Factors Contributing or Hindering Sociocultural Adjustment of International Students and the Importance of Intercultural Training

Abstract

This documentary research examined the sociocultural adjustment of international students in unfamiliar settings through a discussion of culture shock and adjustment problems before looking at intercultural training as a means of overcoming these problems. A body of empirical evidence and literature suggests that the adjustment problems experienced by international students are greatest at the beginning of their stay. The main factors contributing to problems with cross cultural adjustment are interaction with hosts, cultural distance, cultural identity, and cultural knowledge. In order to ease the sociocultural adjustment of international students, awareness of the signi!cance of intercultural training should be raised among students, teachers and staff of universities in order to bridge the gap in cultural difference and build mutual understanding between hosts and sojourners. This article therefore suggests various intercultural training techniques to facilitate the sociocultural adjustment of international students.