Cultural Adaptation Challenges in China: A Case Study of Indian Students

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Wednesday 12:40 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 2-3
  In Roundtable Session: Cultivating Community Across Geographic Locales to Support Inclusivity in Higher Education (Table 7)

Abstract

This study investigates the challenges faced by Indian students during their initial acculturation stage in China. By using semi-structured interviews and sentiment analysis, the research identified four obstacles, including cultural shock, linguistic barriers, technical incompatibilities, and dietary issues. Results indicate that Indian students experience negative emotions when initially relocating to China, contradicting the U-curve model's predicted honeymoon stage. The findings presented in this thesis add to our understanding of international students in China and also suggest that cultural taboos and beliefs should be considered to help international students adapt to Chinese life.

Author

• Qiao Lin, University of Pennsylvania