BRIDGING BORDERS: EXPAT TEACHERS NAVIGATING CROSS-CULTURAL CHALLENGES IN CHINA

Among foreigners, the teaching profession is highly sought after in China, offering potential benefits for teachers living overseas. However, there are certain challenges associated with working in a country that is remote from their own such as language barrier and cultural differences. Given the complexities inherent in the expatriate experience, this study intends to explore the challenges expatriate teachers face in adapting to life and work in China. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 expatriate teachers from Chinese colleges to explore their difficulties during their teaching experience in China. Three significant outcomes from the study are highlighted, which further the conversation about the challenges expatriate teachers would encounter during the cross-cultural adaptation process. First, the language barrier is the greatest challenge for expatriate teachers. Second, cultural differences, including differences in culture, interpersonal interaction, manner, and privacy, have caused obstacles to expatriate teachers in their daily lives. Third, expatriate teachers have met problems at work due to the different college administrative systems. This study contributes to the current literature on expatriate teachers in China in the field of cross-cultural adaptation and communication.