SOME REFLECTIONS ON CULTURAL ADAPTATION OF TURKISH ERASMUS STUDENTS OF ELT DEPARTMENT

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the experience of Turkish ELT students of Erasmus programme with specific reference to how they manage to adapt to a new culture. Data were collected by Socio-cultural Adaptation Scale, reports of former Erasmus students, and interviews. Consistent with the “culture shock” literature, findings reveal that students experienced problems at affective, behavioural, and cognitive levels and that they developed various strategies to handle these problems. In addition to such inhibiting factors of the adaptation to the new culture as language or communication competence, amount and quality of contact with host nationals, and cultural distance, most students reported on bias towards the home country as the greatest obstacle to the adaptation process.

Keywords

• Cultural adaptation; Erasmus programme; student mobility; ELT student-teachers

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