"Culture shock" is a term used for a sense of disorientation and confusion that most people experience when they arrive in another country or when returning to their home country after an extended period in a foreign country. New visitors to a different culture have left everything they consider "natural" and familiar and are expected to function in a new country right away. Culture shock is a normal and temporary part of the process of adapting to a new environment and there is no reason to be overly concerned.
Getting acquainted with social and cultural differences is a very important process because it will help you to build successful relationships with Americans. Below you will find some common American customs you are likely to encounter.
While you are here, we hope that you will meet and spend time with Americans and their families. These suggestions may help you feel more comfortable when you are invited out. Please ask UCIE staff about our International friendship Program, which is an effort to facilitate contact between American families and international students and match successful applicants.
The invitation is usually for you alone unless your hosts specifically invite your family or friends. Bringing guests of your own without asking your host's permission is considered impolite. A written invitation will include the date, time, place, and description of the occasion. You should always answer a written invitation, especially if its says R.S.V.P. (Respondez, s'il vous plait; French for "please respond"). You may respond by telephone or by letter; prompt notice is appreciated. Never accept an invitation unless you really plan to go. If you must decline an invitation, it is enough to say, "Thank you for the invitation, but I am unable to attend." If an unavoidable problem makes it necessary for you to change plans, be certain to tell the host as soon as possible before the time when you are expected. Make sure you get directions to the place where the event will be held.
When accepting an invitation for a meal, be sure to explain to your host if there is anything you are not supposed to eat. This courtesy will help the host to plan for food and beverages that everyone can enjoy. If you must refuse something after it has been prepared, refuse politely. Never hesitate to ask for any food on the table ("Would you please pass the rolls?") since asking for more food is considered to be a compliment to the host. Being on time is very important in American culture.
Americans put a great deal of emphasis on personal cleanliness. The standard of personal cleanliness that a person maintains determine (to a large extent) how he or she is accepted in society. Most Americans are very sensitive to the smells and odors of the human body--sometimes their own, but especially someone else's. For this reason, most Americans bathe once a day and sometimes more during hot weather or after strenuous exercise. They use deodorants and antiperspirants, and they wash their clothes frequently. Most Americans are also very concerned about having clean hair and fresh breath.
The most important thing to understand about Americans is their devotion to "individualism." They have been trained since very early in their lives to consider themselves as separate individuals who are responsible for their own situations in life and their own destinies. They have not been trained to see themselves as members of a close-knit, tightly interdependent family, religious group, tribe, nation, or other collectivity.
Closely associated with the value they place on individualism is the importance Americans assign to privacy. Americans assume that people "need some time to themselves" or "some time alone" to think about things or recover their spent psychological energy. Americans have great difficulty understanding foreigners who always want to be with another person, who dislike being alone.
Americans generally consider themselves to be frank, open, and direct in their dealings with other people. Americans will often speak openly and directly to others about things they dislike. They will try to do so in a manner they call "constructive," that is, a manner which the other person will not find offensive or unacceptable. If they do not speak openly about what is on their minds, they will often convey their reactions in nonverbal ways (without words, but through facial expressions, body positions, and gestures). Americans are not taught that they should mask their emotional responses. Their words, the tone of their voices, or their facial expressions will usually reveal when they are feeling angry, unhappy, confused, or happy and content. They do not think it improper to display these feelings, at least within limits.
Americans are generally more direct and open than most people from many other countries. They will not try to mask their emotions. They are much less concerned with avoiding embarrassment to themselves or others than most cultures. To Americans, being "honest" is usually more important than preserving harmony in interpersonal relationships.
While many Americans are fairly open and warm people who are quick to make new acquaintances, their mobility and sense of individualism mean that their relationships are often casual and informal. This is not to say that Americans take friendship lightly. It just means that while Americans know a lot of people, their lasting friendships are often few.
Comparatively, women in the United States are generally less inhibited than women from other countries. They are not usually shy with Americans or international visitors. Their relaxed and more independent attitude may be misunderstood by people whose native culture is more restrictive of women's activities. It is not unusual, for example, for unmarried women to live by themselves, to share living space with other single women, or to go to public places unescorted.
There are no universally accepted rules about dating Americans. For heterosexual relationships, traditionally, men have taken the initiative in asking women on dates, but this is changing as women are asserting their equal status in society. Gay and lesbian relationships are slowly becoming accepted in the United States, but there is still a great deal of fear and prejudice against homosexual relationships. Common dating events include dinners, concerts, movies, plays, and dances. If you want to get to know someone better, though, you might ask the person to join you for coffee or a lunch; such meetings can provide the beginning of a enduring friendship without the pressure of being a "date." It used to be the case that the one who invites a person on a date would pay for any expenses incurred (such as the dinner check or the ticket price), but it is becoming more common for people on a date to "go Dutch," which means that each person pays for his or her own expenses.
In many cultures, there is a great difference in status between students and professors. Students show their respect for their professors by listening quietly. They do not question what the professor says. In the United States, it is quite acceptable for students to ask questions and to engage in discussions with the professor. This is not disrespectful. In fact, professors view participation in class discussions as a sign of interest in the subject matter.
There are a few rules students are expected to observe. It is very important to come to class on time. If you are late, enter quietly and sit down. If you know that you will have to miss one or more classes, let your professor know ahead of time. Make sure you do not miss any assignments.
During the first class meeting, your professors will inform you of their office hours and when and how they can be reached. If you have a problem with the material presented in class, do not hesitate to see the professor during office hours and ask for help. Even if you do not have a problem, it is a good idea to drop in and talk to your professor. It gives both of you a chance to get to know each other. This may be particularly important if you have trouble understanding the professor, or he or she has trouble understanding you. Often, all it takes is a little time to get used to the other person's style of speaking.
At the time of the first class meeting, your professor will specify "due dates" for various assignments. These dates are quite firm, and you must hand in your assignment by that date in order to get full credit. If you know that you cannot meet a deadline for an important reason, contact your professor ahead of time and try to work out an arrangement that is mutually agreeable.
Smoking is not permitted in classrooms and in most University buildings. It is considered polite to ask the people you are with whether they would mind if you smoke before you light up.
One thing you need to know about studying in the U.S. is that speaking and learning in English will be exhausting and frustrating, particularly in the beginning. International students have to spend much more time than their American counterparts to complete the same assignments. This can lead to stress and a feeling of inferiority.
The most important thing you can do to improve your level of success in the classroom is to improve your English skills. Your English will not improve if the only people you talk to outside the classroom speak your native tongue. You have to speak to Americans whenever possible, watch television, listen to the radio, and read newspapers and magazines. Interacting with U.S. culture will greatly enhance your ability to understand your colleagues and professors on the academic level. The more proficient your English becomes, the more successful you will be in the classroom.
If you are feeling pressure, you have to take the initiative and ask for help. You must ask to join study groups or ask professors questions. No one will approach you to find if there is anything you do not understand. However, classmates and professors are usually willing to help if they know you are having problems. Be prepared to do whatever it takes to help yourself. Remember how much effort it took to get the opportunity to study at Wright State University and put twice as much effort into your work to make the most of your stay here!
Academic Year - The academic year at Wright State University is divided into four quarters (Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer) of approximately 10 weeks each. Typically, awards such as scholarships and assistantships cover three quarters (Fall, Winter, Spring). At the end of each quarter, there is a final exam period. There is a short break between each quarter.
Major - The field in which you are trying to get your degree.
Grades - The quality of a student's academic work is measured by letter grades; A (excellent), B (above average), C (average), D (lowest acceptable), F (failing). Under certain circumstances, letters such as I (incomplete), N (no grade), S (satisfactory), or U (unsatisfactory) may appear in grade reports. These letters are not grades and are not included in the calculation of a grade point average.
Mid-Term - A test given around the middle of each quarter.
Final - An exam given at the end of a quarter, usually on all the academic material covered in class. The final exam schedule is published in the Learning Opportunities Bulletin each quarter.
Quiz - A test given during the quarter, sometimes unannounced.
Credit Hours - The quantity of work a student does at WSU is measured in credit hours. The number of credit hours a course is worth is usually based on the number of hours it meets each week. To complete your degree, you must have a specific number of credit hours. See your departmental handbook for details.
Assignment - Out-of-class work required by a professor; for example, reading books, writing papers, or doing a lab report. Your professor will expect the assignment by a certain date.
Registrar - The registrar keeps the official record of a student's academic information, such as courses taken and grades received.
Transcript - The record of courses taken and grades received by a student. Official transcripts are important documents and must be requested from the Office of the University Registrar.
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