Cultural Adaptation Of Chinese Interns Abroad

With the rapid development of educational exchange and cooperation between China and foreign countries, an increasing number of Chinese college students have participated in various international internship programs. In such activities, they inevitably encounter culture shock and cultural adaptation stress. Such problems, if not being handled well, may lead to unsuccessful or unpleasant internship experience. Cultural adaptation of Chinese interns abroad therefore requires attention.In light of related intercultural communication theories, this paper examines Chinese interns’cultural adaptation stress based on the author’s and other Chinese students’ internship experiences in Disney World Resort, Orlando. This study takes a qualitative approach to data collection and analysis. Methods of documentary study and interview are employed. It aims to investigate Chinese interns’participation motivation, stages of adaptation and cultural adaptation stress in perspective of cultural conflict, cultural understanding and cultural adaptation.The findings show that participation motivations can be mainly reduced to three kinds: seeing the world outside, gold panning and gold plating. Stages of cultural adaptation match the Stress-Adaptation-Growth Dynamic (Kim,2001). Interns may encounter the following cultural adaptation stresses:1) roommate relations;2) language barrier;3) unaccustomed to language of management and leader style;4) perplexed by the languages other than English;5) interactive pressure with trainer and coordinator;6) working position below expectation;7) mismatch in corporate culture;8) contradictory identity. Motivation, language adaptation and work adaptation affect identity. Cultural identity affects and generates role identity.Some advice is given hereby. Administration dispatching interns should conduct pre-departure orientation and training, and enhance the management of interns abroad and the management of interns returning home. Employer should emphasize orientation, strengthen the demonstration of corporate culture, appoint life consultant, and build multicultural environment. Prospective interns should never blindly follow, boost self-respect and self-improvement, improve intercultural understanding and intercultural communicative competence, and seize every opportunity to make the most of experience.