Acculturation and Social Competence of Chinese Students Studying Abroad: A Comprehensive Perspective

Abstract

The research examines the acculturation of Chinese students studying abroad from a social competence perspective. The author developed a new concept “Cross-cultural socialization panic” to better understand and analyze the socializing problems that students meet in the process of acculturation. Drawing on 6 in-depth interviews, the article examines students’ level of acculturation from three aspects: Cross-cultural living experiences, cultural richness, and academic social ability. The article finds that it is common for students to have difficulty socializing well with foreign students. What’s more, the composition of an international student’s social circle depends largely on the number of Chinese people they have access to, as Chinese people have a strong sense of cultural identity and collectivism that prevents them from interacting with the local culture. However, when Chinese students engage in academic exchanges with professors, the more successful ones are generally purposeful and methodical. Theoretically, the article further discusses the application of this finding both theoretically and practically. This research can lead to a deeper exploration of both acculturation and social competence, as well as guidance for acculturation education in schools and students themselves.