This study examines the cultural views of international students in their academic socialization process in a South Korean university. Within this backdrop, the current study examines how collaborative learning during group activities assist international students to overcome their academic challenges and adaptation to the new academic community. The study implements a qualitative approach, which includes class observations, semi-structured interviews, classroom field notes and course documents of an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) course. Data for the study collected one academic semester from September 2018 to December 2018. The findings show that different cultural views of five international students towards Korean classmates' causes academic challenges for some of the participants. Specifically, international students' gender views about class participation and also different understanding of politeness influences their adaptation to the new classroom and class participation. According to findings, collaborative learning during group activities help ease the participants' academic socialization process and assist in promoting active classroom participation. The current study has pedagogical implications presenting the significance of group activities when teaching international students. (Jeonbuk National University)