Douglas Olsen
International students often stick together due to shared cultural backgrounds, interests, and languages. This can help them adapt to new environments and combat loneliness. However, it may also hinder their ability to explore new cultures and improve language skills. Some international students face prejudice, exclusion, and bullying, which can further isolate them and reinforce sticking to their cultural groups. To promote integration, universities are creating opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds to interact, recognizing the benefits of cultural agility and awareness in today's globalized world.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Loneliness | International students may feel lonely in a new environment and seek familiarity. |
| Comfort Zone | Students may prefer staying in their comfort zone, with people from similar backgrounds and cultures. |
| Adaptation | Sticking together helps international students adapt to a new environment quickly, as people in the same group can look out for each other and share experiences. |
| Language Barrier | A common language helps international students communicate effectively without having to translate nuances. |
| Cultural Differences | Cultural differences, including humour and drinking culture, can make it challenging for international students to connect with local students. |
| Prejudice and Discrimination | International students may face prejudice, discrimination, or bullying, leading them to seek support and comfort from their compatriots. |
| Financial Differences | Financial differences between local and international students can create a barrier to mingling. |
| Academic Context | Students are more likely to mix in an academic context, but tend to revert to friends from similar backgrounds during their free time. |
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What You'll Learn
Comfort and familiarity
International students often experience loneliness and culture shock when studying abroad, and this can cause them to seek comfort and familiarity by sticking together in groups of people from the same nationality. Being surrounded by others from a similar background can help students adapt to a new environment quickly, as they can rely on each other's shared experiences and knowledge. This can be especially helpful when navigating a new academic system, and students can work together to overcome language barriers.
However, this can also lead to students becoming stuck in their comfort zone, and they may miss out on the opportunity to explore their new environment and experience different cultures, which is often a key reason for choosing to study abroad. While it can be comforting to stick with what is familiar, it can also become a self-perpetuating cycle, with students never leaving their comfort zone and therefore never improving their language skills or cultural understanding.
Some international students may feel like "outsiders" on campus and struggle to fit in with local students. This could be due to a variety of factors, including prejudice and discrimination, language barriers, or simply a lack of understanding of local cultural norms and how to navigate social situations. For example, international students may not know how to initiate conversations with local students or how to join existing friendship groups.
Local students may also bear some responsibility for the segregation of international and local students. They may have preconceived notions about international students or make incorrect assumptions about their desire to socialise based on cultural differences or language barriers. Local students may need to make more of an effort to reach out and include international students in their social circles.
Universities also have a role to play in encouraging integration and providing opportunities for students from different backgrounds to mix. This could include organising welcome events, cultural exchange programmes, or language classes, as well as ensuring that group projects and other academic activities facilitate interaction between international and local students.
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Language barriers
In a foreign country, even in English-speaking nations like the United States or the United Kingdom, international students may encounter social language barriers due to cultural differences, local dialects, or accents. The constant need to translate thoughts and express oneself in a second language can be mentally taxing, as depicted in the sitcom *Modern Family*, where Gloria Pritchett, a Colombian living in the USA, expresses her frustration with language barriers.
For example, Chinese international students have been observed to stick together and primarily speak Mandarin due to their limited English proficiency. This may create a perception of exclusivity and lead to further isolation, as local students might assume that the Chinese students are not interested in interacting with them. Similar dynamics have been observed among Indonesian international students, with a study finding that 68% of participants experienced stress due to language barriers in academics.
To overcome language barriers, international students can seek support from government-funded programs, associations, or NGOs that offer language and culture courses. Participating in university clubs, sports, or music activities can also help international students connect with others without a strong focus on language. While it is essential to step out of one's comfort zone, language barriers present a complex challenge that requires practical solutions and support from educational institutions.
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Prejudice and exclusion
Additionally, language barriers can contribute to the exclusion of international students. When international students primarily speak their native language, it can create a perception that they are not interested in interacting with local students. This can lead to a cycle where local students assume that international students want to keep to themselves, further isolating them. International students, on the other hand, may feel more comfortable speaking their native language and may struggle with English, making it challenging to initiate conversations with local students.
Cultural differences and humour can also play a role in exclusion. International students may find it challenging to understand local humour, cultural references, and social norms, creating a barrier to connecting with local students. These differences can lead to a sense of "outsiderness" and make it challenging for international students to feel like they belong.
Furthermore, the financial situation of international students can also set them apart from their local peers. International students may have different financial backgrounds and constraints, which can impact their ability to participate in certain social activities, affecting their opportunities to interact and form friendships with local students.
To address these issues, universities are actively seeking ways to bridge the gap between international and local students. They organise welcome events, encourage international students to stay with local hosts during vacations, and pair international students with local students for group projects. These initiatives aim to foster cultural agility and create a more inclusive environment for all students.
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Lack of integration opportunities
International students often face a lack of integration opportunities, which can hinder their ability to interact with domestic students and lead to self-segregation. This can be attributed to various factors, including cultural differences, language barriers, financial disparities, and prejudice or discrimination.
Cultural differences can be a significant barrier to integration. International students may have different customs, norms, and humor, making it challenging to relate to domestic students. For example, international students may not understand local cultural norms, such as British humor, making it challenging to connect with their peers.
Language barriers can also play a role in the lack of integration opportunities. International students with limited English language skills may struggle to communicate effectively with domestic students, leading them to seek comfort and support within their national groups. This was observed among Chinese international students, who primarily communicated in Mandarin and struggled to socialize with Australian students due to language barriers.
Financial disparities can further hinder integration. International students may have different financial backgrounds and constraints compared to their domestic counterparts, impacting their ability to participate in certain social activities or events.
Additionally, prejudice and discrimination can create a hostile environment for international students, discouraging them from actively seeking integration opportunities. International students may face exclusion, bullying, or unfair treatment from both peers and teachers, pushing them towards their national groups for safety and support.
Universities play a crucial role in facilitating integration by providing platforms and initiatives that encourage interaction between international and domestic students. These can include pairing students from different backgrounds for group projects, organizing welcome events, and arranging cultural exchange programs. However, simply placing students from diverse backgrounds in the same space does not guarantee integration. Active measures and a supportive environment are necessary to bridge the gap and foster meaningful interactions.
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Adapting to a new environment
International students often face the challenge of adapting to a new language, and communicating in a foreign language can be daunting. By sticking together, students can communicate in their native language, which is easier and more comfortable. This can be particularly prominent among students from countries with widely spoken languages, such as Chinese or Mandarin-speaking students, who may have large groups of fellow native speakers to connect with.
Cultural differences can also play a significant role in international students sticking together. Students from the same cultural background may share similar interests, values, and traditions, making it easier to relate to each other and navigate cultural norms in a new environment. Social norms and humour, for instance, can vary greatly between countries, and international students may feel more comfortable socialising with those who understand these nuances.
Additionally, international students may face financial differences compared to local students, adding another layer of distinction between groups. International students are often far from home, and the financial burden of studying abroad can be significant. Sticking together with others in a similar situation can provide a sense of support and understanding.
While sticking together can provide comfort, it is also important for international students to step out of their comfort zones and engage with their new environment. Exploring the local culture and social life, and interacting with students from different backgrounds, can be valuable parts of the study abroad experience. It can help international students feel a sense of belonging in their new environment and develop cultural agility, which is beneficial in today's globalised world.
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Frequently asked questions
International students are often far from home and seek comfort in others with shared experiences and cultural backgrounds.
Students can help each other adapt to a new environment, share experiences, and overcome loneliness.
Students may fail to explore their new environment, limiting their ability to learn about different cultures and develop "cultural agility".
Universities can pair international students with local students for group projects, organise welcome events, and facilitate overseas students staying with local hosts.
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