AINI IKHWANUDIN (UNIVERSITAS SULTAN AGENG TIRTAYASA)

A STUDY OF INDONESIAN STUDENTS’ CULTURE SHOCKS AND ADAPTATION TO THE MALAYSIAN EDUCATION SYSTEM. : GLOBAL ISSUES IN LANGUAGE EDUCATION

Studying abroad has become popular and interesting for students in Indonesia, students are studying across the nation for higher education to experience the life-changing from their home country to a different country target.  But, once they study abroad, students are most likely to face difficulties once they are studying abroad, and one of the biggest culture shocks is because of the education differences. This research aims to determine Indonesian students’ culture shock toward the Malaysian education system while studying at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). Utilising a qualitative approach, the researcher was constructed within a case study design. The data was collected through participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and documentation. The data was gathered from Indonesian students who studied at USM. Based on observation and interviews, it appears that students are experiencing culture shock, such as in academic difficulties like tutorial classes, teaching plan differences, etc. Furthermore, the students face non-academic difficulties, like the food differences. Even though the students experience cultural shock, students can adapt to the new environment by hanging out with friends and asking their friends or locals to help them cope with their problems, making student life easier. Thus, the researcher concludes that Indonesian students have experienced culture shock at Universiti Sains Malaysia but have managed to cope. 

I am Aini Nabila Ikwhanudin, a fresh graduate student in the English Education Department. I was involved in the student activities unit EDC as a former President. I am a goal-oriented person, hardworking, and can work both individually and in a group.