DIFFICULTIES OF LINGUOCULTURAL ADAPTATION OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AT PREPARATORY FACULTY
Abstract
10.18522/1995-0640-2026-2-177-189
Linguocultural adaptation of international students at preparatory faculties is a complex, multi-level process that directly affects their academic success and integration into the host educational environment. This process involves psychological, sociocultural, academic, and linguistic dimensions. The study draws on questionnaire data collected from 64 foreign students studying at Russian universities to identify key adaptation challenges and examine the role of Russian as a foreign language (RFL) instruction in addressing them. The findings reveal the systemic and interrelated nature of adaptation difficulties, including psychological stress, language barriers, and limited intercultural interaction. The results highlight the need for targeted pedagogical support and demonstrate the effectiveness of RFL classes employing casebased methods, video cases, and digital learning platforms in facilitating linguocultural adaptation.
Key words: linguocultural adaptation, culture shock, intercultural communication, Russian as a foreign language, case-based learning, international students, preparatory faculty
References
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Natalia A. Vodina, Irina A. Leshutina

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).















