In South Korea, PC Bangs (internet cafes) are a social institution. An exchange student who refuses to play League of Legends or StarCraft is essentially refusing to socialize. In Brazil, Counter-Strike is a religion. By sitting down to play, the student says, “I respect your pastime enough to try.”
No existing study compares how different genres (news vs. drama vs. social media comedy) affect acculturation outcomes among exchange students specifically. Exchange Student 4 XXX
In this negotiation, the student learns hierarchy, compromise, and taste. They become a temporary member of that family’s media diet. In South Korea, PC Bangs (internet cafes) are
Around weeks 3–6, consumption of home-country content spiked by 70% (measured via diary). YouTube vlogs in native language, K-pop reactions, and familiar Twitch streamers acted as emotional regulation. One student said: “After a day of stumbling through Spanish, watching my favorite Korean mukbanger feels like a hug.” By sitting down to play, the student says,
