English language support
Cultural Adjustment
Living in a different country and culture can be an exciting and challenging experience. It can be difficult for international students to adjust to their new American and English-speaking surroundings. And, even if you have visited, studied, or lived in the United States before, you may still go through cultural challenges in Rochester.
Fortunately, there are plenty of resources and tools to help you through—and to help make your experience positive and rewarding. On this page, you’ll learn about culture shock and how to cope, American values and customs, as well as Academic cultural differences.
Culture shock
Most people living in a different culture will experience some degree of culture shock when transitioning to the new culture.
‘Culture shock’ is defined as a feeling of disorientation or confusion that often occurs when a person leaves a familiar place and moves to an unfamiliar one.
Coming to Rochester from another country, you’ll inevitably have to deal with new things and to adapt quickly to be successful. The people, language, food, weather, academics, even the smells may be different. It can be tiresome and overwhelming to absorb all these subtle and obvious changes. Your English may not be as good as you had imagined. and you may be struggling to get the simplest of tasks accomplished.
This process can be very frustrating and difficult because your support network of family and friends will be so far away. As a result, you may feel confused, disorientated, and unsure of yourself and even doubt your decision to come to Rochester.
Individuals will have different degrees of culture shock. Some may become nervous and unusually exhausted while others may be very tired but unable to sleep at night. Other physical symptoms can include headaches and stomach ailments. You may become overly irritated by simple complications and frustrated by minor inconveniences. Some students write many letters home and experience a great deal of homesickness. Others become very dependent upon other people from their own country. Many of these symptoms can result in complaints or hostility towards your host country.
Generally, culture shock can be broken into six different stages. Normally after arriving in a new country everyone experiences two low stages, stages 3 and 5, before reaching a comfortable level of adjustment. Of course, individuals will experience different degrees of each step or may even skip steps or experience them in different orders. It depends greatly on the experience of the individual and their personality type.
- Stage 1: Anxiety about leaving home and what you will find in a new country.
- Stage 2: “Honeymoon”. Everything is exciting and fascinating in your new surroundings. You’re excited and elated with all the new and different experiences.
- Stage 3: The first low symptoms of culture shock begin to set in. You realize that everything is so different in the new culture. and it’s overwhelming to cope with language, housing, shopping, transportation, and social changes. You may feel lonely or exhausted from constantly processing and trying to understand all the new experiences.
- Stage 4: Initial Adjustment Stage. You can now handle many basic interactions with no problem. It’s getting easier to maneuver on campus and around Rochester. You probably feel satisfaction with your accomplishments.
- Stage 5: This second low stage is generally the most severe stage of culture shock. You can typically feel a loss of self-esteem when dealing with setbacks such as continuing language barriers. It is not as easy as you thought to adjust to your new surroundings. You feel like a child sometimes. Your sense of loneliness and isolation intensifies as you have been away from home for some time. You don’t feel like a part of your surroundings and feel more like an outsider. People are not friendly, and you do not like the new culture. You are not what you were before and may feel angry and resentful and see everything in a negative light.
- Stage 6: Your sense of well-being and humor begins to return as you establish comfortable routines and learn to understand the customs, foods, and characteristics of the new culture. You’ve made some friends and are beginning to enjoy aspects of your new life. You realize that the problems and negative aspect of the new country are not reserved for foreigners, but that even natives face many of the same problems. Your perspective becomes more balanced and well-rounded as you have begun to see that there are more good things and bad things about your new life. Some things you may never like, but you accept it as part of life, the same as we accept both the positive and negative aspects of any relationship.
Source, adapted: Beyond Language: Cross-Cultural Communication; Levine, Deens R. and Adelman, Mara B., Prentice Hall, 1993.
- Find people to interact with.Ask them questions about their lives and experiences. This will help you to focus on a different perspective. Don’t live in isolation from others. Give them a smile or a small gift. Invite people to have coffee or take a walk outside.
- Surround yourself with familiar things, to make your environment pleasant and comforting. Decorate your room, listen to familiar music, etc. Find a balance between your culture and your new surroundings. It’s important not to abandon your culture and keep your own identity. Cross-cultural adjustment is finding that balance between the new and the old is equal.
- Slow down. Simplify your daily tasks. Relax. Let everything ‘sink in’ once in a while. Take time out to adjust.
- Develop patterns and habits. Follow a routine each day to reestablish a feeling of familiarity.
- Express your feelings. Cry, laugh, sing, pray, create.
- Be realistic, review your goals. Allow yourself to make adjustments, don’t criticize yourself for failures or scaling back your plans.
- Keep working on your language skills. Don’t give up! English language support is available
- Confide in friends. If you don’t have friends yet, dedicate yourself to seeking some out. Join a special interest club, participate in events. Don’t give up. It can take time and many attempts before you find a friend. There are many communities and events to take part in.
- Make a few small decisions and carry them out. Resolving small things will help you to gain confidence.
- Ask questions; don’t be afraid to try new things. It’s important to be open to new experiences when you are in a new culture. If you are confused about something, ask how it is done in the US. Most people will be pleased to teach you about their customs.
- Gather information through books, movies, participation, and observations.
- Learn from your experiences. You can compare your observations with your own cultural norms and values to help you get a better understanding of your new surroundings and your own culture. Keep these questions in mind when interacting with your friends or community:
- How do different people greet each other?
- How do they make friends? How do friends treat each other?
- Who respects who, and how is it shown?
- What attitudes do people have regarding their families?
- What is the relationship between males and females?
- What do people do in their spare time?
- How do they deal with disagreements?
- What are common elements of conversation?
- Remember that thousands of people have come to Rochester from other countries and have survived. Maintain your perspective. Most people are happy here and you can be too!
- Cultural adjustment becomes easier as you become more familiar with your surroundings and start to establish social connections.
American values and customs
You’re probably already familiar with many American values, even if you’ve never visited the US before. However, there may be a few aspects that you haven’t been exposed to yet. Americans are generally friendly and interested in the culture of their international guests. They’re also casual and informal. It’s important to familiarize yourself with American social customs and values to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey.
Values
A common thread among most American values is individualism, or the idea that people are independent and driven by personal interests. Americans tend to view themselves first and foremost as individuals, with both freedom and responsibility to manage their own lives, set their own goals, and make their own decisions.
For these reasons, people are held individually accountable for their actions. Of course, family and friends are also important, but priority is often placed on the individual. Americans tend to be less comfortable when they are obligated to or dependent on others. This notion is also the foundation of America’s legal system and protected rights and freedoms.
Think of American sayings such as “time is money”, “don’t waste my time”, and others. These sayings express how Americans value time: as a limited commodity. Being “on time” or arriving at the designated time for class or a meeting is often very important.
Americans place a high value on hard work and a strong work ethic. This is why many Americans work longer hours and take less vacation than most other countries. It’s believed that people will achieve results based on how hard they work and, once those results are met, they’ll take personal credit for the accomplishments. Americans tend to judge others in how hard they work and how task-orientated they are.
Productivity and achievement are very important in American society. Individuals evaluate themselves and others in terms of their achievements and accomplishments.
Generally, Americans value clear and factual communication. Of course, this can vary depending on the individual but overall, you will find that Americans will choose to be direct, even if it means hurting or embarrassing another person.
Social customs
- Casual encounters: When you say “Hello” to someone, they may answer “Hello, how are you?” or “Hey, how’s it going?” This is a common expression, and you don’t have to explain how you’re really feeling.
- Handshakes: Americans will shake hands when they first meet, especially in a formal or business environment. If they see each other often many will skip the handshake. People who know each other well may sometimes give a hug or kiss on the cheek when greeting or saying good-bye.
- Departures: Americans often say farewell by saying “See you later,” which doesn’t mean that they’re planning to visit you later or that you should show up at their house without calling first.
- Timeliness is appreciated: Punctuality is generally valued in American society, especially for scheduled meetings, appointments, and social gatherings.
- Flexible timing: If an invitation specifies a time range, feel free to arrive anytime within those hours, and leave at any time after a reasonable stay.
- Early arrival for events: For cultural or sporting events it’s a good idea to arrive at least ten to fifteen minutes early to secure a good spot and avoid any last-minute problems.
- Diverse celebrations: Americans celebrate a variety of holidays marking historical, cultural, and religious events.
- Formal and fun festivities: Some holidays have a more formal or somber tone while others are silly and fun.
- Business closures: During certain national holidays, government offices, banks, and other businesses will be closed. Reference the University of Rochester holidays policy.
- Responses: Invitations should be answered as they were extended, in writing, by phone, by email or as requested.
- RSVP etiquette: If “RSVP” appears on an invitation, it’s essential to confirm your attendance.
- Children’s attendance: If your children aren’t mentioned when you are invited to dinner, they are not expected to come with you. If you wish to bring them it is all right to ask. If the children are not invited, you should arrange for a babysitter or decline the invitation.
- Glimpses into American homes: Accepting an invitation into an American home will give you a chance to see American family life.
- Offering assistance: Most American households don’t have domestic help, so it is courteous to offer your help to your hosts.
- Dining etiquette: Unless the host says otherwise don’t begin eating until they are seated at the table. If you have any dietary restrictions don’t hesitate to inform your host before the date of the invitation.
- Gifts for special occasions: You don’t have to bring a gift when you are invited to dinner except on special occasions like a birthday or holiday.
- Overnight stays: If you’re staying overnight, candy, wine, flowers, or a small gift from your home country is a nice gesture of thanks.
- Gratitude for good service: In addition to paying for products and services many Americans will also offer a small gratuity to certain service workers. While leaving a tip is voluntary, it has become expected in some industries, and it is considered rude not to leave a tip (unless service was very bad).
- Tipping guidelines: Depending on the type and quality of service, a usual tip will range between 10% and 20% of the total bill, before any tax is included. Tipping is most common in restaurants, bars, hotels, and taxis.
- Automatic tip or gratuity: For large groups a tip (sometimes called gratuity) may be automatically included in your bill, so look carefully before leaving an additional amount.
- Tipping restrictions: Some industries are legally forbidden from accepting tips such as government workers.
Academic cultural differences
International students are often surprised by the differences between their classes and learning at home compared to what they encounter in the United States.
Academic standards and practices are influenced by culture. What’s considered appropriate behavior in your home country may be viewed as inappropriate academic behavior in the United States. It’s important to understand and follow the University’s standards and practices to avoid serious consequences.
Lectures are the primary form of instruction, especially at the undergraduate level. Although attendance may not be recorded, you are expected to attend. Attendance could count toward your final grade or towards classroom participation. Lectures are often supplemented with:
- Classroom discussion
- Recitations
- Reading assignments
- Written assignments
Students are expected to contribute to the discussion in the classroom. American professors want students to respect their knowledge and opinions, but they generally prefer discussion and debate to respectful silence. Questioning or challenging the teacher is viewed as a healthy sign of interest, attention, and independent thinking. Silent observation is often assumed to indicate that you aren’t interested in what is being said in class, or that you don’t understand.
Although most faculty members encourage critical thinking from students, the way criticism is expressed is important. You can show respect by acknowledging your professor’s point of view and then offering yours for consideration.
The teaching style of the professor often determines the amount of student participation in each class. Some instructors prefer a more formal style of lecture with a question-and-answer period at the end. Others prefer a more conversational style and encourage interaction throughout the class. Get the ‘feel’ of the classroom expectations during the first few weeks of class or discuss classroom etiquette with your classmates or professor.
Some students, especially those experiencing language difficulties, may be inclined to quote a faculty member or published author, rather than feeling comfortable using their own words. Unless the quote is properly cited, this practice may be viewed as plagiarism and a violation of the University’s Academic Honesty policies.
Plagiarism, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, means to “steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one’s own” by failing to cite your source material. Plagiarism may be an unfamiliar concept in some countries, but it’s strongly monitored in the United States.
Students who are found to have plagiarized another’s work are strictly penalized. Always ask your professor in advance if you aren’t sure how to cite sources or give credit for someone else’s ideas in your writing or presentations.
When writing essays, presentations, or other assignments:
- Name your sources in the text
- Use quotations around words or phrases you are using from a source
- Use footnotes or endnotes, especially when paraphrasing
- Include a bibliography or list of reference for your work
Group work is often encouraged for homework assignments, but collaboration on examinations is strictly forbidden (unless otherwise stated on the course syllabus). Students must not copy or discuss answers with each other during an exam, which is considered cheating and another form of plagiarism.
Detailed information on academic honesty policies at the University are available for:
- Undergraduates in Arts, Sciences and Engineering (including student resources)
- Graduate students (check with your department, too)
- Eastman School of Music students