Understanding how you are feeling...
These links are here so that you can understand what you might be feeling. When people move to a new place it is common for them to experience culture shock, homesickness and adjustment. It helps to know what these feelings are, and what you can do to feel better. Remember, you are not alone when you feel like this - this has been created as a place for you to meet other people who are feeling many of the same things, and so that you can help each other.
Culture Shock
Culture shock is a term used to explain how many people feel when they move to a new country or a new city. People may experience anxiety, frustration, and fear as they try to understand their new environment and those around them. Please look through these links:
Culture Shock Defined:
http://www.johnsesl.com/templates/reading/cultureshock/
Culture Shock: “What it is and how to cope with it…”
http://www.destineducation.ca/intstdnt/annex-e4_e.htm
Common Stages of Adapting to Culture Shock
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/after-life-shock.asp
Culture Shock Quiz
http://www.johnsesl.com/Projects/CultureShockQuiz.shtml
CBC Documentary – Culture Shock for Japanese Students in Vancouver's Little Tokyo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRlZERL3uHs
Stages of Culture Shock
http://www.everythingesl.net/inservices/cultureshock.php
Share Your Experiences with Culture Shock
http://www.expatexchange.com/rspnet.cfm?networkID=28&rid=95
Student Blog About Culture Shock
http://www.spicyspirit.com/blog/?p=58
Student Handbook on Culture Shock
http://www.studentsabroad.com/cultureshock.html
Homesickness
Homesickness is a term used to describe the feeling that people have when they are far away from familiar family, friends, culture and environments. This is a very common response to this separation, and understanding what it is will help you to deal with it better. Again, take the opportunity to talk to others about how you are feeling, or just read what they have to say about their feelings in the following links:
Homesickness Forum on Dave’s ESL Café
http://forums.eslcafe.com/student/viewtopic.php?t=1736
ESL Podcast on Homesickness
http://www.podcastdirectory.com/podshows/996033
‘I am Homesick' Support Group
http://www.experienceproject.com/groups/Am-Homesick/2268
Adjustment - Newcomers to Canada
If you are a newcomer dealing with homesickness and culture shock, you might find the following resources helpful:
Alone in Canada: 21 Ways To Make it Better. A Self-Help Guide for Single Newcomers
http://www.settlement.org/downloads/Alone_In_Canada.pdf
Newcomer MagazineCanadian Newcomer Magazine is a free magazine written in English, but the vocabulary and grammar are kept as plain and simple as possible - complex ideas written in entry level English. Subjects covered include employment, housing, Canadian lifestyles, health, finances, ethnic media and education. The publication is being used as a teaching tool at many schools throughout the Greater Toronto Area.
http://www.cnmag.ca/
A Quiz Which Helps Determine How Well You Know Canadian Culture
http://www.cnmag.ca/issue-21/61-issue-21/489-how-canadian-are-you
Alone in Canada - Living in a New Culture
http://www.camh.net/About_Addiction_Mental_Health/Mental_Health_Information/Alone_in_Canada/new_culture_aic.html
Couchsurfing – Meet People Where You Are To Gain New Perspectives – Over Coffee, a Walk or a Short-term Stay!
www.couchsurfing.org
Hospitality Club – Do you Love Meeting People From Other Cultures? Do You Love Traveling? http://www.hospitalityclub.org/
Culture Shock
Culture shock is a term used to explain how many people feel when they move to a new country or a new city. People may experience anxiety, frustration, and fear as they try to understand their new environment and those around them. Please look through these links:
Culture Shock Defined:
http://www.johnsesl.com/templates/reading/cultureshock/
Culture Shock: “What it is and how to cope with it…”
http://www.destineducation.ca/intstdnt/annex-e4_e.htm
Common Stages of Adapting to Culture Shock
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/after-life-shock.asp
Culture Shock Quiz
http://www.johnsesl.com/Projects/CultureShockQuiz.shtml
CBC Documentary – Culture Shock for Japanese Students in Vancouver's Little Tokyo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRlZERL3uHs
Stages of Culture Shock
http://www.everythingesl.net/inservices/cultureshock.php
Share Your Experiences with Culture Shock
http://www.expatexchange.com/rspnet.cfm?networkID=28&rid=95
Student Blog About Culture Shock
http://www.spicyspirit.com/blog/?p=58
Student Handbook on Culture Shock
http://www.studentsabroad.com/cultureshock.html
Homesickness
Homesickness is a term used to describe the feeling that people have when they are far away from familiar family, friends, culture and environments. This is a very common response to this separation, and understanding what it is will help you to deal with it better. Again, take the opportunity to talk to others about how you are feeling, or just read what they have to say about their feelings in the following links:
Homesickness Forum on Dave’s ESL Café
http://forums.eslcafe.com/student/viewtopic.php?t=1736
ESL Podcast on Homesickness
http://www.podcastdirectory.com/podshows/996033
‘I am Homesick' Support Group
http://www.experienceproject.com/groups/Am-Homesick/2268
Adjustment - Newcomers to Canada
If you are a newcomer dealing with homesickness and culture shock, you might find the following resources helpful:
Alone in Canada: 21 Ways To Make it Better. A Self-Help Guide for Single Newcomers
http://www.settlement.org/downloads/Alone_In_Canada.pdf
Newcomer MagazineCanadian Newcomer Magazine is a free magazine written in English, but the vocabulary and grammar are kept as plain and simple as possible - complex ideas written in entry level English. Subjects covered include employment, housing, Canadian lifestyles, health, finances, ethnic media and education. The publication is being used as a teaching tool at many schools throughout the Greater Toronto Area.
http://www.cnmag.ca/
A Quiz Which Helps Determine How Well You Know Canadian Culture
http://www.cnmag.ca/issue-21/61-issue-21/489-how-canadian-are-you
Alone in Canada - Living in a New Culture
http://www.camh.net/About_Addiction_Mental_Health/Mental_Health_Information/Alone_in_Canada/new_culture_aic.html
Couchsurfing – Meet People Where You Are To Gain New Perspectives – Over Coffee, a Walk or a Short-term Stay!
www.couchsurfing.org
Hospitality Club – Do you Love Meeting People From Other Cultures? Do You Love Traveling? http://www.hospitalityclub.org/
