Culture shock

This ESL lesson focuses on culture shock and the process of adapting to new environments while helping students master the use of words expressing contrast and the grammar structures “be used to” and “get used to”. Students will learn to describe their personal experiences with cultural differences and discuss the challenges and rewards of adapting to new cultures. Other lessons you might like are “Idioms: moving abroad“, “Should you take a gap year?“, “Stereotypes“, “Digital nomads“, “Brain Drain“, and “Climate refugees“.

Speaking: The lesson begins with a few lead-in discussion questions to help students explore the concept of culture shock and reflect on their own experiences with adjusting to new cultures. This section encourages students to activate their background knowledge and prepare for the vocabulary and grammar tasks ahead.

Language focus: Words to Express Contrast and Differences
Students learn vocabulary and expressions used to highlight contrast and differences (e.g. whereas, unlike, in contrast to, while, compared to, differ from), which are key when discussing culture shock. This vocabulary helps students articulate cultural differences and enhances their ability to talk about various customs and behaviours in different countries.

Reading: Guessing Origins and Experiences of Culture Shock
Students will read about 8 individuals discussing their personal experiences with culture shock, using the words from the previous activity.  After reading, they will try to guess where each person is from and which country they are referring to in their descriptions. After that, students write their own sentences using the vocabulary learned in the previous task. They will describe cultural differences in different areas (e.g. food, punctuality, transportation). This allows them to consolidate their understanding of the expressions and apply them in their own context.

Listening: Students watch a video called “Culture shock: the 4 stages of adaptation“. First, they summarise the 4 stages. Next, they listen for specific vocabulary words related to adapting to new cultures (e.g. Experience a culture shock, Navigate social norms, Reject local traditions, Feel homesick, Acquire language skills, Make local friends, Gain a sense of belonging, Feel at home, Maintain our own native identity). After that, they complete a few sentences with their own ideas to reinforce their understanding of these key terms.

Grammar: Be Used To vs Get Used To
The lesson concludes with a grammar focus on the difference between “be used to” and “get used to.” Students will learn how to express familiarity with things they have already adapted to (be used to) versus things they are currently adapting to (get used to). Students will practice these structures through various sentence completion and discussion exercises.

Who Is This Lesson Suitable For?

• Upper-intermediate ESL learners aiming to improve their grammar and fluency in discussing cultural differences and adaptation processes.
• Students who have travelled or lived abroad and have experienced culture shock in the past or students preparing for international travel, study abroad, or relocation.
• Business English learners working in multicultural environments who need to understand cultural differences.