How to cope with linguistic and cultural barriers?

International students bring with them a variety of experiences and skills that can be much different from the country they move to for study and work. This can lead to a lot of confusion and challenges. To alleviate these challenges, it is essential that we identify the problems associated with linguistic and cultural barriers, investigate causes of the existing barriers, and find solutions to cope with those linguistic and cultural barriers.

When I graduated in India in 2014, I remember how excited I was when my parents decided to send me to study in another country.

I had a very different kind of campus life in India compared to what I found in the US and Canada. In India, the dorms were primarily meant to accommodate only female students. We had set hours to remain in and outside the campus premises because many parents felt that their daughters needed supervision on campus at all times. Therefore, I felt a great sense of freedom when I moved to the dorms in North America.

Based on my personal experiences here are a few insights for adapting to your new life in Canada.

Problem: Language & culture differences

Many new students who speak a different language in their home country struggle when trying to communicate with their peers and instructors in English. The issues may arise due to limited vocabulary, context, and miscommunication of thoughts or ideas.

Culture plays a huge role in determining the way we view ourselves and our environment. We have preconceived notions or perceptions about different cultures which can lead to misunderstanding and overgeneralizing different aspects of other cultures, such as food, clothing, beliefs, and many others.

Solution: Familiarize yourself with the culture of the host country

You can become familiar with the country and culture you’re moving to by being well-informed of the popular culture through music, films, TV shows, and sports.

It is a good thing to be aware of the cultural differences between your home country and the country you are moving to. You must remember that personality overrides culture. (Don’t assume that all people from a particular culture may act, think, and believe the same.)

Every culture has some expectations that are ingrained in the community through following certain customs and traditions. Some cultures are high-context (indirect) and others are low-context cultures (direct). Canada has a low context culture, meaning that there is little room for misinterpretation. Most conversations are straightforward, and thoughts are more linear in spoken and written communication. Communicators often verbalize background knowledge and more preference is given to unambiguous and specific communication. (This requires you to be clear in your thoughts and choice of words when you are communicating with your peers or instructors in Canada.)

Talk to peers or mental health experts

Let’s say despite all your efforts, you still feel overwhelmed with the vast cultural differences you experience in your new country. The greater the difference in cultures, the harder it can be to adapt to your new environment. There is no harm in communicating your feelings or thoughts with your peers or even your instructor. This may allow you to find people who might have had similar experiences and help you come up with solutions to cope with the cultural differences.

If you’re facing mental health problems as a result of these challenges, there are services offered by Mohawk College that can help you to get in touch with a mental health professional.

You can also take part in the Learning Support Centre’s Conversation Club or the Language and Cultural Centre’s Coffee Club to meet and learn from other students.

For more resources and supports at Mohawk, please visit International Events & Student Leadership