The Acculturative Experience of French Students in a Southwestern University Apartment Complex in the United States

Abstract

This article is an ethnographic study that explores the lives of eight French students in a Southwestern university apartment complex in the United States. The researcher employs narrative methodology to understand their acculturative experiences in American higher education. Thematic analysis of in-depth, conversational interview data is used. Emergent themes from these narrative interviews are also found in regard to the participants’ acculturative experiences of studying in a foreign country. Those themes are discussed in the order of the participants’ experience: (1) the theme of culture shock, (2) the theme of acculturative stress, (3) the theme of linguistic limitations, and (4) the theme of culture adjustment. As they experience the American lifestyle both in and outside the classroom setting, it was found that, overall, those French participants report difficulties in crossing linguistic and cultural boundaries while studying in an American university.

Keywords:

• Acculturation
• culture shock
• French
• international students
• language
• United States
• universities