LL250: Intercultural Communication            Name________________
 Prof. Bauer-Ramazani
 

Worksheet for video
Cold Water: Intercultural Adjustment and Values Conflict of Foreign Students and Scholars (1986) -- (VTC 3302) -- 48 min.

This video is all about perceptions and expectations that are in conflict—those of international students vs. those of the Americans or the American culture they are in contact with.  Try to identify these perceptions and expectations and the underlying reasons/assumptions that the different cultures have. 
Note: It is best to view this video in mixed groups of American and international students!

Directions: Take notes on the questions/topics below.  Try to catch the adjectives that are used to describe people and values.  If possible, answer the following questions in groups and complete the table.

1.      What is culture shock and how does it make itself known?   

 

 

2.      What are the stages of culture shock and their respective symptoms?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.      In your group, make a list of the PERCEPTIONS/EXPECTATIONS that are in conflict and identify the reasons/assumptions behind them—see chart below. 

TOPICS

International students’ PERCEPTIONS of Americans, American values, American culture

Americans’ PERCEPTIONS/

EXPECTATIONS

REASONS / UNDERLYING ASSUMPTIONS that cause conflict

Communication

 

 

 

 

Time

 

 

 

 

World geography

 

 

 

 

Patience

 

 

 

 

Ethnocentrism /discrimination

 

 

 

 

Friendships/relationships

 

 

 

 

classroom behavior

 

 

 

 

Authority / teachers

 

 

 

 

4.      Suggestions for international students:

a.

b.

c.

d.

© 2004  Christine Bauer-Ramazani, Saint Michael's College. Last updated: July 09, 2017