A Narrative Inquiry Into Cross-cultural Empathy As Strategic Approach To The Management Of Culture Shock

This thesis is a narrative inquiry into the cross-cultural experiences of a group of mainland Chinese students in Taiwan on a summer program. The author explores how cross-cultural empathy has been employed by these students to manage culture shock that they have experienced as sojourners. For data collection, structured interviews which were conducted through emails and field notes by the author as a participant observer are also used. Analysis of the five mainland students’ personal accounts of their experiences and efforts for cultural adaptation in Taiwan reveals that in spite of a shared language, the participants still encountered culture shock and/or cultural critical incidents in Taiwan; in their recalled stories, employment of cross-cultural empathy functioned as an effective strategy for adaptation or accommodation in the new cultural environment.This study generalized five strategies of cross-cultural empathy that the participants have employed in their management of culture shock and/or cultural critical incidents during their stay in Taiwan:(1). Acknowledging and respecting differences;(2). Understanding other cultures with an open and cooperative attitude;(3). Overcoming hostilities, and dealing with differences positively;(4).Disseminating and receiving information targetedly and scientifically;(5). Avoiding stereotypes. These findings can be useful to the college teachers in assisting students to make a less stressful transition between home and host cultures and at the same time help the teachers to enhance the students’ ability of cross-cultural empathy so that they can manage culture shock and cultural critical incidents with greater confidence.