Overcoming Culture Shock and Thriving as a Teacher Abroad

Culture shock is a common hurdle for teachers who decide to teach internationally. It's completely normal to feel confused or a bit anxious at first, being in a new environment with customs, values, and communication styles different from your home country.

However, this adaptation process is not only unavoidable but also an invaluable opportunity for personal and professional growth. Teaching abroad is a transformative experience, full of opportunities for growth and learning.

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In this article, you'll learn about the most common phases of culture shock, why it happens, and how to successfully deal with it both inside and outside the classroom. If you're thinking about taking the leap into international teaching, keep reading and get ready for an enriching experience. 

Why Does Culture Shock Happen?

It occurs when someone faces significant differences in values, customs, and communication styles when traveling to another country.

Culture shock isn't always immediate; sometimes, it manifests over time and in unpredictable ways for those residing in a foreign country. It's not just about adapting to superficial cultural differences, but it can deeply impact people, even when they believe they have already adapted. It's a complex process that goes beyond simple novelty and can manifest in unexpected and persistent ways.

It can come with feelings of confusion, uncertainty, anxiety, fear, distrust, discomfort, or insecurity. Some factors that influence the intensity of culture shock include:

• The distance between one's own culture and the foreign culture.
• The individual's personality, attitude, and prior knowledge.
• Experience in intercultural communication situations.
• The length of stay in the foreign country.
• Building personal and professional relationships with people from the new culture.

The Stages of Culture Shock

Culture shock is a phenomenon that has some common stages for people who experience it. It's important to note that these phases vary in order and intensity depending on each individual, their country of origin and destination, the length of their stay abroad, among other factors as mentioned in the previous subsection.

The most well-known and recurring phases of culture shock are:

1. Honeymoon: Initial phase of excitement and fascination with the new culture. Everything seems novel and stimulating.
2. Frustration: Feeling tired and frustrated when noticing that things work differently than what you're used to.
3. Adjustment: Gradually gaining a better understanding of the environment and starting to develop strategies to adapt.
4. Acceptance: Being able to live with the new culture more naturally, establishing connections, and finding satisfaction in the experience.

For example, if you're going to work as a teacher in the United States, one of the biggest challenges will be adapting to the new job. At first, you might be surprised by the atmosphere in schools, the autonomy and cultural diversity of students, and new teaching methods in the classrooms. Everything seems exciting and full of new opportunities.

After a few weeks, you might start to feel some tiredness or exhaustion due to language differences, the new administrative processes you have to adapt to, the pace of work, and even the social norms among your colleagues, bosses, students, and the school's parents. You might feel some confusion or frustration from facing challenges you haven't seen before.

By keeping a positive attitude, understanding the process, and diving into the experience with the best disposition, after this stage you'll start to better understand the education system, you'll be able to adjust your teaching methods if necessary, and you'll discover ways to connect with the students and the work environment. You'll move on to accept that some differences can be beneficial, and you'll feel more secure and confident in your role and the contribution you're making.

Over time, you'll start to feel like you belong in the new environment in your own way. You'll be able to form personal and professional relationships, have support networks, and adapt to the new daily life as a new home. At this point, life abroad feels more comfortable and enriching, and the challenges and uncertainties of the initial cultural impact will be behind you.

Tips for Overcoming Culture Shock as a Teacher Abroad

Being well-informed about this phenomenon and keeping a positive attitude toward the challenges of the trip is key to overcoming culture shock.

Here are some practical tips to help you achieve this in the best way and thrive as a teacher abroad:

Overcoming Culture Shock in the Classroom

1. Have clear goals: Always keep in mind the reason why you went to teach in another country, whether it's to live a new experience, have a better job opportunity, or another reason. Remember your why and this will help you to maintain your motivation.
2. Include multiculturalism in your classes: Take advantage of your experience as a foreign teacher to enrich teaching with diverse cultural perspectives.
3. Communicate: Talk to the school staff, clear up any doubts you may have, and be well-informed about every process to avoid feeling confusion or anxiety.
4. Adapt, but contribute with your experience: Learn about local educational customs and adjust your teaching strategies to connect better with students, adding your own experience in the classroom. Always remember that your contribution is very important for the students and the school.
5. Participate in school activities: Be part of the school's extracurricular activities, get involved with the community of parents and teachers, and take the opportunity to enrich yourself with learning.
6. Be patient with yourself: Don't demand perfection from day one. Adaptation takes time, and every little step forward counts.

Overcoming Culture Shock Outside the Classroom

1. Form networks with other international teachers: Sharing experiences with colleagues in similar situations can provide emotional support and practical advice. You can use the Edbinder platform to connect with other international teachers from different countries and educational levels.
2. Build a local support network: Connecting with the community and making friends will help you integrate better. Try not to isolate yourself or be too alone in this new environment. Talk to your neighbors, gym buddies, and others, or use social media to find people with similar interests.
3. Maintain your support and trust network from a distance: Communicate regularly with your family and friends who stayed in your home country. Tell them about your experience and how you're feeling. Honest conversations with people you deeply trust are key. If you feel the need, seek professional support from psychologists or therapists.
4. Keep a journal: You can also reflect on your emotions and experiences by recording them in a personal journal, which will help you observe yourself better and understand your feelings at each stage of the process.
5. Find a hobby or exercise: If you had a hobby in your home country or used to exercise regularly, don't let go of this habit. Find spaces to continue nurturing your personal interests in the new country.
6. Don't see culture shock as a problem: Instead of wanting to go home, isolate yourself, or feel overwhelmed, focus on the fact that this is a unique opportunity for learning and growth. You've managed to go teach in another country, and you're leaving your educational mark in another part of the world!

Don't panic or give up halfway. Frustration is normal, but by overcoming it, you'll discover new things and build valuable memories that you'll carry with you for a lifetime.

Dare to Teach in Another Country!

Teaching abroad is a challenging but incredibly enriching experience. While culture shock is real, with the right tools, you can turn it into an opportunity to grow personally and professionally. Keep an open mind to the differences and give yourself the time needed to adapt.

Don't let fear stop you! If you dream of living this adventure, on Edbinder you can find job openings for teachers in different countries around the world. Create your free profile in minutes and start exploring all the opportunities available to you!