Cultural Awareness & Integration

International Student OrientationJanuary 2014

Cultural Awareness

Culture ShockThe emotional impact of moving from a familiar

culture to a new one.• Language• Climate• Food• Dress• Social Roles• Rules of Behaviour• Values

Cultural Awareness

What aids Culture Shock?

• Preconceptions

• Stereotypes

• Practical Differences

Cultural Awareness

Tips on how to adapt

• Keep in touch with family back home-but not too much!

• Make friends with other international students-International Society

• Integrate with UK students- Students Union societies, social activities

• If you follow a religion find a local faith community- EHU chaplaincy service

• Contact EHU services: Health & Wellbeing centre, student services, Centre for International Education staff, academic staff.

Cultural Awareness

Cultural Awareness

How to know a culture

Observable

Suspected or imagined

• Literature• Manners• Customs• Language• History• folklore

• Role expectations• Non-verbal communication• Patterns of interpersonal

relationships• Work & Learning styles• Attitudes• Negotiation• Formal & informal situations• Perceptions of professionalism• And many more…

Cultural Awareness

British Food• Different from what you’re

used to• Bland• Heavy• Strange Tastes

What you can do…• Try new things• Find suppliers of foods you’re used to-

Matta’s Liverpool, Chinese Supermarkets• Don’t rely on fast food• Eat plenty of fresh fruit & Vegetables

Cultural Awareness

Greenwich Mean Time!

• Don’t be late!• Phone ahead if you need to cancel an appointment. • Meet deadlines as requested• Only able to extend deadlines with good reason: EMC or loose marks

Cultural Awareness

Doctor Who ?

National Health Service: Free health care at the point of use

• Funded through general taxation: largest & oldest single payer healthcare system .

• Available to anyone legally resident in the UK for longer than 6 months

• Those here for less than 6 months get free emergency treatment.

• GP referral system: initial contact with GP who refers onto specialist if necessary.

Cultural Awareness

Doctor Who ?...Where to go:• EHU Campus Nurse: Health & Wellbeing Centre, Janice

Southern, 9.30-4.30 Mon-Fri• West Lancashire Health Clinic: 8 am-10 pm 7 days a

week. • Accident & Emergency: Southport Hospital• Ambulance: dial 999• Campus Support at EHU: 4227 or visit the campus

support lodge.

Cultural Awareness

“Cleanliness is next to godliness”• Cleaning Staff DO NOT clean your bedrooms/bathrooms• Ensure a clean living area is especially important for student

accommodation: Infections and bacteria’s are high• Put used toilet paper in the toilet-not in a rubbish bin• Private bathrooms should be cleaned regularly

REMEMBER- IF WE ARE REQUIRED TO CARRY OUT EXTRA CLEANING OF YOUR ROOM ON DEPARTURE, THE COST

WILL BE PASSED ONTO YOU!

Cultural Awareness

Say What ?

Common words:

‘Ow are you?

You alright?

Love

Cheers!

Greetings: Names:

Sweetheart

Mate

Petal

DearThank

you

Excuse Me!

Sorry

Please

Quid

Scouser

Bloke

Cultural Awareness

The next Lewis Hamilton…• Drive on the Left !• Always wear a seat belt.• Do not drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. • Observe speed limits

• Check you have licence which allows you to drive in UK: http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/info_sheets/driving.php

• What else you need:• Insurance• MOT • Car Tax

Cultural Awareness

Privacy & Data Protection• Data Protection Act 1998:

• Only use data for specific purposes• Cannot disclose information without consent of

individual• Individuals have a right to access the information held

about them• Privacy:• In the UK rarely ask individuals about income/wealth,

unless very good friends/relatives• Do not read computer screens/paperwork unless

instructed to do so• If you need to speak in private- please ask!

Cultural Awareness

Where would you go to for help if…

You are feeling very home sick and are considering returning

home

Cultural Awareness

Where would you go to for help if…You are struggling to understand

spoken English and although your reading and writing is good

you find accents difficult.

Cultural Awareness

Where would you go to for help if…

You have failed your first piece of coursework.

Cultural Awareness

• Queue!• Greet people• Be punctual- so important it gets its

own slide!

• Hold doors open for others

• Treat men & women equally

• Leave a small tip in restaurant- if you feel service was good.

Do’s Don'ts• Spit in the street• Talk loudly in public• Throw rubbish• Put your feet on seats

on public transport• Take photos of children

without parents consent

Cultural Awareness

Things to remember…• Everyone at some point will get culture shock• Instead of thinking of the culture as ‘strange’

think of it as ‘different’ and try to appreciate it the differences.

• Immerse yourself in the culture, meet new friends.

• Travel, explore and enjoy- responsibly!