There are 4 stages of culture shock: ⁷

1. Honeymoon

The honeymoon phase takes place when people first arrive. There is genuine excitement about the new place, and a belief that life [in the new region] is an adventure.

2. Hostility

This generally takes place four to six months after arrival when the newcomer realizes the limitations of the new environment. For example, she may not be able to get the food she likes or may find it difficult to participate in many of the activities that are important to her. If your learner is suffering from culture shock in this stage you may notice that she may:

• complain about a variety of things, perhaps even claiming to hate the new environment.
• want to go home regardless of her previous situation.
• spend more time with people who speak the same language.

3. Humour

In this phase, the learner has resolved or is in the process of resolving negative feelings about the new culture. She may have found new friends and has tried to come to terms with both the "old" and "new" way of living.

4. Home

Acceptance of the new home; the learner feels that she is here to stay!

Helping someone with culture shock

Everyone experiences culture shock in different ways, to different degrees. One person may adjust with relative ease, whereas another person may suffer from more pronounced culture shock. Regardless, it is important to support your learner to the best of your ability (even when she is critical of the new environment.) Let the learner know that feeling this way is natural. Adjusting to a new place takes time and patience. Getting through difficulties will require persistence and a willingness to learn (but not necessarily assimilate).

⁷ Barbara Law and Mary Eckes , The More- Than-Just- Surviving Handbook: ESL for Every Classroom Teacher. (Winnipeg, Manitoba: Portage & Main Press, 2000) pp. 69 - 70. Copyright © 2000 by Barbara Law and Mark Eckes. Used by permission of Portage & Main Press.