WHAT：
Description：
Chinese sojourners in London: Chinese individuals who reside temporarily in London, encompassing a diverse group such as business professionals, students, technical experts, diplomats, and travellers. These individuals face the challenges of adapting across cultures.
Achieve cross-culture adaption: Include two aspects (Psychological Adaptation: Rooted in emotional response, it pertains to mental well-being and life satisfaction when immersed in a new culture. If a sojourner experiences minimal negative feelings, such as depression, anxiety, or homesickness, they’re considered to have achieved psychological adaptation. Sociocultural Adaptation: This pertains to one’s ability to fit into the local social and cultural environment and to effectively interact with locals. Including knowing basic knowledge (shopping, transportation, accommodation guides, etc.), policy and regulations, security, ways to handle emergencies, language improvement, major events, social events etc.
WHY:
1. A significant Chinese population in London, particularly students.
2. Differences in lifestyle and cultural background between China and other countries. For Chinese sojourners who come to London for the first time (especially those who have never lived outside of China), they might find it challenging to adapt to life in London in a short period due to the significant differences in lifestyle and cultural background.
3.Feel lost when encounter some unexpected situations: Many Chinese people who have just come to London to study or work initially have no family and friends accompanying them. If they encounter some unexpected situations, they may feel lost and unsure about how to resolve them.
4. Information that can be found on the Internet or social media is often scattered, outdated, or contains false information.
HOW:
Intervention One:
Firstly, I got the idea that it is language the main obstruct of cross-cultural adaption from my personal experience and research. For Chinese students, even they have got the valid certification of English, like IELTS or TOELF, achieving the level of native speaking and smooth communication is still a long way for them. Therefore, I decided to start an online holiday English improving camp. I invited my friend, Lucy, who has been in UK for years as a simultaneous interpreter. She also wants to promote herself as an English teacher. Therefore, we agreed that I will advertise this activity on social media and make sure that over 30 people attend. I post the poster on social media platform and several group chat.
The information about this activity, including time, course schedule, target group and the introduction of teachers are shown in the poster.
Purpose of the activity: Help Chinese sojourners who come to London improve their English skills, understand foreign cultural habits, adapt to foreign work environments, etc.
Outcome of Intervention One
During the preparation phase, I successfully got 46 people signed up for the activity. However, when the first class started, only 12 people participate. So we only had one class for these participants.
After this, I asked some of the participants about there feelings and feedback of this activity. Most of them thought the instruction and advise given by the teacher is super effective and helpful for she has introduced several methods of language improving and instructed students to do the intensive reading step by step. However, some of them thought this progress may not be suitable for all participants with different level of English. The progress of English improvement may take a long time of period. It needs students’ active motivation and perseverance of working. Most of the progress related to the students themselves. Also, different circumstance has different solution of the improving, which lead to the non-effectiveness of this kind of lecture. Also, people who want to attend the class have different requires, vary from language improving, test skills, finding jobs abroad, etc.
Failure analyses of Intervention One
1.The objectives of the course were not clear enough.
2.Lack of motivation and constraints to make sure most people attend.
3.The effectiveness of the class is uncertain.
Feedback from Zuleika:
20-80 rules: If you invite 100 people to an activity, there will only be 20 of them show up. So it is normal that only 20% people participate. This should not be called as a failure. But it is necessary that I should get feedback from people who participate.
Revision of Intervention Two
According to the condition and feedback of the first intervention, I decided to choose an accurate topic to talk about, which should be more practical and effective in a one-time activity. Therefore, I collect the preference and opinion from the participants and other stakeholders. I did a small questionnaire and let them choose from several options.
[Questionnaire:
Choose 1-2 topic(s) do you have most interest in or feel the most urgent to solve?
A. Preparations before coming to London (items to bring, housing rental, immigration process, etc.)
B. Solutions when facing problems in London (emergency situations, disputes over interests, threats to personal safety, etc.)
C. Daily life in London (recommended restaurants, entertainment venues, shopping places, etc.)
D. Language issues (how to improve daily oral communication skills, how to practice understanding lectures, etc.)
E. Enhancing psychological cross-cultural adaptability (how to alleviate anxiety before coming to London, listening to the advice and views of sojourners who have lived here for a long time, and locals, etc.)
F. Others: __]
I got 21 stakeholders answered this question. The feedback is as the chart below.
According to this feedback and the discussion with expert, I decided to emphasize on the second and fifth topic. I also invited Lucy as the main lecture and played other 3 London local people’s video about the advice I got from them during the lecture. The lecture used both Chinese and English, which may help the new coming sojourners have a glimpse of the coming life. Also, to improve the attendance of activity, I collect some information about other topics and put the file in order. Those who have committed to participating in this event will receive the relevant materials from me. I still post this message on social media and group chat with more freshmen who are going to study in London in September.
Translation:
Essential Guide to Life in London for Freshmen
A warm welcome to all the sojourners heading to London this September! To assist in your transition, we’ve curated this invaluable lecture. We’re honoured to have Lucy as our main speaker who will delve into practical solutions for challenges you might face in London, including emergency situations, disputes over interests, and potential threats to personal safety. Moreover, we’ll be featuring videos from 3 long-term London locals, offering guidance on enhancing psychological cross-cultural adaptability and alleviating pre-arrival anxieties. The session will be conducted in both Chinese and English to ensure a seamless integration into your new life. For those who’ve confirmed their attendance, expect preparatory materials, from immigration tips to daily life recommendations, in advance.
Time: 23/8/2023 14p.m.-15p.m.
The outcomes of this event showed marked improvements compared to the initial intervention. Out of approximately 150 sojourners I approached to participate, we saw an encouraging turnout of 43 individuals. Feedback was predominantly positive, suggesting the event was both informative and beneficial. During our interactive Q&A session, participants actively sought advice on several fronts. They expressed interest in:
- Establishing meaningful connections with those sojourners who’ve been in the city longer or with the local residents to better navigate their early days.
- Gaining detailed insights on pragmatic concerns such as safety protocols, the nuances of transportation, and finding suitable accommodations.
- Grasping a better understanding of local cultural norms, etiquettes, and the subtleties of interpersonal interactions within this new environment.
Plan for other interventions
1.Guidebook for Chinese people who newly come to live in London
•Interview and conduct questionnaire from target group
•Collect guidebook content from Internet and social media
•Get feedback from target group and revise
Feedback from Zuleika:
I should do some research and analysis from the other guidebook that already exist. Do the comparison with them and make sure if it is necessary to make a new guidebook or to find out what differences should be between them.
I’ve researched some existing guidebooks about living in London, both in Chinese and English. While I did find some inaccuracies and outdated information in these guidebooks, and though I hoped to address these issues with an updatable electronic version of the guidebook, I realized that most of the answers can be easily found on local social media with a simple search. Therefore, I believe that creating a guidebook is indeed pointless and a waste of time. There might be better ways to support newcomers to London.
Plan for other interventions
2. An offline sharing and social event designed for Chinese people newly living in London
Feedback from Zuleika:
Find some people who have been in London for years and make the connection.
Revision: In-person social activity for Chinese new sojourners and experienced sojourners or local people to build up connection.
In anticipation of transitioning into university life in London, I have devised a comprehensive strategy with the objective of effectively integrating into the local social milieu:
- Initial Engagement: I intend to participate in freshman orientation events organized by the institution. The dual purpose is to grasp ice-breaking techniques and to enhance interpersonal communication skills in unfamiliar settings. Concurrently, this will serve as an avenue to connect with key stakeholders, enticing them to take part in the initiatives I spearhead.
- Thematic Alignment: The subsequent step involves identifying a central theme for the forthcoming activity. It is pivotal to strike a balance by choosing a universally appealing topic, rooted in areas of my expertise. The ultimate goal is to discern the nexus between the chosen activity and social interactions.
- Post-Event Analysis: Following the execution of the event, I plan to initiate a follow-up mechanism to garner feedback. This will be instrumental in assessing the effectiveness of the initiative, highlighting its strengths and areas of potential enhancement.
This structured approach ensures not only effective social integration but also the establishment of a sustainable foundation for future endeavors.
Plan for other interventions
3. Skill Exchange – Platform Building Intervention: I am in the process of organizing a skill exchange event, specifically targeting sojourners who have recently arrived in London. This program is designed to bridge the information and skill gaps, while simultaneously promoting social interactions.
Structure:
- Requirements & Concerns: Participants are prompted to note down their immediate needs or issues on a slip of paper. Examples could range from ‘finding appropriate accommodation’ to ‘drafting an email effectively’.
- Skills & Interests: In the subsequent column, individuals are encouraged to list their expertise or activities they are passionate about. This can include offerings like ‘providing photography services’ or ‘shopping with peers and assisting in clothing selection’.
- Participant Preferences: Here, the focus shifts to personal inclinations. Participants jot down preferences regarding potential partners, such as gender, commonly used language, etc.
To ensure privacy while fostering connection, contact details are to be penned down on the reverse side of these slips.
Implementation: Subsequently, I plan to reach out to experienced London residents who display an interest in such social activities. They can then sift through the entries, identifying those they resonate with or believe they can assist. This establishes a platform for dialogue and social engagement.
The intrinsic beauty of this approach lies in its organic nature, allowing individuals to both offer and receive, thus ensuring mutual benefit while fostering genuine connections.