On October 23, 2025, GURUS TALK #27 was successfully held through the collaboration of the Advanced and High-Quality Programs Division, the Department of Undergraduate Studies, the School of Economics and International Business, and the Digital Marketing Program Implementation Division.
The guest speaker – Dr. Garry Ruud, Chair of the Department of Human Communication Studies at California State University, Fullerton (USA) – delivered an engaging and insightful session titled “Culture Shock, Adjustment, and Verbal Communication.” His lecture offered participants a deeper understanding of cultural adaptation and effective communication across global contexts.
Key highlights from the session included:
Defining “culture shock” and exploring its stages through the U-Curve and Revised W-Shape Adjustment Models.
Understanding the Affective, Behavioral, and Cognitive (ABC) dimensions of cultural adaptation.
Practical strategies for coping with culture shock – increasing motivation to learn, improving language fluency, building social connections, and embracing ambiguity.
Differentiating between cross-cultural and intercultural communication in global interaction.
Examining how cultural values and communication contexts (low- vs. high-context, individualism vs. collectivism) shape communication styles.
Applying the “Think – Reflect – Do” framework to develop flexible and effective intercultural communication skills.
With his warm and thought-provoking presentation, Dr. Garry Ruud seamlessly combined academic theory and practical wisdom, inspiring students to appreciate cultural diversity and enhance their global communication competence.
GURUS TALK #27 concluded with valuable lessons and new perspectives on cultural understanding and adaptability – essential traits for thriving in an increasingly interconnected world.
Stay tuned for the next GURUS TALK sessions featuring even more exciting and insightful topics!