Journal Entry 2

Studying at the University of Birmingham, England, I will be able to consider the following information discussing stress factors and learning styles & utilize this to prepare for the the successful possible study abroad experience. In preparation for an upcoming study abroad experience, it is recommended to thoroughly understand and be aware of what Paige (1993) considers to be the 10 most important cross-cultural stress factors of intercultural experiences. A variety of different types of stress factors are mentioned, describing the different challenges and opportunities for one to make abroad. If these stress factors are understood and considered while in different social situations, it can be beneficial to grasp these concept and learn from them to be able to make cultural adjustments. The first stress factor is Cultural Differences, this targets the amount of difference between the home cultural, and the different elements of the host culture. The greater the differences the more challenging the experience will be, a person has to evaluate the host cultures values and behaviors in different social situations. The second stress factor is Ethnocentrism, which measures the degree to which we view the host culture and how accepting the host cultural community is accepting of outsiders. This idea considers the fact of one measuring the reality of the host culture and relating it back their own, leading one to negatively evaluate the various aspects of other cultures. The third stress factor is Cultural Immersion, looking at the amount of contact one will have with the host culture persons. This factor stresses on the fact that if one were to be too immersed in another culture, the more stress may occur causing “culture fatigue”. Cultural Isolation is when a person doesn’t invest in the host culture enough, not experiencing the host culture to its entirety. Lastly, Language, is a major stress factor when traveling to another country. The language barrier in soe study abroad trips can bring about previously mentioned cultural isolation, overall making for a stressful experience. By understanding these possible cultural stress factors, a initial assessment and coping strategy can be thought of ahead of time, & allow one to strategically handle these challenges. Overall, these concepts are presented for a person to gain new intercultural skills and become more effective in the host setting. After completing the Learning Style Survey, I was able to identify different types of learning styles to my preference. Since I am considered an analytic learner, the book states that I can pull ideas apart and do well on logical analysis and contract tasks; being able to guess means and predict outcomes while noticing similarities quickly. Also suggested is that I am more particular in preference and tend to focus more on details and remember specific information about a topic well. I would agree with the results from this survey, because I consider myself a visual and hands-on learner. The characteristics mentioned in the results provided me with a good understanding of more specific information on how I use my physical senses to learn. I will use this information provided to help me completely understand and utilize my strong suits while at the University of Birmingham, England.