Re-entry: The Rebound Experience Program presented by Dr. Dennis White When viewed on line, the underlined hyperlinks will open documents on Re-entry: The Rebound Experience Program presented by Dr. Dennis White When viewed on line, the underlined hyperlinks will open documents on

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How Exchange Students Change

In the early 1980s, The AFS Exchange Program attempted to analyze exactly what changes, if any, students experienced as a result of a year-long exchange. The results were published in an article entitled, International Exchange Programs - Are the Educational Benefits Real?, by Bettina Hansel and Neal Grove. Some of the results are summarized here. The original article is posted at click on International Student Exchange Programs.doc click on International Student Exchange Programs.doc International Student Exchange Programs.docInternational Student Exchange Programs.doc

An American Field Service Study ► All students applying to AFS exchanges were given a self-rating survey. (Pre-test) ► Those who did not go abroad (for a variety of reasons) became the control group. ► Those who went on one year exchanges were the experimental group. ► Both groups were re-measured on the same traits four months after the year-long exchange.

AFS Study Personal Growth From an International Homestay Awareness & Appreciation of Host Culture and Country Exchange Student points Control Group points

Personal Growth From an International Homestay Foreign Language Appreciation and Ability Exchange Student points Control Group points

Personal Growth From an International Homestay Understanding Other Cultures Exchange Student points Exchange Student points Control Group points Control Group points

Personal Growth From an International Homestay International Awareness Exchange Student points Exchange Student points Control Group points Control Group points

Changes Beyond International Issues

Personal Growth From an International Homestay Adaptability Exchange Student points Exchange Student points Control Group points Control Group points

Personal Growth From an International Homestay Short-Term Summer exchange students showed more adaptability than year-long students. Short-Term Summer exchange students showed more adaptability than year-long students. Perhaps this is an example of the Short- term students being in a “honeymoon” phase. The initial “high” doesn’t always wear off in a month. Real adaptability may be harder than we think. Perhaps this is an example of the Short- term students being in a “honeymoon” phase. The initial “high” doesn’t always wear off in a month. Real adaptability may be harder than we think.

Personal Growth From an International Homestay Awareness of Opportunity Exchange Student points Exchange Student points Control Group points Control Group points

Personal Growth From an International Homestay Critical Thinking Exchange Student points Exchange Student points Control Group points Control Group points

Personal Growth From an International Homestay Non-Materialism Exchange Student points Exchange Student points Control Group points Control Group points

Personal Growth From an International Homestay Independence and Responsibility for Self Exchange Student points Exchange Student points Control Group points Control Group points

Personal Growth From an International Homestay Awareness & Appreciation of Home Country and Culture Exchange Student points Exchange Student points Control Group points Control Group points

Culture An integrated system of learned behavior patterns that are characteristic of any given society. It refers to the total way of life, including how people think, feel and behave.

Culture Shock The profound sense of disorientation and discomfort that comes with extended travel or living in a foreign culture markedly different from one’s own. The profound sense of disorientation and discomfort that comes with extended travel or living in a foreign culture markedly different from one’s own.

And you thought they wouldn’t like Americans. Why their faces just lit up when I told them we were Virginians!

Can you pick out the American Exchange Student?

Ethnocentrism: Ethnocentrism: The universal tendency for any culture to see its own values and practices as natural and correct.

Ethnocentrism: All cultures are ethnocentric - and must be to impart their values to their members.

Ethnorelativism: Ethnorelativism: The acquired ability to see many values and behaviors as cultural rather than universal.

Ethnorelativism: Ethnorelativism: This approach attempts to understand values and behaviors from the point of view of that culture, rather than as right or wrong.

Stages of Culture Shock: ► Initial enthusiasm and euphoria ► Irritability and negativism ► Gradual adjustment and adaptation ► Integration and bi-culturalism

Culture Shock Cycle Pre-Departure Months Normal Level of Feelings Return …... Rotary Youth Exchange Adapted from a model by Robert Kohls

Developing Intercultural Sensitivity The Experience of Difference Denial Defense Minimization Ethnocentric Stages Ethnorelative Stages Acceptance Adaptation Integration Acceptance Adaptation Integration Model developed by Dr. Milton Bennett, Portland State University

Denial Defense Minimization Ethnocentric Stages

Denial Denying the existence of differences or even the existence of other cultures or practices.

Defensiveness Recognizing a cultural practice as different by labeling it wrong or inferior. Or, by labeling one’s own practice superior.

Minimization Recognizing differences, but labeling them relatively superficial, implying that, deep down, we are all the same. (Usually that they are just like us - never that we are just like them)

Ethnorelative Stages Acceptance Adaptation Integration

Acceptance Accepting that another cultural practice is valid (for that culture) whether one agrees with it, or is skilled at practicing it.

Adaptation Developing skill at a different cultural practice in order to function effectively in that culture.

Integration Developing the skill and ability to change cultural practices and points of view, as the situation calls for it. Sometimes being so adaptable as to not be able to identify strongly with any one culture.

Developing Intercultural Sensitivity The Experience of Difference Denial Defense Minimization Ethnocentric Stages Ethnorelative Stages Acceptance Adaptation Integration Acceptance Adaptation Integration

Therefore, culture shock is not a one-time phenomenon. Rather, it is a repetitive process of increasingly subtle immersion into a culture. It often involves taking two steps forward and one step back.

Developing Intercultural Sensitivity Denial Defense Minimization Ethnocentric Stages Ethnorelative Stages Acceptance Adaptation Integration Acceptance Adaptation Integration The Experience of Difference

Developing Intercultural Sensitivity Denial Defense Minimization Ethnocentric Stages Ethnorelative Stages Acceptance Adaptation Integration Acceptance Adaptation Integration Successive cycles of awareness The Experience of Difference

Being an exchange student is hard. If it was easy, everybody would be doing it. Being an exchange student is hard. If it was easy, everybody would be doing it.

1. Unconscious Incompetence. 2. Conscious Incompetence. 3. Conscious Competence. 4. Unconscious Competence.

Normal Distribution of Any Cultural Trait Frequency Amount of Trait Example: Individualism vs. Group Orientation Example: Individualism vs. Group Orientation A typical student

Comparing Two Cultures ( on any given trait) In this example, there is some overlap, but the two cultures are mostly different

Comparing Two Cultures Pre-Exchange

After Adaptation

Culture Shock

Returning To Home Culture

Reverse Culture Shock

Reverse Culture Shock (Re-entry Shock) The often unexpected and difficult period of disorientation and readjustment experienced after returning to one’s own culture after an extended period of living abroad. The often unexpected and difficult period of disorientation and readjustment experienced after returning to one’s own culture after an extended period of living abroad.

Most people anticipate some degree of culture shock. Very few people believe they will experience reverse culture shock.

The Stages of Reverse Culture Shock are almost the same as those of Culture Shock ► Initial Euphoria (may be very brief or not happen at all) ► Irritability and Negativism ( may be very lengthy) ► Gradual Adaptation ► True Bi-Culturalism

Culture Shock and Reverse Culture Shock are not just unpleasant side effects of international living. They are the necessary ingredients that bring about quality exchanges. They are the necessary ingredients that bring about quality exchanges.

We can prepare for re-entry by: ► Anticipating CS and RCS. ► “Normalizing” these phenomena. ► Remembering that “compost happens”. ► Discouraging the phrase “The best year of my life”. And instead considering that:

For many exchange students the year abroad is: ► The most exciting year of their lives. ► The most challenging year of their lives. ► The most growth-producing year of their lives. ► The most broadening year of their lives. ► The most memorable year of their lives.

How I Have Changed? (may be found at ww.yeoresources.org) An exercise using 44 statements that have often been identified by exchange students as significant changes from the experience. An exercise using 44 statements that have often been identified by exchange students as significant changes from the experience.

How I Have Changed One student’s response My youth exchange year was one of incredible change and growth for me. In addition to see so much of the rest of the world, and making such wonderful friends, I changed in ways I never knew were possible. My youth exchange year was one of incredible change and growth for me. In addition to see so much of the rest of the world, and making such wonderful friends, I changed in ways I never knew were possible.

How I Have Changed One student’s response I am more confident and positive when meeting new people. I have a greater ability to empathize with others and to put myself in their place when making judgments. I have greater willingness to take on new roles and tasks. I am more confident and positive when meeting new people. I have a greater ability to empathize with others and to put myself in their place when making judgments. I have greater willingness to take on new roles and tasks.

How I Have Changed One student’s response One student’s response I have more ability to see myself objectively, in a more realistic context. I understand more fully my own strengths and weaknesses. I am more tolerant of ambiguous situations and more open to differing interpretations of them. I feel greater respect and appreciation for my family. I have more ability to see myself objectively, in a more realistic context. I understand more fully my own strengths and weaknesses. I am more tolerant of ambiguous situations and more open to differing interpretations of them. I feel greater respect and appreciation for my family.

How I Have Changed One student’s response One student’s response And most of all, I feel more surely that common bonds unite all human beings. Thank you, Rotary for the best year of my life. And most of all, I feel more surely that common bonds unite all human beings. Thank you, Rotary for the best year of my life.

Related Articles on yeoresources.org: ► Rebound Training.doc ► Rebound Training.doc Rebound Training.doc Rebound Training.doc ► Rebound Debriefings.doc ► Rebound Debriefings.doc Rebound Debriefings.doc Rebound Debriefings.doc ► How Have I Changed.doc How Have I Changed.doc How Have I Changed.doc ► So You Think You're Home Now.doc So You Think You're Home Now.doc So You Think You're Home Now.doc ► So You Think They're Home.doc ► So You Think They're Home.doc So You Think They're Home.doc So You Think They're Home.doc

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