Perceptions of the Host-National Peers in a Program Designed to Aid the Adjustment of International Students at the University of British Columbia Foreign students want and need social contact with people from the host country when they study abroad. The Counselling Psychology Department at the University of British Columbia has developed a peer program where Canadian students are paired with foreign students in an attempt to ease the feelings of loneliness and isolation which these foreign students often experience. This paper contains a review of related literature, a description of the peer program, an analysis of interviews with host-national participants and recommendations for improvements to the program. The literature review surveys the problems associated with foreign students on North American campuses, several theories of the adjustment process and programs designed to aid that adjustment. Some factors which help students adjust to a new environment are counselling and peer support. Host peers commented on how and why they became participants in the program. They revealed some of the problems associated with being a helping peer. The benefits they received from the program were many but they were able to identify several aspects of the program which could be changed to make the program more rewarding to themselves and to the foreign peers. / Education, Faculty of / Educational and Counselling Psychology, and Special Education (ECPS), Department of / Graduate

African international students continue to remain one of the least represented and studied groups of international students. In addition to the acculturative stress typically experienced by international students, African students inherit the marginalization of their racial/ethnic group in the United States. As such, scholars acknowledge the need for continued research into the experiences of African international students. Utilizing the Integrative Theory of Communication and Cross- Cultural Adaptation and elements of postcolonialism, this thesis explored the experiences of 10 African students in the United States. A qualitative analysis revealed that host receptivity, perceived cultural differences, expectations, and language/accents influenced intercultural communication. The challenges experienced in intercultural interactions allowed for the emergence of an intercultural identity such that the participants existed in a third space as intercultural Africans. This thesis adds to existing research on cross-cultural adaptation and negotiated identity, while also providing practical implications for schools. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (MA)--Florida Atlantic University, 2021. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

The purpose of this study was to find out what a sample selection of teachers in Malmö and Lund, Sweden, perceived to be the most common strengths and challenges of newly arrived students when learning English as a Foreign Language (EFL). The study was conducted as there have been very few studies so far in Sweden on this particular subject, as well as an influx of newly arrived students in the recent years. The two research questions ask what the most common strengths and challenges for newly arrived students are, as well as, how the participating teachers meet the perceived challenges. Four qualitative interviews were constructed based on interviews and questionnaires used in similar studies, and then analyzed using tape analysis. The results showed that all four participants agreed that background factors (such as possible trauma) played a big part, and affected how quickly students go from introductory programs into regular Swedish high school, as well as a lacking vocabulary. Since the findings in this study is coherent with findings in similar studies, it becomes obvious that further action needs to be taken to ensure that our newly arrived students learn what they need to, and get the help they deserve.

No description available.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2006. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 80-85).

This study concerns the difficulties encountered by Nigerian students in pursuing graduate degrees in the North Texas area of the United States. The purposes of this study were: (a) to determine the extent to which the perceived difficulties are a result of financial difficulties, (b) to determine the extent to which language is perceived as an inhibiting factor during their period of study, (c) to determine the extent to which family problems contributed to the difficulties, (d) to determine the extent to which normal pressures in graduate school contributed to the difficulties, (e) to determine the extent to which time management contributed to the difficulties, (f) to determine the extent to which changes of schools/colleges within the United States contributed to the difficulties, (g) to determine the extent to which lack of advisement contributed to the difficulties, (h) to determine the extent to which health problems contributed to the difficulties, and (i) to determine the extent to which employment contributed to the difficulties.

published_or_final_version / Chinese / Master / Master of Arts

As the progress of globalization and internationalization, higher education has also entered into the stage of globalizing. Global student mobility, as one of the most obvious representatives of the globalization of higher education, has earned international awareness and attention as a wide spread social issue all over the world. China, as a pioneer to promote the progress of globalization, has become world’s largest student exporting country. It is owning to the fact that with the fast advancement of social and economical condition in China, the rising income level of middle class families has boosted the desire for Chinese students to pursuit perceived better education overseas. However, one of the most serious unexpected outcomes caused by this trend of studying overseas is the issue of brain drain, since large number of Chinese overseas students never came back after graduation. Yet, with the fluctuation of the world economical situation, the growth of China’s economical and political power is attracting more and more Chinese overseas graduates back to work. Hence, it is necessary to analyze the factors that influence Chinese students’ behavior of ‘going out’ and ‘coming back’, which is also the theme of this paper. Specifically, both of the push and pull factors that caused Chinese international students’ decisions of coming back home after graduation will be discussed. / published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

This study examines the psychological, social and environmental predictors of sexually aggressive and assaultive behaviors reported by a sample of 466 males at one institution. Emphasis was placed on determining the impact of Greek affiliation and place of residence on self-reported aggressive and assaultive behaviors. A questionnaire was administered which incorporated demographic and background characteristics, environmental characteristics and attitudes towards women and relationships. Analysis of variance was used to determine statistically significant differences among five residential groupings on selected variables. A series of interlocking multiple regression analyses was then performed to determine the predictive influence of factors explored in this study. Results indicate that "peer harassment," including verbal aggression and unwanted touching, was reported by the total sample with great frequency. More severe behaviors were reported with less frequency, however, slightly more than 5% of the men in the total sample reported committing at least one act which met the legal criteria for sexual assault in the academic year preceding the study. Although statistically significant differences among residential groups emerged, attitudes and living environment characteristics found predictive of sexually aggressive and assaultive behaviors were found in all living environments. "Worst" behavior reported was predicted best by rape myth acceptance followed by environmental and background characteristics including the number of sexual partners one had, sexual speculation about women, alcohol consumption and perceived level of impact one had on their environment. Institutions are encouraged to examine the level of sexual violence against women on campuses and marshal the efforts of student personnel administrators as well as faculty in an effort to reduce the prevalence of such behavior.