摘 要

1. Introduction 1

1.1 Research Background 1

1.2 Purpose of the Study 1

1.3 Organization of the Thesis 2

2. Literature Review 3

2.1 Culture Shock 3

2.2 Adaptation Process 4

2.3 Previous Studies on Culture Shock and Adaptation Process 5

2.4 Research Gaps 5

3. Methodology 7

3.1 Instruments 7

3.2 Questionnaire 7

3.3 Data Analysis 7

4. Results and Discussion 9

4.1 Background Information about Surveyed International Students 9

4.2 The Physiological Adaptation of International Students at Nanjing Tech University 12

4.3 The Academic Adaptation of International Sudents at Nanjing Tech University .13

4.4 The Sociocultural Adaptation of International Students at Nanjing Tech University 15

4.5 Influential Factors on the Adaptation of International Students 16

5. Conclusion 17

5.1 Summary of Major Findings 17

5.2 Implications 17

5.3 Suggestions for Further Research 18

References 19

Appendix 20

Acknowledgements

The completion of this thesis would be impossible without help of many people. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of them.

First of all, I want to thank my supervisor, Dr. Xiang Mingjian in particular, who have helped me with my thesis by providing inspiration and expert advice throughout the whole project.

This research would not be possible without the help and cooperation of the international students’ community at Nanjing Tech University. I appreciate willingness to offer timely assistance within a short notice.

Finally, I am thankful to my parents and friends for their support and friendship. They cheered me up and encouraged me during the process of writing this thesis.

Abstract

Communication between countries in the world today is increasingly frequent. International exchange can have a positive impact on the development of all areas of society. International exchanges in the field of education have made it possible for more and more students to study abroad. In the process, they can not only learn a different language, but also experience a new culture. This notwithstanding, international students participating in international exchanges will also encounter many challenges and difficulties in terms of climatic conditions, language and culture, as well as academic exchanges. Therefore, understanding the cultural impact experience of international students and their adaptation process is of great significance.

This thesis conducts a survey about the culture shock experience and adaptation process among 50 international students of Nanjing University of Technology. The questionnaire focuses on their physiological, academic and socio-cultural adaptation. Statistical analysis shows that international students participating in the survey have difficulties in adaption in all the above three aspects, of which academic adaptation is the most difficult. This paper further analyzes the factors affecting the adaptation process and puts forward suggestions on how to better help the international students adapt to their study in China as soon as possible.

Key words: international communication; international students; culture shock; adaptation process; questionnaire

中文摘要

当今世界国与国之间的交流日益频繁。国际交流对社会各个领域的发展能够产生积极的影响。教育领域的国际交流使得越来越多的学生有机会到海外深造。在此过程中，他们不仅可以学习一门语言，还可以体验一种新的文化。当然，参与国际交流的留学生也会在气候条件、语言文化、学术交流等方面遇到许多挑战和困难。因此，了解留学生的文化冲击体验以及他们的适应过程就具有较为重要的意义。

本文通过发放问卷的形式对南京工业大学50名国际学生的文化冲击体验和适应过程进行了调查，主要关注他们在生理、学术和社会文化三个方面适应的情况。统计数据显示，参与问卷调查的留学生在以上三个方面的适应上都存在困难，其中学术适应对他们而言最为困难。本文进一步分析了影响适应过程因素并就如何更好地帮助留学生尽快适应在中国的留学生活提出了建议。

关键词：国际交流、留学生、文化冲击、适应过程、问卷调查。

List of Figures

Figure 2.1 Stages in culture shock.........................................4

Figure 4.1 Nationality of survey participants…….……………………………….10

Figure 4.2 Gender of survey participants….…….………………………………10

Figure 4.3 Religious belief of survey participants…….….………………………...11

Figure 4.4 Age of surveyed international students……………………………………11

Figure 4.5 Duration of stay in China…………………………………………………11

Figure 4.6 English level of survey participants…………………………………………12

Figure 4.7 Chinese level of survey participants…….…………………………………12

Figure 4.8 Ranking of adaptation in terms of difficulty……………………………16

List of Tables

Table 4.1 Survey of physiological adaptation……………………………………..…..12

Table 4.2 Survey of academic adaptation……………………………………………..14

Table 4.3 Survey of socio-cultural adaptation…………………………………………15

1. Introduction

1.1 Research background

The interaction of different countries or international communication is of great importance in the modern world. It effects on the development of all spheres of society: political, economic, social, spiritual. This interaction also exerts influence on the educational process. Thanks to the development of interaction between countries in the education system, more and more students have the opportunity to go overseas to pursue further studies. They cannot only improve their knowledge of another language, but also become acquainted with another system of education. However, the international exchange also has disadvantages, which may include language barrier, changing environment, problems with understanding new teaching methods etc.

China begun to accept international students in 1950. According to the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, 492,185 students from 196 countries and regions around the world came to study in Mainland of China in 2018, a 0.62 percent increase over 2017. Unexpectedly, the increase in the number of international students leads to a decrease in the quality of international students. For instance, international students in some universities do not attend classes regularly and they have poor academic performance. A possible explanation for this is that they are experiencing culture shock and having difficulty adapting to their life and study.

1.2 Purpose of the study

An international student is a mature individual who formed under the influence of the environment in which he was brought up. He usually has a certain stance, target setting, value system and value orientation. In addition, he has its own specific features: ethnic, national-psychological, psychophysiological, personal and so on.

While studying in China, international students face a new set of factors, which inevitably makes it difficult for him to adapt to the new living condition. Thus, it is of paramount importance to identify culture shock experience and problems that international students encounter in the adaptation process and find out ways to help them deal with these problems. Since the number of international students is one of the indicators of university’s success in the world market of educational services, to attract more students it is important to facilitate their residence in China.

The first group of international students will graduate from Nanjing Tech University in 2019. By conducting a survey, this study explores on which field the University should focus on to create a more favorable educational environment for them.

1.3 Organization of the thesis

This thesis is composed of five chapters: