The Cross-Cultural Adjustment of Foreigners in Taiwan: The Experience of Western Teachers

• Main Authors: SHU -HUI SHEN, 沈淑惠
• Other Authors: Carol Troy
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2015
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/asb2xm

碩士 === 大葉大學 === 國際企業管理學系碩士班 === 103 === Taiwan is home to a growing number of Western teachers who are unfamiliar with the language, culture, and environment. After arrival, they undergo a lengthy cross-cultural adaptation during which they adjust to the new employment and living conditions. The concerns of foreign teachers may depend on their progress in the adjustment process. Employers who invest substantial time and resources in the hiring process can benefit by understanding these differences. When hiring, they may encourage lengthy employment by favoring candidates who will most appreciate the long-term benefits of working in Taiwan. In this study, an in-depth structured questionnaire was administered to 15 expatriate Wetern teachers, including 6 long-term residents and 9 short-term residents. The questionnaire examined the teachers’ motivations for seeking employment abroad, perceived advantages and disadvantages of working in Taiwan, and perspectives on cultural sensitivity. Using qualitative analysis, we found that short-term employees valued cultural exposure, personal development, and personal relationships, and long-term employees valued the convenience and low cost of living in Taiwan. Short-term employees complained about social isolation, the unfamiliarity/inconvenience of the new environment, and lack of employer assistance during the adjustment process. By contrast, long-term employees had more serious complaints, including exclusion from workplace decision-making, excessive dependence on assistants and colleauges, linguistic and cultural barriers in the workplace, and a perceived disadvantage in performance evaluation. Furthermore, long-term and short-term employees conceptualized cultural sensitivity differently. This study discusses these differences and offers advice to employers.