Culture Shock and Its Implications for Cross-Cultural Training and Culture Teaching

The present paper attempts to make a contrastive study of the disease model and the growth model of culture shock. After analyzing their similarities and differences and comparing their contributions to the cross-cultural adaptation, it points out the necessity of the combination of the two models so as to make culture shock a less stressful and more positive experience. It also provides some implications for cross-cultural training and culture teaching in China. Key Words: Culture shock; The disease model; The growth model; Cross-cultural adaptation