1. CULTURE LEARNING APPROACHES TO ACCULTURATION

2. CULTURE LEARNING Learning the behaviors and skills necessary to survive and thrive in a new cultural milieu

4. Intercultural Communication Verbal Language Rules and Conventions Non-Verbal Eye Contact Proxemics Body postures Gestures Silence Display of Emotion

5. Dimensions of Variability Communication *High and low contact *High and low context

6. Dimensions of Cultural Variability *Individualism-collectivism *High and low power distance

7. SOCIO-CULTURAL ADAPTATION The capacity to “fit in” or negotiate interactive aspects of a new cultural milieu Measured in terms of social difficulty making friends going shopping understanding the local language

8. Sociocultural Adaptation % Rating Task as Greatly or Extremely Difficult (N = 150) Dealing with bureaucracy 26.9 *Dealing with unsatisfactory service 19.5 Making friends 16 *Talking about yourself and your experiences 14.9 *Understanding cultural differences 14.8 Going to parties or social functions 12.8 *Dealing with someone who is unpleasant11.3

9. ACADEMIC ADAPTATION OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS % RATING TASK AS GREATLY OR EXTREMELY DIFFICULT (N = 150) *Making oral presentations25.3 *Doing all the assigned readings24.2 *Expressing my own opinions to lecturers22.5 *Memorising relevant material18.2 *Getting the necessary feedback from lecturers17 *Identifying what the lecturer thinks is important16.2 *Taking tests and exams14.9 Understanding what is expected of me14.1 *Writing assignments13.6 *Thinking critically12.8 *Taking notes during lectures11 *Managing my academic workload10.8 *Studying10.l

10. Sociocultural Adaptation *Which factors predict sociocultural adaptation? *How does sociocultural adaptation change over time? *Does sociocultural adaptation vary between sojourning and sedentary groups? *Does sociocultural adaptation vary across sojourning groups?

11. Predictors of Sociocultural Adaptation *Culture specific knowledge *Language fluency *Contact with host nationals *Cultural similarity *Length of residence in host culture

13. Sociocultural Adaptation in Sojourning and Sedentary Groups New Zealand secondary students who studied abroad (AFS) reported more sociocultural difficulties than those who remained at home.

14. BritonsAmericans Malaysians Chinese Japanese Singaporeans in Singapore in Singapore in Singapore in Singapore in NZ & Malaysians in NZ

15. Culture Learning Theory Applications Training: Memory Understanding Doing For knowledge, skills, abilities and attitudes, e.g., culture assimilators

16. QUESTIONS What strategies or programmes could be implemented to assist international students to adapt to life in New Zealand? To study at VUW?