New cultural reality – problem or challenge? Acculturation strategies used by Polish immigrants to Wales

Acculturation is the process of adapting to a new culture, in which members of a minority group—such as immigrants—combine elements of their native values and behavioural norms with those of the dominant culture in the L2 speaking country. The article presents findings from a study on the acculturation strategies adopted by Polish immigrants living in Welshpool (Wales). The research explores how individuals’ perceptions regarding their native culture and the culture of their L2 speech community shape their chosen acculturation strategies. The study employed a structured interview method, and the collected data were analysed using a coding approach to identify recurring themes and extract quantitative insights. The results highlight the diversity of acculturation strategies among Polish immigrants and support the hypothesis that integration—considered the most desirable strategy according to Berry’s acculturation theory—depends on multiple psychological and social factors. These include, among many others, motivation to learn the host country’s language and openness to interactions with members of the L2 cultural environment.