Culture Shock for Foreigners in FinlandGROUP: MEDITERRANEAN WAVE

LC-0420-Introduction to Intercultural Communication L

AGENDAAGENDA

1. Explanation of culture shock and its stages

2. Results of the surveys and statistics

3. Analysis

4. Conclusion

1. CULTURE SHOCK1. CULTURE SHOCK

- Experience by moving to different

cultural environment

- Disorientation due to an unfamiliar way

of life

- Move between social environments

- Transition to another type of life

PHASES OF THE CULTURE SHOCKPHASES OF THE CULTURE SHOCK

- Differences between old and new culture are seen in a romantic light

- Fascination by the new culture, environments and habits

E.g.: New food, the pace of life or the locals' habits

Honeymoon

- Differences between old and new culture become apparent

- Language barriers causes disconnection from surroundings

- Lack of communication makes you feel lonely and homesick

Result: anxiety and frustration

Negotiation(After 3 month)

PHASES OF THE CULTURE SHOCKPHASES OF THE CULTURE SHOCK

- Familiarization to new culture

- Knowing how to act in most situations

- Becoming concerned with basic living

- Developing problem-solving skills for dealing with the culture

- Accepting the culture's ways with a positive attitude

- Reducing negative reactions to host culture

Adjustment (After 6 to 12 months)

PHASES OF THE CULTURE SHOCKPHASES OF THE CULTURE SHOCK

- Fully participation in host culture

- Mastery does not mean total conversion Accents and languages remain

- Bicultural stage

Adaptation

PHASES OF THE CULTURE SHOCKPHASES OF THE CULTURE SHOCK

2. RESULT OF SURVEY2. RESULT OF SURVEY

RESULT OF SURVEYRESULT OF SURVEYQ1: Did you have any initial information about Finland

and its culture before your arrival?

*8 people prepared before arrival, 7 people not

*Also, people that came for more than two years were more prepared than people that came for less than two years.

RESULT OF SURVEYRESULT OF SURVEYQ2: How did you prepare yourself for the exchange

semester/year or resistance?

Most of the Asians define Finland as a cold, silent, clean and quiet country.

By contrast, Europeans think that Finland is a country with strict behavior and civic people, well organize and develop.

RESULT OF SURVEYRESULT OF SURVEYQ3: What were your first impression when you arrive in Finland?

RESULT OF SURVEYRESULT OF SURVEYQ4: Did these impressions change over time? Why?

RESULT OF SURVEYRESULT OF SURVEYQ5: Did you have any issues or adaptation problems

after you arrived in Finland?

Honeymoon Negotiation Adjustment/ Adaptation*

“Up to Four Month”

“Every Winter”

“After Six Month”

“Some still continues”

“After Taking Finnish Courses”

“Two Weeks”

“A Few Days”Arr

ival

* Most of the people have not adaptated yet

RESULT OF SURVEYRESULT OF SURVEY

Q6: When did these feelings occur and how long did they last?

RESULT OF SURVEYRESULT OF SURVEYQ7: Did you manage to solve these stages?

RESULT OF SURVEYRESULT OF SURVEYQ8: In your opinion, what are effective strategies

to adapt or appropriate the new culture?

3. ANALYSIS3. ANALYSIS- The resounding majority of Europeans haven’t experienced culture

shock whereas Asians have.

- Difficulty to meet local people since they are not in the same approach

- Finns attach value to their privacy

- Language barrier

- Individualistic society which attaches importance to the coming of a new person in the close friends circle.

- Weather

4. CONCLUSIONS4. CONCLUSIONS

Characteristics of Finnish Society:

1. Negative Politeness2. Individualistic

Sub-cultures are present in university

Finnish People attach value to their privacy

Clear Distinction between Social and Working Life

How to avoid the depression of darkness (walking in winter)