This project aims to explore the beliefs of international teachers regarding the students with whom they work, and the change in those beliefs over time. Participant observation, interviews, and questionnaires were used as tools of collection to address the following research questions: How did teachers' beliefs about students change over time? What variables were significantly associated with the rate of change in teacher beliefs about students? What types of challenges did teaches face while living and working in Thailand? Over the course of four months, I shadowed twenty-two U.S. teachers in thirteen different locations throughout Thailand. Participants were enrolled in an international teaching program in Thailand that provided a cultural orientation and teacher training. Participants were then assigned to teaching jobs throughout the country. Qualitative and quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS and NVivo software. This project contributes to the scholarship of teaching and learning, and anthropological and education research dedicated to exploring teachers' beliefs about students. Results of the study provide vital information about what variables or experiences may influence a critical analysis of beliefs among teachers working with students who they perceive as different from themselves. Due to some of the parallels between this study population and that of teachers in public schools within the United States, findings may also be applicable to preservice teacher training contexts that consider ways to help teachers critically reflect on their beliefs and worldviews in preparation for working with students whom they may perceive as different from themselves.

Lee Ka Man Kathy. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 115-120). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ABSTRACT (English version) --- p.i / ABSTRACT (Chinese version) --- p.ii / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.iv / Chapter Chapter 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Background of the Present Study --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Status of English in Hong Kong --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Falling Standard of Students' English in Hong Kong --- p.2 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Solutions Offered --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.3.1 --- New Requirement for English Teachers --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.3.2 --- The NET Scheme --- p.5 / Chapter 1.1.4 --- History of the NET Scheme --- p.6 / Chapter 1.1.5 --- Background of NETs --- p.9 / Chapter 1.1.6 --- Comments of the NET Scheme --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2 --- Purpose of the Study --- p.11 / Chapter 1.3 --- Significance of the Research --- p.11 / Chapter 1.4 --- Organization of the Thesis --- p.12 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- LITERATURE REVIEW --- p.13 / Chapter 2.1 --- Clarification of Selected Key Terms --- p.13 / Chapter 2.2 --- Acculturation Models --- p.14 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Movement of Acculturation --- p.15 / Chapter 2.3 --- Past Studies --- p.18 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Education Convergence Survey --- p.18 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Lo's Study --- p.18 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Chu's Study --- p.19 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Shum's Study --- p.19 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- SPACE Research --- p.20 / Chapter 2.3.6 --- Green's Study --- p.21 / Chapter 2.3.7 --- The Study by Storey et al. --- p.21 / Chapter 2.4 --- Research Gap --- p.23 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- METHOODOLOGY --- p.25 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.25 / Chapter 3.2 --- Multiple-case Study --- p.25 / Chapter 3.3 --- The Value of Case Study Approach --- p.26 / Chapter 3.4 --- Data Gathering --- p.26 / Chapter 3.5 --- Rationale for the Data Gathering Used in This Research --- p.27 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Questionnaire --- p.27 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Interview --- p.27 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- Classroom Observation --- p.27 / Chapter 3.6 --- Pilot Study --- p.28 / Chapter 3.7 --- Instruments --- p.30 / Chapter 3.7.1 --- Questionnaire --- p.30 / Chapter 3.7.2 --- Interviews --- p.31 / Chapter 3.7.3 --- Classroom Observation and Post-observation Interview --- p.31 / Chapter 3.8 --- Subjects --- p.32 / Chapter 3.9 --- Data Analysis --- p.33 / Chapter 3.10 --- Chapter Summary --- p.32 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- FINDINGS --- p.36 / Chapter 4 --- Challenges and Strategies --- p.36 / Chapter 4.1 --- Students --- p.36 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Large Class Size --- p.36 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Discipline --- p.37 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- Lack of Motivation --- p.39 / Chapter 4.1.4 --- Low Level of English --- p.40 / Chapter 4.1.5 --- Special Needs --- p.43 / Chapter 4.2 --- Administration --- p.44 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Staff Meeting --- p.44 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Protocol and Procedures --- p.45 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Evaluation of Teaching --- p.46 / Chapter 4.3 --- School Culture --- p.46 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Non-teaching Duties --- p.47 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Workload --- p.48 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Stress --- p.51 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Streaming Students --- p.52 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Changing Classroom --- p.52 / Chapter 4.3.6 --- Education Philosophy --- p.53 / Chapter 4.3.7 --- Staff Room Atmosphere --- p.56 / Chapter 4.4 --- Communication --- p.56 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Initiating Communication --- p.57 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Abruptness --- p.58 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- Communication Between EMB and Schools --- p.59 / Chapter 4.5 --- Conclusion --- p.59 / Chapter 4.6 --- Chapter Summary --- p.59 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Discussion and Analysis --- p.61 / Chapter 5.1 --- Review of Kim's Adaptation Model --- p.61 / Chapter 5.2 --- Stranger's background --- p.63 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Preparedness for Change --- p.64 / Chapter 5.2.1.1 --- Contact with Previous NET --- p.65 / Chapter 5.2.1.2 --- Previous Knowledge about Hong Kong --- p.66 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Expectations --- p.67 / Chapter 5.2.2.1 --- Roles --- p.67 / Chapter 5.2.2.2 --- Students' level of English --- p.69 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Motivation --- p.70 / Chapter 5.2.3.1 --- Goals --- p.70 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- Identity Flexibility --- p.72 / Chapter 5.2.5 --- Working Experience --- p.73 / Chapter 5.2.5.1 --- Intercultural Teaching Experience --- p.74 / Chapter 5.2.5.2 --- Experience with Asian Students --- p.75 / Chapter 5.2.5.3 --- Homogeneous Grouping --- p.76 / Chapter 5.2.5.4 --- Experience in low-banded schools --- p.78 / Chapter 5.2.5.5 --- Teaching Philosophy --- p.79 / Chapter 5.2.6 --- Personality --- p.80 / Chapter 5.2.7 --- Demographic Aspects --- p.82 / Chapter 5.2.7.1 --- Age --- p.82 / Chapter 5.2.7.2 --- Education --- p.83 / Chapter 5.2.7.2.1 --- Language Ability --- p.83 / Chapter 5.2.7.2.2 --- Higher Education --- p.84 / Chapter 5.3 --- Host Environment --- p.85 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Host Similarity --- p.85 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Interaction Potential --- p.88 / Chapter 5.3.3 --- Host Attitudes --- p.89 / Chapter 5.3.4 --- Demand for Conformity --- p.91 / Chapter 5.4 --- Communication --- p.93 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- Mass Communication --- p.94 / Chapter 5.4.2 --- Interpersonal Communication --- p.95 / Chapter 5.4.2.1 --- Amount of Interpersonal Contacts --- p.96 / Chapter 5.4.2.2 --- Quality of Interpersonal Contacts --- p.98 / Chapter 5.5 --- Conclusion --- p.99 / Chapter 5.6 --- Chapter Summary --- p.103 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Conclusion --- p.105 / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.105 / Chapter 6.2 --- "Summary of the Research Questions, Methodology, and Findings" --- p.105 / Chapter 6.3 --- Implications --- p.109 / Chapter 6.4 --- Limitations of the Study --- p.111 / Chapter 6.4.1 --- Research Design --- p.112 / Chapter 6.4.2 --- Sample --- p.113 / Chapter 6.5 --- Suggestions for Future Research --- p.114 / Chapter 6.6 --- Chapter Summary --- p.114 / Bibliography --- p.115

published_or_final_version / Linguistics / Master / Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

This study explored the lived experiences of foreign academics’ wellbeing and adjustment and the impact thereof on their job performance in a South African higher education (HE) institution. The qualitative interpretive study reviewed the literature on wellbeing, adjustment and job performance. It explored the impact of wellbeing and adjustment factors on performance, both personally and professionally. The job demands-resources (JD-R) model was applied in the study to demonstrate that when job resources are high, employee wellbeing, adjustment and job performance is enhanced. Purposive sampling was used to draw a sample of five foreign academics who were employed at the HE institution for more than one year and originated from different countries. Online video calling was used to gather data from the participants using semi-structured interviews. Content analysis was used to create themes and sub-themes from which the study findings were derived and conclusions, as well as recommendations, were made. The study revealed that the wellbeing and adjustment of foreign academics have a significant impact on their job performance. Recommendations were made to the HR managers, I/O psychologists, foreign academics as well as line managers on how to improve the wellbeing and adjustment of foreign academics at the HE institution. / Industrial and Organisational Psychology / M. Comm. (Industrial and Organisational Psychology)