A Study On The Intercultural Adaptation Of Chinese Volunteer Teacher

With the increase in the number of Confucius Institutes overseas,more and more volunteer Chinese language teachers have been sent to other parts of the world.At the same time,the problem of intercultural adaptation of volunteer teachers has become increasingly prominent,which has begun to affect the lives and teaching of volunteer teachers,and has a certain impact on their psychological conditions.This study is based on the theory of intercultural adaptation,taking Chinese volunteer teachers in Australia in 2019 as an example,using qualitative research methods to explore their intercultural adaptation processes and models.We hope this research can help solving intercultural adaptation problems,and can provide some advice for the Confucius Institute in the management and selection of Chinese volunteer teachers.This study used text analysis and interviews to collect data to explore the intercultural adaptation of Chinese volunteer teachers,and used coding methods to organize and analyze the data.After repeated analysis and research,this study found the fact of volunteer teachers? intercultural adaptation processes and models.The study found that volunteer teachers’ intercultural adaptation is a dynamic process,and the adaptation situation is different in different periods.According to the intercultural adaptation problems they met in the research,their intercultural adaptation can be divided into four categories: cultural adaptation,language adaptation,interpersonal adaptation,and teaching adaptation.In the process of adaptation,their attitudes toward different cultures have changed,which can be divided into three stages: "incomprehension & complaint,learning,and understanding & adaptation".As their attitudes change,we can also see the two cultures interact in their cultural system.From the beginning,their original culture is at the center of their cultural system.Volunteer teachers see different cultures only using the standards of their own culture.Then,as they are exposed to more native cultures,volunteer teachers begin to learn about native cultures,and gradually discover the loveliness of other cultures.And at last,they begin to understand and embrace different cultures.The original culture and the native culture interact in a unique way to form a new cultural system that belongs exclusively to volunteer teachers.We also found that most of the volunteer teachers have experienced negative emotions overseas.However,there are no counselors for volunteer teachers.Therefore,it is suggested that relevant departments should set up psychological counseling services specifically for volunteers.