Vocabulary Related to Culture Shock

Hello English learners! Welcome to a new lesson: Vocabulary Related to Culture Shock.

Whether you’re preparing to travel, study abroad, or simply want to understand how people adapt to new environments, this lesson is for you. Today, we’ll explore useful words, phrases, and expressions that describe what it’s like to live in a new culture. You’ll learn vocabulary to talk about feelings like homesickness, challenges such as miscommunication, and positive qualities like being open-minded and curious. We’ll also look at common collocations, idioms, and phrasal verbs that will help you speak more naturally about culture shock and cultural adaptation. By the end of this lesson, you’ll be able to describe your own experiences — or imagine what others might go through — when stepping into a new world. Let’s get started!

Essential Vocabulary Related to Culture Shock

Vocabulary word/phrase	Meaning	Example sentence
Culture shock	the feeling of confusion or anxiety when encountering a different culture	When she moved to Japan from the UK, the unfamiliar customs and language caused intense culture shock. Many students experience culture shock during the first few weeks of studying abroad.
Custom / Tradition	established practices or social habits of a group	It’s a custom in many Asian cultures to remove your shoes before entering someone’s home. The village still celebrates the ancient tradition of lighting bonfires on Midsummer’s Eve.
Norms	unwritten social rules or standards	In some countries, making direct eye contact is considered rude, which goes against Western norms. Social norms around greetings can vary widely between cultures.
Adaptation / Adjustment	the process of becoming comfortable in a new situation	His adaptation to life in Canada was smooth, thanks to his previous travel experience. Moving to a big city required a major adjustment, especially in terms of lifestyle and pace.
Homesickness	sadness caused by being away from home	She felt a wave of homesickness every time she saw photos of her family back in Scotland. Homesickness is common, but it usually fades as people settle into their new surroundings.
Open-minded / Tolerant / Curious	qualities helpful for adapting to new cultures	Being open-minded helped him embrace unfamiliar customs without judgment. A tolerant attitude is essential when working with colleagues from different cultural backgrounds. Her curious nature led her to ask respectful questions and learn about local traditions.
Misunderstanding / Miscommunication	common issues during culture shock	A simple misunderstanding about a hand gesture caused unnecessary tension during the meeting. Miscommunication between the host family and the student often stemmed from language barriers.
Diversity	the presence of many different cultures or ideas	London is known for its diversity, where people from all over the world live and work together. The diversity of opinions in the classroom made discussions lively and insightful.
Reverse culture shock	feeling disoriented when returning home after time abroad	After a year in India, he experienced reverse culture shock upon returning to the UK, where everything suddenly felt unfamiliar. Many travellers are surprised by the intensity of reverse culture shock when they go home.

Vocabulary Related to Culture Shock

Common Collocations Related to Culture Shock

Collocation	Meaning	Example sentence
Experience culture shock	to feel confused, anxious, or overwhelmed when exposed to a different culture.	Many exchange students experience culture shock during their first weeks abroad, especially due to language and food differences.
Go through an adjustment period	to spend time adapting to a new environment or situation.	After moving to a new country, it’s normal to go through an adjustment period before you feel truly settled.
Feel out of place	to feel uncomfortable or like you don’t belong in a certain environment.	At first, she felt out of place at school because everyone spoke a different dialect.
Overcome culture shock	to gradually become comfortable in a new culture after initial difficulties.	He overcame culture shock by making local friends and learning about traditional customs.
Be open to new experiences	to be willing to try unfamiliar things or learn about other ways of life.	Travelling becomes much easier if you are open to new experiences and don’t expect everything to be like home.
Face cultural differences	to encounter and deal with ways of life or beliefs that are different from one’s own.	While working abroad, she had to face cultural differences in communication styles and workplace behaviour.
Respect local customs	to behave in a way that shows understanding and consideration for the traditions of a place.	Tourists are expected to respect local customs, such as dress codes when visiting temples.
Suffer from homesickness	to feel sad or lonely because one is away from home and loved ones.	He suffered from homesickness for the first few months until his parents came to visit.
Embrace diversity	to accept and celebrate the existence of different cultures, ideas, or people.	A global mindset encourages people to embrace diversity and see it as a strength rather than a challenge.
Deal with unfamiliar situations	to manage or cope with circumstances that are new or unexpected.	Studying abroad teaches you how to deal with unfamiliar situations, from using public transport to navigating social etiquette.

Vocabulary Related to Culture Shock

Useful Idioms Related to Culture Shock

Idiom	Meaning	Example sentence
Feel like a fish out of water	feel uncomfortable or out of place	When I moved to Japan, I felt like a fish out of water at first.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do	adapt to the customs of the place you’re in	It’s polite to bow here – when in Rome, do as the Romans do.
Stick out like a sore thumb	be very noticeable (in a negative or awkward way)	Wearing sandals to a formal dinner made me stick out like a sore thumb.
Get the hang of (something)	learn how to do or understand something	It took a while, but I eventually got the hang of using chopsticks.

Vocabulary Related to Culture Shock

Phrasal Verbs Related to Culture Shock

Phrasal verb	Meaning	Example sentence
Settle in	become comfortable in a new place	It took me a month to settle in after moving.
Fit in	be accepted by others in a group or society	I found it hard to fit in at first.
Open up (to someone)	start to talk more honestly or emotionally	She finally opened up about her experience abroad.
Deal with	manage or handle a situation	I didn’t know how to deal with the language barrier.
Get by	manage with what you have, especially language or money	I got by with basic Spanish.

Vocabulary Related to Culture Shock

Useful phrases for discussion about culture shock

“At first, I found it quite difficult to adjust to…”

“One major difference I noticed was…”

“I wasn’t used to… but eventually I adapted.”

“There were moments when I felt completely lost/confused.”

“It helped to keep an open mind and stay curious.”

“The locals were very welcoming, which made a big difference.”

Vocabulary Related to Culture Shock

Exercise

Reading Text: Living Between Two Worlds

When Anna moved from Italy to South Korea for a year-long exchange program, she thought she was ready. She had studied the language, watched Korean dramas, and even learned how to use chopsticks. But nothing could fully prepare her for the real experience.

Initially, Anna experienced severe culture shock. She felt like a fish out of water – everything was different, from the food and language to the social norms. People didn’t engage in much small talk, and she wasn’t accustomed to taking off her shoes before entering someone’s home. She constantly worried about doing the wrong thing or offending someone by accident.

She also struggled to fit in at school. Her classmates were polite but distant at first, and the fast pace of the Korean lessons made it difficult for her to keep up. At times, she felt homesick, missing her family, pasta, and the sound of Italian in the streets.

However, Anna didn’t give up. She opened up to her host family about how she was feeling, and they were supportive. Her host mother helped her get the hang of Korean table manners, and her classmates slowly warmed up to her. She joined a dance club, which helped her settle in and make friends.

By the end of the year, Anna had not only overcome her culture shock but had also learned to appreciate the beauty of living between two cultures. “It wasn’t always easy,” she said, “but I’m glad I didn’t just survive it – I grew from it.”

Vocabulary Related to Culture Shock

Comprehension Questions:

Why did Anna think she was prepared before moving to Korea?
What were some of the things that shocked her when she arrived?
How did she feel at school at first?
What helped Anna adjust to her new life?
What did Anna learn by the end of her exchange program?

Now that you’ve explored essential vocabulary, collocations, idioms, and phrasal verbs related to culture shock, you should feel more confident talking about the challenges and rewards of adapting to life in a different culture. From recognising what it means to feel out of place to learning how to embrace diversity, you’ve gained the language needed to express complex emotions and situations. Remember, whether you’re preparing for life abroad or just learning about other cultures, being open to new experiences and respecting local customs can make a big difference. Keep practising, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to share your own stories about living between two worlds!

Vocabulary related to culture shock

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2 Comments

example2411 · 19 Jun 2025 at 6:50 am

Thank you so much. I would be really happy if you could develop Storytelling and narrative skills also.

Regards

My Lingua Academy · 19 Jun 2025 at 6:59 am

Thank you so much for your lovely comment! I’m really glad you enjoyed the post. I truly appreciate your suggestion—developing storytelling and narrative skills is a fantastic idea, and I’ll definitely work on creating content around that. Stay tuned, and thanks again for your support!