Acculturation and Academic Achievement inInter-cultural Context

Abstract

Acculturation is a process of cultural and psychological changes which occur as the result of interaction of different cultures leading to changes in the original culture. These changes might comprise language, values, customs, and selfidentification with the dominant group. In academic setting students are expected to adjust and accommodate to the school and perform academically like other students. When students are confronted with literacy demands coupled with the multi-faceted, multi-layered process of acculturation, academic skills may get influenced as the students are expected to absorb some of the values, cultural traits, or characteristics of the school. This apprehension is being expressed in demands for strategies to deal with early school dropout, absenteeism, depression, and juvenile offending, violence, crime, unemployment, homelessness as well as child abuse and neglect. These students are considered segregated because they do not have many peers with whom they can associate. Often, aspects of their culture are not a predominant part of school curriculum, which can lead students to believe they do not belong. This form of exclusion can often lead to anxiety, depression and a lack social identity. Hence, the present papers deals with the issues related to acculturation and academic achievement of students.