Culture shock

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Adjusting to a new place, people and practices can cause any combination of feelings of being surprised, anxious, confused, constrained, distressed, frustrated, doubtful and/ or shocked. This is a very common International Students' experience regardless of your background and often called "Culture Shock".

Some students may experience considerable frustration because they lack confidence in their ability to express themselves adequately in English. They find they are reluctant to join in conversations, or they cannot comprehend what Australians are saying, either because Australians speak too fast or have a different accent.

The good news is that Culture Shock is normally followed by being informed, competent, settled, excited, challenged and confident as students carry on to complete their courses. Students usually learn quickly to develop new ways of handling the challenging new situation they face in the university and everyday life.

In fact, rather than being a shock it can also be an exciting adventure, as we slowly explore our new surroundings and gain understanding and confidence. We come to realise that things aren't always what they seem, that our own culture and upbringing lead us to make a host of assumptions that affect our experience of other people and events. We also get a lot of satisfaction as we gradually develop new friendships and contacts, and cope more easily with our new environment.

Culture Shock however, may happen in various dimensions at anytime (first year or later years of study) during the students' sojourn. Any opportunity that adjustment difficulties is shared in a supportive environment (such as speaking to a Student Adviser at ISS and other support services at QUT) becomes an invaluable life experience for the individual as well as the group or community that shares the individual student's goals and aspirations.

Individual counselling and group support is available at ISS (International Student Services). Please call 3138 2019 for further queries or to make an appointment with a Student Adviser or a Counsellor.

Students who study overseas may also experience "learning shock". Students and teachers in Australia may interact differently from the way you are used to. Most international students find that classroom relationships are more casual. You will be expected to analyse issues critically, discuss the issues and share your ideas with teaching staff and other students; to question and learn to debate the views of lecturers and students.

To help you prepare for this, we strongly recommend that you read the book "Studying in Australia" by Brigid Ballard and John Clancy, published by Longmans Chesire. This book gives very helpful tips for successful adjustment.