Studying Abroad and Culture Shock

B1 video lesson on international students, homesickness, support and adjusting to a new culture.

Lesson Overview

Students watch a video about international students and culture shock. The lesson practises B1 language for studying abroad, homesickness, daily life, food, support, confidence and adapting to a new culture.

Before you watch

Would you like to study abroad? Why or why not?
What would you miss most from home?
What problems can international students have?

Studying Abroad

Open video on YouTube

Prep

Drag the correct ending into each gap.

1. If you do an exchange,...

2. If something is daunting,...

3. If you feel homesick,...

4. If you feel overwhelmed,...

5. If you adjust to a new culture,...

6. If you bond with people,...

Mixed answer options

you miss your home, family or friends.you become closer to them.you study in another country for a period of time.you feel there is too much to manage.you become more comfortable in a new place.it feels difficult or a little scary.

Watch the Video

Watch the full video once from beginning to end. Focus on how students feel when they arrive, what problems they face, and how they start to feel at home.

Focus: exchange, culture shock, homesickness, food, transport, flatmates, welfare advisors, societies, confidence and making friends.

Full video: Watch the complete video on YouTube.
Open full video

Comprehension

Click each question to reveal the answer. Each question is synced to the video time.

0:12Where did the students come from or study?
They came from places such as New York, Bulgaria, Hong Kong, Australia and Nigeria, and studied in the UK or the USA.

0:29How did some students feel when they first arrived?
They felt excited by the architecture, culture and people.

0:54What happened after some time abroad?
The experience became more daunting and some students started to miss home.

1:10What feelings did some students describe?
They felt homesick, sad and wanted to go back home.

1:24What problem do the students name?
They name culture shock.

1:34What language problem is mentioned?
Some students found local phrases difficult to understand.

2:16What food problem do students describe?
They missed food from home, especially their family’s cooking.

2:41What helped one student feel better?
Speaking to welfare advisors helped, and they suggested making the room feel more homely.

2:54What activities helped students adjust?
Joining societies, talking to people, going out and making friends helped them adjust.

3:29How do students describe the experience in the end?
They say it was a very good decision and it transformed their life.

Vocabulary from the Video

At first, studying abroad was really .

Later, it became more .

Some students felt and sad.

Culture shock can make students feel .

One student started to bond with her .

Joining societies helped students become more .

Mixed options

homesickconfidentexcitingflatmatesdauntingoverwhelmed

Vocabulary Review

Word / phrase	Meaning	Example
exchange	a period of study in another country	She did an exchange in the UK.
architecture	the style and design of buildings	He was excited to see the architecture.
daunting	difficult or a little scary	Studying abroad can feel daunting.
homesick	sad because you miss home	She felt homesick at first.
culture shock	confusion or stress in a new culture	Many students experience culture shock.
phrase	a group of words with a meaning	Local phrases were difficult to understand.
overwhelmed	feeling that something is too much	He felt overwhelmed by everything.
surroundings	the places and things around you	The new surroundings were confusing.
get around	travel or move from place to place	It was hard to get around at first.
crave	really want something	She craved food from home.
flatmate	a person who lives in the same flat	She bonded with her flatmates.
welfare advisor	a person who helps students with problems	The welfare advisor reassured her.
homely	comfortable like home	She decorated her room to make it homely.
society	a university club or group	He joined badminton societies.
adjust	become comfortable in a new situation	She adjusted to the new culture.

Collocations
feel
experience culture
miss your family’s
make new
join a university
adjust to a new
Mixed options
societyshockculturehomesickfriendscooking

Phrasal Verb Questions
How can students get a new city?
What food from home do students often miss ?
How can students settle at university?
Who can students talk when they feel overwhelmed?
What activities help students open and make friends?
Mixed options
toaroundupinthe most

Speaking extension: Answer the five phrasal verb questions with a partner. Then give three tips for a new international student.

B1 Grammar: Used to / Started to / Managed to

Use these forms to talk about habits, changes and success after difficulty.

Form	Use	Example
used to + verb	past habits	I used to see my family every day.
started to + verb	a change begins	I started to feel more confident.
managed to + verb	succeeded after difficulty	I managed to adjust to the new culture.

Grammar Exercise 1: Complete the sentences
I watch English movies at home.
I miss my family.
I adjust to the weather and food.
I talk to people more.
I see my friends all the time.
Mixed options
started toused tomanaged toused tostarted to

Grammar Exercise 2: Error Correction
Click each sentence to reveal the correction.
I used to watching English movies.
I used to watch English movies.
I started feel homesick.
I started to feel homesick.
I managed adjust to the new culture.
I managed to adjust to the new culture.
I used to saw my family every day.
I used to see my family every day.

Grammar Exercise 3: Sentence Transformations
Use “used to”.
I saw my family every day in the past.
Use “started to”.
I became more confident.
Use “managed to”.
I adjusted to the new culture.

Discussion

What is the most exciting part of studying abroad?
What is the most difficult part?
Why do students feel homesick?
What can students do when they feel overwhelmed?
How can joining a society help international students?
What food would you miss from home?
Would studying abroad change your life? Why?

Useful Language

Sharing feelings	Giving advice	Talking about change
I would feel... I might miss...	You should... It helps to...	After a while,... I started to...

Role Play: Helping an International Student

Situation: A new international student feels homesick and overwhelmed. Another student gives advice.

Student A: New Student

Explain your problems: you miss home, you do not understand local phrases, transport is confusing and you feel lonely.

Student B: Student Mentor

Give practical advice: speak to welfare advisors, decorate your room, join societies, cook with flatmates and talk to people.

Challenge

Use at least five phrases from the lesson: homesick, overwhelmed, get around, flatmates, welfare advisor, society, adjust.

New student language	Mentor language
I feel... I miss... I don’t know how to...	You should... It might help to... After a while, you will...