Surname 6 Student’s Name Instructor’s Name Course Date Do International Students Face Culture Shocks Currently Cultural shock is a common term, and especially when an individual moves from one country to another. Cultural shock can be defined as anxiety produced by a person moving from one familiar culture to another entirely different social or cultural environment. Some argue that despite any preparation beforehand, the feeling is always overwhelming. However, others are of the opinion that cultural shock is not very common today with the new technology where people can communicate with people from such cultures and information is readily available concerning different culture. However, whether a person moves to a country with the same language , the process of assimilation to new culture can at times be of great emotional turbulence. This mostly applies to international students, which are considered normal. Therefore, international students experience cultural shock. Being away from home familiar places and faces and getting used to new customs and people, unfamiliar weather changes and foods as well as different study methods can make an individual feel anxious and lonely. Some of the symptoms of culture shock include having feelings of home sickness, worrying and lack of concentration. This is common to all international students who have not been into United States or other countries to familiarize themselves with such cultures. When a student travels to a foreign country to study, many challenges will be awaiting him or her in the new land. Such a student is usually filled with hope for the future and ambitions (Westrich 1). However, most of these students lack accurate or enough information on what life really is like on the new land (Keny 67). These students will get frustrated when they land and find a different reality on the ground; language barriers, cultural differences, financial difficulties and at times racial segregation (Frank and Maria 56). Some of these students will survive this and pursue their education and achieve their dreams. Others will drop out of schools and colleges and become illegal immigrants while others will go back to their home countries having not achieved their academic goals (Keny 74) One of the major cultural shocks that students face as their challenges is language differences. Most students who travel from parts of the world where English is not spoken to the United States of America and other western nations will have a big problem living a normal life or even attending schools and colleges which teach in English (Westrich 1). Many students who travel to the USA for studies mainly originate from Africa, where English is not spoken in many countries. Others are from the Middle East where Arabic is the dominant language or Asia where they speak many different languages (Keny 97). Even those students who can speak English will find a variation in the language and will need some time to adj ...

1. Surname 6
Student’s Name
Instructor’s Name
Course
Date
Do International Students Face Culture Shocks Currently
Cultural shock is a common term, and especially
when an individual moves from one country to another. Cultural
shock can be defined as anxiety produced by a person moving
from one familiar culture to another entirely different social or
cultural environment. Some argue that despite any preparation
beforehand, the feeling is always overwhelming. However,
others are of the opinion that cultural shock is not very common
today with the new technology where people can communicate
with people from such cultures and information is readily
available concerning different culture. However, whether a
person moves to a country with the same language
, the process of assimilation to new culture can at times be of
great emotional turbulence. This mostly applies to international
students, which are considered normal. Therefore, international
students experience cultural shock.
Being away from home familiar places and faces and getting
used to new customs and people, unfamiliar weather changes
and foods as well as different study methods can make an
individual feel anxious and lonely. Some of the symptoms of
culture shock include having feelings of home sickness,
worrying and lack of concentration. This is common to all
international students who have not been into United States or

2. other countries to familiarize themselves with such cultures.
When a student travels to a foreign country to study, many
challenges will be awaiting him or her in the new land. Such a
student is usually filled with hope for the future and ambitions
(Westrich 1). However, most of these students lack accurate or
enough information on what life really is like on the new land
(Keny 67). These students will get frustrated when they land
and find a different reality on the ground; language barriers,
cultural differences, financial difficulties and at times racial
segregation (Frank and Maria 56). Some of these students will
survive this and pursue their education and achieve their
dreams. Others will drop out of schools and colleges and
become illegal immigrants while others will go back to their
home countries having not achieved their academic goals (Keny
74)
One of the major cultural shocks that students face as their
challenges is language differences. Most students who travel
from parts of the world where English is not spoken to the
United States of America and other western nations will have a
big problem living a normal life or even attending schools and
colleges which teach in English (Westrich 1). Many students
who travel to the USA for studies mainly originate from Africa,
where English is not spoken in many countries. Others are from
the Middle East where Arabic is the dominant language or Asia
where they speak many different languages (Keny 97). Even
those students who can speak English will find a variation in the
language and will need some time to adjust and learn the
differences (Frank and Maria 88).
Opponents of cultural shocks state that most student currently
studies different languages in school such as English, Spanish

3. and French among others. With this knowledge it becomes quite
hard for students to encounter language cultural shocks. Also,
with the development of technology in most places, individuals
can learn languages through online tutors to prepare themselves
for such languages in schools where they are supposed to
undertake their studies. Furthermore, those students who travel
to the USA and cannot speak any English are at times required
to undertake Basic English course when they land and before
they are admitted to colleges (Lipson 1). This is to enable them
pursue their courses and fit into the community. Without this, it
would be impossible to study any course in the USA. Those who
can speak English but need some improvement may be admitted
to the courses they travelled to pursue but are required to study
English on part-time basis (Westrich 1).
This challenge is therefore addressed by testing the students
before they travel. There is an English exam that international
students are required to sit for before travelling to the US.
This test does prevent some of those students who cannot speak
and write English from travelling to the USA. However, this is
of little benefit because it only serves to block some students
whose dreams are shattered and some of those who pass will
still find it difficult to converse when they get to America
(Lipson 1). The more appropriate method of addressing this
challenge would be to give exclusive training to these students
before they travel in order to empower them with English skills
and enable them to have good command of the English language
(Keny 127). This will enable them to go straight to class when
they get to America, which will also reduce some financial
costs. The USA embassies and missions could be running these
courses, or a collaboration of the USA universities and colleges
with some of the local colleges of some target countries. This
English course should aim to improve the spoken and written
English of these students (Westrich 1).

4. Also, with new technology and translators available online, it’s
now possible for people to communicate with different
languages through translation
A cultural difference has been addressed by proponents of the
topic as one of the major cultural shocks to students. An
international student who originates from Asia and Middle East
will have a very difficult time when he or she lands in America
(Lipson 1). This is because the western way of life is very
different and complex for them. The dressing, food, interaction
between women and men, and other cultural aspects in the West
differ from what happens in their mother countries. Some of
these students are used to some religious and cultural practices
and they are unable to carry out the same practices because the
required facilities may not be available or the practices are not
accepted in America (Keny 156). This problem plays a key role
in preventing these students from integrating into the society,
which they feel is immoral. They may also view the American
way of life as being against the teachings of their religion and
they will resist any effort to integrate them and help them live
comfortably.
However, opponent of cultural shocks state that this challenge
has currently been addressed by different programs online
giving information concerning different cultures of the world.
Some programs provides accurate information on the nature of
life in the United States and other countries to prepare students
willing to study abroad have access to different culture. This
program also helps them make an informed decision when they
chose to travel (Westrich 1). This will also help prevent the
feeling of rejection when they do not fit well in the society
because they will have travelled with the knowledge of the
western way of life that they will encounter in the USA.
Additionally, most countries have nowadays been assimilated

5. with the western culture and this has made most students adapt
easily to the western culture. With the occurrences of different
social sites such as facebook, and others, the culture of different
societies has been brought to the light. This has therefore
reduced cultural shocks on most international students. Some
countries even hold cultural events and exhibitions not only to
sell the USA heritage but also to educate the locals on the
American way of life. The students, when they get to the United
States, are encouraged by their teachers and peers
in America to learn and understand the American way of life
and integrate into the society (Keny 189). Some colleges and
universities also organize cultural events that help international
students understand the American way of life while Americans
learn the international students’ ways of life. This brings about
some sense of understanding and acceptance and the students
will have a better life (Westrich 1).
In conclusion, cultural shock can be argued in two faces; both
being present currently and being an ending aspect in the
current society. Unlike in like some decades ago, cultural shock
was so common to almost all international students. This is not
the case currently and with new technology, most people are
adapting to cultural differences.
Works cited
Frank, G and Maria, A. A guide for students: How to fit into a
foreign land.
London: Hiprinters, 2010. Print
Keny, H. Living in a foreign land: life in America for foreign
students. New York:
Routledge, 2007. Print.
Lipson, C. Succeeding as an international student in the U.S.
and Canada: a
guide to studying in North America. 2010. Web. <

6. http://www.charleslipson.com/speechtopics/Succeeding-as-an-
international-student.htm>
Westrich, A. Challenges faced by international students: a new
way of thinking.
London: November 2008. Web
<http://fnewsmagazine.com/wp/2008/05/the-challenges-faced-
by-
international-students/>
This is a lot of good information but most of it is coming from
your sources and simply says culture shock is a thing. This
doesn’t mean like much of an argument. You could argue that
it’s a bigger deal than most think, and that more needs to be
done about it. This last point seems to be your actual argument,
but it needs to be presented in your thesis and argued
throughout the essay.
�Used
�Or not ?
�Thesis could be stronger
�So.. language ISN’T a big deal? Or the argument ISN’T valid?
�This means closer to an actual Thesis
�Again this means to be what you want to argue
�Examples ?

7. Taking a Side
So far this semester, our essays have been getting us
thinking about ourselves and the world around us in new ways.
The first essay was about analyzing ourselves, while the second
essay was about analyzing something we encounter on a day to
day basis. The third essay will involve the analysis of a point
of view, where you pick a side in a debate and argue your
position.
Select an issue with at least two sides to it that you
encounter on a regular basis. It can be something as big as
mounting international tensions or something as personal as
your preferred brand of soda. The important thing is that there
are at least two sides to the debate, and that you can sustain a
discussion for the entire essay. You must be persuasive and
argumentative in this discussion, and must support your point of
view with sound reasoning and concrete examples. Do not
simply assert your opinions and let them stand alone; prove
your points. Bias is unavoidable, so you must be aware of your
biases and use them constructively.
Requirements:
· A strong thesis statement that makes clear what issue you are
addressing, what side you are taking, and why.
· A properly used counter-argument.
· 12 point font, double spaced, Times New Roman
· 4-6 pages
Please let me know via email by Wednesday what topic
you’ll be writing on. Because of their excessively controversial
and sensitive nature, there are a couple of topics I’d like you to
avoid. Please no arguments about abortion, the death penalty,

8. gay marriage, or marijuana legalization.
First Draft Due 4/15, at least 3 pages
Final Draft Due 4/29
Some potential topics for this essay:
· The current political climate.
· Any of the propositions on the ballot that aren’t against the
above rules.
· The value of a university education.
· Your favorite brand of soda.
· The best/worst novel written by a favorite author.
· The best/worst movie, game, etc.
· The value of popular culture.
· The cause of the obesity epidemic.
· The value of professional sports.
· The enduring existence of the American Dream.
· The best tech company currently active.
· The root causes of the Civil War.
· Why Pluto should or shouldn’t be a planet.