Factors Affecting the Intercultural Adaptation Process of International Students: A Case Study of Vietnamese Postgraduate Students at a Tertiary Institution in Taiwan

Ngo Cong Lem

Abstract


The study was conducted to explore challenges Vietnamese postgraduate students were confronted with during their intercultural adaptation process in Taiwan. The participants (N = 28) were administered an open-ended questionnaire, probing into different aspects of their intercultural adjustment, namely academic, psychological and sociocultural issues. Findings indicated regarding academic life, the sojourn students encountered language barriers (both in English and Chinese), new pedagogical approach, examination and publication pressure. Other adjustment problems involved daily communication with the local, unfamiliar diet, homesickness, perceived discrimination, and few activities for international students. Implications for relevant stakeholders were discussed.

Received 14th March 2018; Accepted 11th April 2019; Revised 25th April 2019


Keywords


Intercultural Adaptation; Academic Affairs; Sociocultural Issues; International Students; Vietnamese Students in Taiwan.

References


Andrade, Maureen S. 2006. "International Students in English-Speaking Universities: Adjustment Factors." Journal of Research in International Education 5(5):131-54.

Bamford, Jan K. 2008. "Improving International Students’ Experience of Studying in the UK." The Economics Network.

Berry, John W. 1994. "Acculturation and Psychological Adaptation: An Overview." Pp. 222 in Journeys into Cross-Cultural Psychology, edited by Anne-Marie Bouvy, Fons J. R. van de Vijver, Pawel Boski, and Paul Schmitz. Lisse, the Netherlands: Swets & Zeitlinger.

Berry, John W. 1997. "Immigration, Acculturation, and Adaptation." Applied Psychology 46(1):8-34.

Bertram, David M. , Mixalis Poulakis, Betsy S. Elsasser, and Ekta Kumar. 2014. "Social Support and Acculturation in Chinese International Students." Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development 42(2):107-24.

Bradley, Greta. 2000. "Responding Effectively to the Mental Health Needs of International Students." Higher Education 39(4):417-33.

Brisset, Camille, Saba Safdar, J. Rees Lewis, and Colette Sabatier. 2010. "Psychological and Sociocultural Adaptation of University Students in France: The Case of Vietnamese International Students." International Journal of Intercultural Relations 34(4):413-26.

Brown, Lorraine, John Edwards, and Heather Hartwell. 2010. "A Taste of the Unfamiliar. Understanding the Meanings Attached to Food by International Postgraduate Students in England." Appetite 54(1):202-07.

Chen, Liang, and Xiaodong Yang. 2015. "Nature and Effectiveness of Online Social Support for Intercultural Adaptation of Mainland Chinese International Students." International Journal of Communication 9:2161–81.

Chih-chung, Chen, and Lilian Wu. 2016. "Number of Overseas Students in Taiwan Tops 110,000 in 2015."

De Vita, Glauco. 2005. "Fostering Intercultural Learning through Multicultural Group Work." Pp. 75-83 in Teaching International Students: Improving Learning for All, edited by J. Carroll and J. Ryan.

Galloway, Fred J., and John R. Jenkins. 2009. "The Adjustment Problems Faced by International Students in the United States: A Comparison of International Students and Administrative Perceptions at Two Private, Religiously Affiliated Universities." NASPA Journal 46(4):661-73.

Grainger, Richard J., and Alan R. Nankervis. 2001. "Expatriation Practices in the Global Business Environment." Research and Practice in Human Resource Management 9(2):77-92.

ICEF. 2016. "Taiwan aims to double international student numbers by 2019."

Kashima, Emiko S., and Evelyn Loh. 2006. "International Students’ Acculturation: Effects of International, Conational, and Local Ties and Need for Closure." International Journal of Intercultural Relations 30(4):471-85.

Liu, Jingzhou. 2017. "Beyond the Cultural Approach: Understanding the Experience of Chinese International Students in Canada from an Intersectionality Perspective." International Journal of Chinese Education 6(2):236-58.

Mak, Anita S., Patricia M. Brown, and Danielle Wadey. 2014. "Contact and Attitudes toward International Students in Australia: Intergroup Anxiety and Intercultural Communication Emotions as Mediators." Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology 45(3):491-504.

Moscato, Gianluigi, Cinzia Novara, Isabel Hombrados-Mendieta, Floriana Romano, and Gioacchino Lavanco. 2014. "Cultural Identification, Perceived Discrimination and Sense of Community as Predictors of Life Satisfaction among Foreign Partners of Intercultural Families in Italy and Spain: A Transnational Study." International Journal of Intercultural Relations 40:22-23.

Mumford, D.B. 1998. "The Measurement of Culture Shock." Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 33(4):149-54.

Mustaffa, Che S., and Munira Ilias. 2013. "Relationship between Students Adjustment Factors and Cross Cultural Adjustment: A Survey at the Northern University of Malaysia." Intercultural Communication Studies 22(1):279-300.

Neto, Félix, and Daniela C. Wilks. 2017. "Predictors of Psychological Adaptation of Cape Verdean Students in Portugal." Journal of College Student Development 58(7):1087-100.

Novera, Isvet A. 2004. "Indonesian Postgraduate Students Studying in Australia: An Examination of their Academic, Social and Cultural Experiences." International Education Journal 5(4):475-87.

Ozer, Simon. 2015. "Predictors of International Students' Psychological and Sociocultural Adjustment to the Context of Reception While Studying at Aarhus University, Denmark." Scandinavian Journal of Psychology 56(6):717-25.

Robertson, Margaret, Martin Line, Susan Jones, and Sharon Thomas. 2000. "International Students, Learning Environments and Perceptions: A Case Study Using the Delphi Technique." Higher Education Research & Development 19(1):89-102.

Schmitt, Michael T., Nyla R. Branscombe, Tom Postmes, and Amber Garcia. 2014. "The Consequences of Perceived Discrimination for Psychological Well-being: A Meta-analytic Review." Psychological Bulletin 140(4):1-28.

Searle, Wendy, and Colleen Ward. 1990. "The Prediction of Psychological and Sociocultural Adjustment during Cross-cultural Transition." International Journal of Intercultural Relations 14(4):449-64.

Selmer, Jan. 2004. "Psychological Barriers to Adjustment of Western Business Expatriates in China: Newcomers vs. Long Stayers." The International Journal of Human Resource Management 15(4-5).

Spencer-Oatey, Helen, and Zhaoning Xiong. 2006. "Chinese Students' Psychological and Sociocultural Adjustments to Britain: An Empirical Study." Language, Culture and Curriculum 19(1):37-53.

Sun, Jie, and Linda S. Hagedorn. 2016. "Homesickness at College: Its Impact on Academic Performance and Retention." Journal of College Student Development 57(8):943-57.

Thurber, Christopher A., and Edward A. Walton. 2012. "Homesickness and Adjustment in University Students." Journal of American College Health 60(5):415-19.

Vu, Nha TT, and Anne Burns. 2014. "English as a Medium of Instruction: Challenges for Vietnamese Tertiary Lecturers." The Journal of Asia TEFL 11(3):1-31.

Ward, Colleen, Stephen Bochner, and Adrian Furnham. 2001. The Psychology of Culture Shock. East Sussex: Routledge.

Ward, Colleen, Stephen Bochner, and Adrian Furnham. 2005. The Psychology of Culture Shock: Routledge.

Ward, Colleen, and Antony Kennedy. 1992. "Locus of Control, Mood Disturbance, and Social Difficulty during Cross-Cultural Transitions." International Journal of Intercultural Relations 16(2):175-94.

Wearring, Andrew, Huong Le, Rachel Wilson, and Rodney. Arambewela. 2015. "The International Student's Experience: An Exploratory Study of Students from Vietnam." International Education Journal: Comparative Perspectives 14(1):71-89.

Wenhua, Hu, and Zhang Zhe. 2013. "International Students’ Adjustment Problems at University: A Critical Literature Review." Academic Research International 4(2):400-06.

Williams, Christina T., and Laura R. Johnson. 2011. "Why Can’t We Be Friends?: Multicultural Attitudes and Friendships with International Students." International Journal of Intercultural Relations 35(1):41-48.

Wu, Hsiao-ping, Esther Garza, and Guzman Norma. 2015. "International Student’s Challenge and Adjustment to College." Education Research International 2015:1-9.

Young, Tony J., Peter G. Sercombe, Itesh Sachdev, Rola Naeb, and Alina. Schartner. 2013. "Success Factors for International Postgraduate Students' Adjustment: Exploring the Roles of Intercultural Competence, Language Proficiency, Social Contact and Social Support." European Journal of Higher Education 3(2):151-71.

Zhou, Yuefang, Divya Jindal-Snape, Keith Topping, and John Todman. 2008. "Theoretical Models of Culture Shock and Adaptation in International Students in Higher Education." Studies in Higher Education 33(1):63-75.




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1172/vjossh.v5i2.451

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


=====================================================

TẠP CHÍ KHOA HỌC XÃ HỘI VÀ NHÂN VĂN

Trường Đại học Khoa học Xã hội và Nhân văn

Đại học Quốc gia Hà Nội

ISSN 2354-1172