University of Applied Sciences, Fulda

University of Applied Sciences, Fulda
Educational Culture Shock: A Case Study of International Students in an MA Programm in Germany
By Nasima Yamchi


Thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Masters of Arts in ‘Intercultural Communication and European Studies’ in the University of Applied Sciences in Fulda, Germany
April 2002
Fulda, Germany


University of Applied Sciences, Fulda


April, 2002


We hereby recommend this thesis by Nasima Yamchi, entitled: ‘Educational Cutlure Shock: A Case Study of International Students in an MA Programm in Germany
Committee on Final Examination:
…………………………………..Dr. Helga Kotthoff
…………………………………..Professor Dr. Werner Nothdurft
………………………………….Dr. Helen Spencer- Oatey (Second Reader)

Table of Contents

Abstract 5
Acknowledgement 6
Chapter 1 7
Introduction 7
Internationalisation in Europe 8
Internationalisation Process in Germany 10
The Effects of Internationalisation of Education 11
Chapter 2 14
Review of the Related Literature 14
Part One: Definitions of Culture 15
Role of Culture in Determining Individual’s Membership in a Community 17
Culture Shock and Its Process 21
The First Model 24
Hofstede’s Model of Culture Shock 25
Part Two: Qualitative Approach 28
Some Theoretical Orientations in Qualitative Approach 30
Phenomenology 30
Symbolic Interactionism 36
Ethnography 39
Heuristic Inquiry 40
Ethnomethodology 42
Grounded Theory 43
Chapter 3 51
Methodology 51
Interview as a Method for Data Collection 52
Standardised Open-ended Interview 53
The Interview Questions 56
The First Part of the Interview 58
Question 1 58
Question 2 59
Question 4 60
Question 5 61
The Second Part of the Interview 61
Question 1 61
Question 2 62
Question 3 62
Question4 62
Question 5 63
General Information 63
The Interviewees 65
Nationality 65
Number 65
Characteristics of the Group 66
BA Degree 67
Number 67
The Procedure 67
Methods of Analysis 70
Chapter 4 77
Analysis of the Data 77
Introduction to the German Higher Education System 78
Analysis 80
Analysis of the of Questions 80
Germany 80
First Part 80
Second Part 85
Italy 88
First Part 88