COMMUNICATION
Discussing the
stages of
culture shock
LEVEL NUMBER LANGUAGE
Intermediate (B1) EN_B1_2081X English
www.lingoda.com
Learning outcomes
● I can define what culture shock
is and summarise its main
stages.
● I can talk about an experience
I've had in another country
using a range of vocabulary.
2
Warm-up
Share your answers to the questions below with the rest of the class.
How would you define
culture shock?
How long do you think culture
shock generally lasts?
3
The stages of culture shock
Read about the stages of culture shock and see if you can put them in the right order.
1 2 3 4
A B
Belonging Anxiety
In this final stage, people are able to live Usually starts 3 months after living in a new
comfortably in the host culture. They have culture. Differences between the old and new
adapted to their new way of life. Feelings of culture become more apparent, causing anxiety
loneliness and isolation are gone and in some. Feelings of excitement and fascination
might be replaced with frustration and anger.
replaced with a sense of belonging.
People often feel lonely and homesick.
C D
Honeymoon Adjusting
In the first few months, the differences People in this stage start getting used to the
between the old and new culture are differences and develop routines. Most
viewed in a romantic light. Most people in people in this stage know what to expect in
this stage are fascinated by the new different situations. Things start to feel
culture—they might like the food, the pace ‘normal’ again and many people accept the
of life, the habits of the locals, etc. culture’s differences with a positive attitude.
4
Reaction
Read the questions below and share your answers with the rest of the class.
Were you surprised by
anything in the text?
What’s the longest time
you’ve spent outside of
your country?
5
Matching
1. Match the words on the left with their definition on the right.
2. Then answer the questions below.
1 homesick obvious; clearly visible or
a
understood
2 frustration the feeling of being alone and
b
unhappy
3 isolation being unhappy because you are
c
away from your home
4 apparent to adjust yourself in different
d
situations
5 adapt to e being annoyed because you can’t
achieve something that you want
1. Have you ever been homesick? What happened?
2. Are you able to easily adapt to new situations? Can you give an example?
6
I feel a sense of
belonging here.
Real-life language
I am fascinated by
Icelandic culture.
Where do you feel a sense of
belonging?
What are you fascinated by?
7
Categorise the phrases
Which phrases are most likely used to express positive reactions? Which phrases are most
likely used to express negative reactions? Are there any phrases that could be used for both?
1 2 3 4 5
I was surprised It made me I was frustrated It delighted me I was anxious
when… unhappy that… when… that… when…
6 7 8 9 10
It made me It made me It shocked me It satisfied me It annoyed me
miserable that… nervous that… that… that… that…
Positive Negative Both
8
What were your initial impressions?
Think about a time you travelled to a place where you didn’t speak the language. What things
did you notice? What were your initial impressions? Use the phrases below and share your
experience with the rest of the class.
I was surprised It delighted me It made me
when… that… nervous that…
It made me I was anxious It shocked me
unhappy that… when… that…
I was frustrated It made me It annoyed me
when… miserable that… that…
9
Discuss
Discuss the prompt below as a class or in breakout rooms.
Your company wants to send you overseas to an
English-speaking city.
1. Which one of the cities below would you most like to
move to?
2. Which city would you least like to move to?
3. What kind of difficulties do you think you would have in
each of these places?
a. b. c. d.
10
Time to talk!
Take turns choosing a question below and ask a classmate to find out more about them.
• What is something from another country
you admire? Why?
• How would you adapt to another
country? What are some things you
would do?
• Where do you think you would
experience the most culture shock?
Why?
• What do you think would be the first
difference you notice if you moved to
another country?
• What are some challenges you have
experienced while using technology in
other countries?
11
Let’s reflect!
● Can you define what culture shock
is and summarise its main stages?
● Can you talk about an experience
you’ve had in another country
using a range of vocabulary?
Your teacher will now make one suggestion
for improvement for each student.
12
End of the lesson
Idiom
When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
Meaning: Adapting yourself to the customs of a place you are not from.
Example: Do you think we should also bow when we meet someone?
It seems like the thing to do here. When in Rome, do as the Romans do!
Additional practice
Additional practice
14
True or false
Fill in the gaps and answer true or false for each sentence.
Additional practice
True False
1 In the honeymoon phase, people are often _______________ by the culture.
2 Adjusting is usually the final _______________ of culture _______________.
When you are getting used to the differences and developing a
3
_______________, you are _______________ to the new culture.
People often feel _______________ (the feeling of missing their home) after 3
4 months of living in a new culture.
Anxiety follows the honeymoon period. Feelings of frustration and anger
5 replace the _______________ and fascination.
15
Discuss
Additional practice
Where have you felt a sense of
belonging?
Use adjectives from
the lesson to
Is this where you
describe the Was/Is there
live now? Is this
positives. Why do anything negative
somewhere you
you think you about this place?
lived in the past?
belonged/belong
there?
16
Build sentences
Make sentences using the verbs and adjectives from the lesson to describe somewhere with
a different culture to yours. Use the examples to help you.
Additional practice
Verbs
It surprises me that...
It doesn’t shock me that... ● to surprise
● to delight
● to frustrate
● to annoy
...shops aren’t open on Sunday. ● to adapt to
...people drive on the left.
Adjectives
● miserable
● nervous
● anxious
● homesick
● lonely
17
Discuss
Do you agree with one of these statements? Discuss your answers with your teacher.
Additional practice
1 2
I prefer living somewhere I prefer living somewhere
with a different culture to with a similar culture to
mine because... mine because...
Can you live the life
you want in the
What is important to Are you happy with
culture you are
you about where where you live now?
from? Did you have
you live? Why? Why not?
to leave to be
happy?
18
Answer key
P.4: 1. (c.) 2. (b.) 3. (d.) 4. (a.)
P.6: 1. (c.) 2. (e.) 3. (b.) 4. (a.) 5. (d.)
P.8: Positive (4, 9) Negative (2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 10) Both (1, 8)
P.15: 1. fascinated, True 2. stage, shock, False, 3. routine, adjusting, True 4. homesick, True
5. excitement, True
19
Summary
The stages of culture shock
● Honeymoon – positive, romantic, fascinating, exciting
● Anxiety – starts after about 3 months, differences become more apparent, frustration, anger
● Adjusting – getting used to the differences, develop routines, know what to expect
● Belonging – able to live comfortably, adapted to new way of life, loneliness and isolation has gone
Culture shock vocabulary
● homesick, frustration, isolation
● apparent, to adapt to
● sense of belonging, to be fascinated by something
Useful phrases
● It surprised me that people stay up so late.
● It made me miserable that I was so far from my family.
● It delighted me that people made me feel welcome.
First impressions
● Positive: satisfied, delighted
● Negative: annoyed, frustrated, miserable, unhappy, anxious
● Both: nervous, shocked
20
Vocabulary
culture shock to be fascinated by
belonging
anxiety
honeymoon
homesick
frustration
isolation
to adapt to
apparent
a sense of belonging
21
Notes
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