本論文旨在以民族誌研究方法觀察美國國際交流協會(CIEE)留學生的華語習得期間之文化適應。身為一位CIEE的校友，以及目前在國立政治大學就讀華語文教學碩士學程，並擔任CIEE 語言助理，作者想要透過CIEE美國學生在台灣的經驗來觀察他們學習華語的過程。 本研究提出，美國學生在台灣留學時，同常會經過四種文化適應的發展過程:(1)期待(2)文化衝擊 (3)迷失 (4)適應。研究結果顯示，雖然大部分的人都覺得東亞洲美國學生不可能經驗文化衝擊, 本研究發現正因為他們缺乏了文化衝擊之意識, 使他們在華語習得習期間無法順利適應文化以及學習語言。因此為了有效的幫助華語為第二語言學生學習華語，作者建議學生與老師應該增加文化衝擊之意識。 / This qualitative research study investigates exchange students from the United States (America) in the program of the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), in terms of their experiences during their process of acculturation while acquiring Chinese Mandarin language skills. Previously as a study abroad program student in National Chengchi University, Taipei, and currently as a graduate student in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language Master’s Program, and Language Coordinator of CIEE, (a study abroad program on the same campus), the author proposes to do a case study on the program’s students. The purpose is to understand the effects of cultural experience in second language acquisition by American students through ethnographic methods. The author proposes that in order to effectively acquire Chinese Mandarin language, it could be important for tracking American students’ acculturation process of 1. Anticipation, 2. Cultural Shock, 3. Disorientation, and 4. Adaptation. It is observed that although most people assume that East-Asian Americans experience less culture shock due to their Asian heritage, the study shows that their lack of ‘culture shock awareness’ in fact puts them at a disadvantage, which delays their adaptation, and impedes upon their success in Mandarin language training. The study concludes that decreasing social distance and promoting social interaction through acculturation in classrooms may be effective methods for both East-Asian and non-East-Asian American students to become successful in acquiring Chinese Mandarin language. Thus, it is suggested that students and teachers should increase their level of culture shock awareness in the study abroad context in order to assist Chinese as a second language (CSL) learners.