10 Support Systems for Students
It is common for students to experience culture shock and a transition period abroad during which they feel uncomfortable and vulnerable. Being away from family, friends, routines, and their homes can feel strange and unsettling. Managing culture shock requires flexibility, patience, and a sense of humor!
It is important for students to remember that their feelings are normal. Every student experiences culture shock to a certain degree, which is why IUHPFL has strong and intentional support systems in place to help students adjust and have a successful study abroad experience. You can read more about culture shock in the section of this handbook called “Understanding & Respecting Cultural Differences.”
Support systems for students include:
- Teammates (fellow students)
- Instructors
- Support and Success Groups
- Host Families
- Onsite Coordinators
U.S. friends and family are not mentioned as a support system because students have limited communication with them (per the Honor Code). Students must learn to engage with and rely upon people around them to have a fulfilling immersion experience. Additionally, friends and family back home might not have the cultural familiarity and experience needed to help with problems or difficulties onsite. IUHPFL would never ask students to withhold information from their U.S. friends and family; however, we do recommend that students reach out first to their onsite support systems in order to resolve matters quickly and to avoid excessive worry and stress for all parties. IUHPFL encourages students to be proactive in forming close bonds with fellow students, instructors, and host family members, a process which can start even before departure.
Support and Success Groups
Students are divided as equally as possible, according to the number of instructors, into Support and Success Groups. Each group is led by one instructor and meets at least a couple of times per week in order to set personal and academic goals, address questions and concerns, talk about host families and experiences, and celebrate achievements together. Support and Success Groups add another layer of support and encouragement for students, as the small setting allows them to comfortably share their thoughts, ideas, and emotions.
In order for Support and Success Groups to be beneficial for every student, an atmosphere of caring, non-judgement, and confidentiality must exist. Once this happens, students are willing to open up about themselves and listen attentively to their peers. Although sharing with others on a personal level, especially in another language, can be intimidating at first, students typically see these sessions as a valuable aspect of the IUHPFL experience.
Specific objectives of Support and Success Groups include helping students to:
- Adapt to their new environment
- Realize that they are not alone in their challenges and emotions
- Handle possible miscommunications and issues with the host family
- Manage time and course requirements
- Deal with difficult aspects of the Honor Code
- Set academic and personal goals
- Develop strategies to meet goals and get the most out of their time abroad
- Celebrate their successes with their peers
Individual Student Meetings
Many students benefit from an individual meeting with their instructors in order to share personal concerns, ask questions, and seek advice and guidance. These might replace the usual Support & Success Group session during a given week, if instructors decide to discuss academic progress with each student. They also might request to meet with a student who seems to need additional support and encouragement.
Students are welcome to request an individual meeting with their instructors any time. At least two instructors will be present during these discussions. Students can rest assured that the information they share will not be divulged to other students and that the instructors will work quickly and in unison to resolve any issues or concerns.