A long and lonely journey of making friends abroad

湖北宜昌天問國際學校 王 晶

很多留學黨都在抱怨，感覺雖然在國外大學里認識的人比國內(nèi)多，但是基本上都是處于泛泛之交，算不上真正的朋友。似乎出國以后，朋友就少了很多，自己也變得越來越不會交朋友了。

聽力掃障

Journal of International and Intercultural Communication《國際跨文化交流期刊》

掃碼聽測

Ⅰ.聽力理解

1.How many international students were surveyed in the study？

A.545. B.454. C.455.

2.How many of the international students had no close friends in the United States？

A.68%of them.

B.48%of them.

C.38%of them.

3.Who blamed themselvesfortheirlimited friendships with Americans？

A.Students from East Asia.

B.Students from English-speaking countries.

C.Students from northern and central Europe.

4.How many factors are there in preventing making friends according to Elisabeth Gareis？

A.2. B.3. C.4.

5.What is Elisabeth Gareis'attitude towards making friends with host nationals？

A.Approving.

B.Doubtful.

C.Neutral.

文本解說

文化沖突是指兩種或者兩種以上的文化相互接觸所產(chǎn)生的競爭和對抗狀態(tài)，而在國外求學時產(chǎn)生的“交友焦慮癥”正是這一現(xiàn)象的表現(xiàn)之一。其背后有著深刻的文化背景、語言障礙及交際技巧等原因。

題材文章詞數(shù)交際337 難度 ★★★體裁建議用時新聞6′

TheJournal of International and Intercultural Communicationrecently published a study done in the United States.

Elisabeth Gareis of Baruch College in New York surveyed four hundred and fifty-four international students.They were attending four-year colleges and graduate schools in the American South and Northeast.Students from Englishspeaking countries and from northern and central Europe were more likely to be happy with their friendships.But thirty-eight percent of the international students said they had no close friends in the United States.And half of the students from East Asia said they were unhappy with the number of American friends they had.

Professor Gareis says thirty percent said they wished their friendships could be deeper and more meaningful.

Elisabeth Gareis:“Students from East Asia have cultures that are different on many levels from the culture in the United States.But then there are also language problems,and maybe some social skills,such as small talk that are possibly not as important in their native countries,where it's not as important to initiate friendships with small talk.”She says many East Asian students blamed themselves for their limited friendships with Americans.

Elisabeth Gareis:“The vast majority blame themselves,actually for not speaking the language well enough,and not knowing the culture well enough.There were also some comments about the college environment,like many of them were in the natural sciences or worked in labs where they were surrounded by other East Asians.”

VOA's Student Union blogger Jessica Stahl did her own survey to find out how American students and foreign students relate to each other.More than one hundred students,about half of them American,answered her online questions.Half of the international students and sixty percent of the Americans said they related as well or better to the other group than to their own group.

Professor Gareis says students who make friends from their host country return home happier with their experience.Elisabeth Gareis:“International students who make friends with host nationals are,overall,more satisfied with their stay in the host country.”