Title: International school students, cultural homelessness and home culture re-entry: a brief review of the literature

Authors: Danielle Swanston Kelley

Addresses: Johannesburg 2195, South Africa

Abstract: Adopting and maintaining a congruent cultural identity may be problematic for third culture kids (TCKs) who generally experience at least two cross-cultural moves: leaving their parents' home culture for a new cultural setting, and re-entering their home culture. This literature review considers related issues of cultural homelessness, belonging and identity, home culture re-entry, and culture shock and reverse culture shock. The review also explores the shifting nature and changing student body make-up of international schools, and the associated impacts this has on TCKs in particular and society in general. This review was conducted as part of a larger qualitative research study targeting a deeper understanding of cultural homelessness and home culture re-entry through the narratives of TCKs regarding their experiences in an international school context. A synthesis of knowledge on this topic can be used to inform the development of appropriate counselling protocols for TCKs in the international school context.

Keywords: international school students; third culture kids; cultural homelessness; home culture re-entry; cultural identity; international education; global education; host country; student narratives; identity development; belonging.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTCS.2018.095917

International Journal of Teaching and Case Studies, 2018 Vol.9 No.4, pp.364 - 381

Received: 03 Mar 2018
Accepted: 13 Apr 2018

Published online: 26 Oct 2018 *

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