Japanese Students' Experience of Adaptation and Acculturation of the United Kingdom

Abstract

Many Japanese students come to the U.K. to study. In general, they come with the aims of studying and changing their lives and themselves in another culture. Due to the vast differences between Japanese and British cultures, many of them have difficulties in adapting to British society. Quite simply, Japan is largely unicultural and Japanese people are not used to other cultures. This chapter presents some culturally specific factors that would affect students' adaptation based on completed research. It focuses on four main points involved in clinical work: the language barrier, differences in communication style and educational system, the individual's motivation and pressure, and the effects of students' insecure status in the host country. Each point is illustrated with examples.