Cultural Influence in Intercultural Adaptation--A Case Study of My Son’s “Cultural Clash” in the United States

Abstract

With a large number of the Chinese students in the United States to pursue the higher education every year, the study of how these students adapt to a new culture has become a hot topic. This paper focuses on cultural influence to the Chinese students’ intercultural adaptation in the United States of America. Therefore, the paper examines the cultural influences from cultural values and cultural conflicts of the two vivid cases that happened with the author’s son studying in the United States, and indicates that the cultural influence can play an important role in intercultural adaptation. In addition, the paper discusses some new suggestions including intercultural training programs for how to improve the Chinese students’ intercultural communication competence and make them overcome culture shock, understand the cultural valves, know how to manage cultural conflicts and adapt to the American culture and society.
Key words: Intercultural adaptation; Intercultural communication competence; Cultural shock; Cultural influence; Cultural value; Cultural conflict