Chinese Students in the U.S

Many Chinese Students, studying in the U.S experience difficulties caused by Language and Cultural barriers, academic pressures, inherent social inhibitions and culture shock. Without help or intervention, this can lead to, academic under-performance, Self-doubt, Depression, General dissatisfaction, and Withdrawal.
This is where JPathways comes in, providing fun, interactive, on-line training and course work to help Chinese students integrate into their new environment. Preparing them to cope, understand, appreciate and thrive in the US.
So what do we actually do?
The first phase of the course, we will get familiar with basic ideas around culture.
Chinese students will explore the various cultures they come from, and that are a part of their lives. Their Chinese culture is a big influence, but their town as well as their specific family, hobbies and personal belief system also contribute to the wide picture of any individual’s culture.
In this part, we will understand basic terminology to begin to understand the complexity of culture. We will dive into Hofstede’s most known and used, 6 dimensions of national culture, where we will investigate Chinese Vs. U.S culture in terms of Power, and Power Distance, Individualism vs. Collectivism, Masculinity vs. Femininity, How much a culture tries to Avoid Uncertainty, Long term vs. Short Term Orientation, and Indulgence vs. Restraint.
On the second phase, after being more comfortable in starting to wear the cultural glasses, we will start to investigate about the culture that we are now living in, the American Culture, with some specific characteristics for our specific region/state/city/campus etc.. What is similar? What is different?
We will look deeper into clothes accessories and fashion, music, TV shows, movies, sports, food- at home and in restaurants, small-talk, driving, writing a text or an email, and many more day-to-day topics.
On the third phase of the course, we will go out of our comfort zone and start to create relationships with our American peers. This will be done at first by going out and interviewing in small groups your American colleagues, at first about the basic things that we have covered, and as we progress, to more and more meaningful topics and assignments.
MATERIALS
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A computer with a camera and access to the internet
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Wi-Fi
All other material will be provided to you.
The course's cultural trainer will be available for any question or consultation on separate dedicated office hours.