CULTURE SHOCK STUDY OF PATTANI THAILAND STUDENTS ON THEIR ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

These Pattani Thai student live in groups and only play and friend with each other from Pattani, they seem not convidence to play around the other students groups. Pattani Thailand students in Islamic Faculty of Riau Islamic University (FAI UIR) is one of the example of cross cultural case. There was a report related to this problem, the head of study program in FAI said the it is hard enough for the faculty to keep good relation and communication with the foreign students. In conclusion of their problem are the foreign students don‟t want to mingle with other students, late respond and lack of coordination with faculty. However, Kim 1979 stated that similarity has important roles to adjust to the new society for the foreigner, but what happened in Pattani‟s Thailand students seemed different while they already studied since 2013 but the report still the same from the faculty. This research used qualitative method to understand the problem while also finds the answer about the barriers faced by the students toward their academic environment. The subjects of this research were ten students of FAI UIR that in various semester above one year study. Data of this research was obtained by holding focus group discussion. As the result of the research, that: (1) Language barrier is the most affected obstacle other than other problem such different ethic or value, (2) The language barrier is the reason of those bad report such they don‟t want to mingle, late respond and lack coordination to the faculty.
 
Keywords: Culture Shock, Students, Academic Environment