirtatious, even loose, and the men have begun to question your professionalism. Your boss asks you if you can "tone it down" a bit. You are hurt and surprised; this is just the way you are. What can you do?

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