Coping with culture shock: a study of stressors, adjustments and stereotypes among chinese students at bangkok university

Pressure of study

Some interviewees try to graduate early and they felt pressure in study. They get high GPA via hard work. They would like to graduate within 3 years or 3 and half years for their bachelor. However, they are lack of experience in strategic registration in courses for early graduation. A sophomore mentioned in interview as below:


I want to graduate in 3 years; thus, I have to make a strategic plan to achieve my goal. Actually, I know there are some strategies to register and plan for courses in Bangkok University. Some senior Chinese students used to tell me some experience in course registration and courses priority in registration (Li Wu).

Regardless of strategic registration in courses, they have to work hard on study. Some of them registered 8 courses in this semester. They felt it is too heavy and busy. Also, they have to make sure they can pass those courses which they registered in; otherwise, they have to spend more time to register and study the course again if they fail in courses.

However, it is not every respondent good in study. Some of them are poor in study. They are facing a pressure as well since their GPA is very low. They are worry about their result and they are scared to fail in any course. A sophomore stated in interview that:

My GPA is quite low. I am worry about my GPA if it is lower than Bangkok University’s lowest requirement. Until now, I have to get C at least in any course; otherwise, I will not be able to register in new semester in Bangkok University. Anyhow, I have to work hard and try to pass any course (Xiaofeng Li).

4. Adjustment

Fourth 10 interviewees are those Chinese students (in Bangkok University) who have been staying more than 30 months in Thailand. They are currently sophomore, Junior, senior and MBA students in Bangkok University. There are several stressors, coping and adjustment methods that they mentioned in interviews. A summary of interviews is presented in table 6 below.


Table 6: Intercultural communication stressors, copings, adjustments in 30 up months group