Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Students, Foreign – Australia – Psychology'
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Wajnryb, Ruth. "The pragmatics of feedback a study of mitigation in the supervisory discourse of TESOL teacher educators /." Phd thesis, Australia : Macquarie University, 1994. http://hdl.handle.net/1959.14/23100.
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Thesis (PhD)--Macquarie University, School of Education, 1994.Includes bibliography.
Introduction ; The research question and the professional context of the inquiry -- Literature review: substantive survey -- Literature review: methodological survey -- Research method -- The prgamatics of feedback -- An ethnographic portrait of supervision -- Perceptions of mitigation -- Conclusion.
This research project investigates the language of supervisory conferences. A grounded theory approach is taken to the analysis of data drawn from teacher educators in TESOL (Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages) in their feedback discussions with teachers following observed lessons.--Supervisory talk is investigated within a linguistic framework of politeness theory: while the supervisory role includes the obligation of criticism, the act of criticism is constrained by the face-to-face encounter of the supervisory conference. A central construct is the notion of fragility: the supervisory conference-an event which is equated with the talk that achieves it - is considered to be inherently fragile. The aim of the project is to investigate the language so as to uncover the source of the fragility.--Findings suggest that the perceived tension derives from a tug-of-war of essential elements: while the supervisory position affords discoursal power (the right to raise and pursue topics, take long turns, drive the discourse etc), the fa-threatening nature of the event obliges supervisors to resort to social/strategic skills to protect the teacher's face, as well as their own. The textualisation of this restraint takes the form of linguistic mitigation - devices rooted in syntax and semantics that allow supervisors to undercut the force of their own assertions. Mitigation is posited as the means by which supervisors resolve the clash-of-goals that is central to their role. However, mitigation is risky because it may interfere with message clarity.-- The product of the grounded study is a typology of utterance-level mitigation. The typology has three macro-categories (syntactic, semantic and indirectness) and fourteen sub-categories.-- The study was triangulated through an ethnographic investigation of supervisory concerns about feedback; and through an experiment designed to gauge teachers' perceptions of variously mitigated supervisory language. Findings from both studies corroborate the central tenet by contributing images of supervision that support the clash-of-goals thesis.--The projected applied outcome is in supervisor training where, it is suggested, strategic training delivered in a framework of politeness theory would reduce the unwitting dependence on mitigation and hence the risk of message distortion.--Suggestions for further research conclude the study.
Mode of access: World Wide Web.
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Dooey, Patricia. "Issues of English language proficiency for international students." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2005. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/628.
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In the last 20 years or so, there has been a phenomenal increase in the number of international full-fee paying students applying to study in Australian universities, The revenue provided in this way has helped to address the problems faced by cash-starved universities facing recurring funding cuts over the same period. Furthermore, the presence of such students on any university campus provides immeasurable enrichment to the student body in terms of cultural diversity and research potential, and indeed it is very tempting in an ever,-increasing global market, to be as flexible as possible with prospective international students. However, the process of admission also demands careful consideration on the part of the various stakeholders involved. Although several factors need to be taken into account, the most obvious and certainly of primary importance would be the need to prove proficiency in the English language, Given that English is the dominant means of communication in the university, all students are required to draw from a complex web of linguistic resources to construct meaning and to complete the range of tasks required of them during their tertiary studies, This volume deals :with the overarching theme of issues of English language proficiency for overseas students studying in an Australian university. This focus can be viewed from many angles, and there are certainly many key facets involved, a selection of which is explored in the papers of the portfolio. These include the following broad areas: recruitment and admissions, language testing and technology, curriculum and inclusivity, English language support, academic conduct and finally the specific needs of international students, as viewed from their own perspective.
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Kiley, Margaret. "Expectations and experiences of Indonesian postgraduate students studying in Australia : a longitudinal study /." Title page, table of contents and abstract only, 1999. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09PH/09phk478.pdf.
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Townsend, Peter 1952. "The development of intercultural capability : a comparative analysis of the student international education experience." Monash University, Faculty of Education, 2004. http://arrow.monash.edu.au/hdl/1959.1/5442.
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Hedges, Pamela Mary. "Antecedents and outcomes of international student adjustment." University of Western Australia. Graduate School of Management, 2003. http://theses.library.uwa.edu.au/adt-WU2003.0027.
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This study considered the adjustment of international students to their life in a new country and their work in the business faculty of a large Australian university. Prior research into expatriate adjustment was used as the study’s basis and a model for analysis was developed from that research literature. Although some aspects of the relationships found with expatriate employees were not demonstrated, generally the similarities were strong and the features of an expatriate employee’s experience and that of an international student were seen to be very alike. Over 500 international students completed a survey based on well-validated measures from the research literature. The results were analysed using structural equation modelling. The hypothesised model did not fit very well in its original form and alternative models were suggested and tested in order to identify a better-fitting model. Cultural novelty, personal abilities in interpersonal interactions and communication skills, self-esteem, self-efficacy and general adjustment were found to be the most significant variables in explaining the outcomes of academic achievement, workrelated and general wellbeing and work-related and general satisfaction, with selfesteem, self-efficacy and general adjustment having the greatest influence on successful outcomes. Adjustment was found not to be a mediating construct, as suggested in the expatriate literature, but an antecedent influence upon the outcomes. Relationships between the constructs were complex, as had been suggested by previous research, making generalisations about causes and consequences of adjustment very difficult. This complexity emphasised that, for international students, the experience of living and working in an international location needs to be regarded in a holistic fashion and that there are many and varied contributors to its success. Several potentially fruitful avenues for future research, concerning both international students and expatriate employees, were identified and discussed. The implications of the present study were considered, both from an academic perspective and in terms of usefulness within a university. A number of possible practical strategies were suggested, relevant to students, lecturers and university administrators that might assist in improving the experience of ‘expatriation’ for international students.
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Burke, Rachel Jean. "Casualties, contributors, competitors or commodities? : images of the Asian international student population in Australia : reflecting notions of 'national identity' /." [St. Lucia, Qld.], 2004. http://www.library.uq.edu.au/pdfserve.php?image=thesisabs/absthe18916.pdf.
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Kumar, Margaret Kamla Wati Singh. "The discursive representation of international undergraduate students a case study of a higher education institutional site." [Adelaide : M. Kumar,], 2004. http://arrow.unisa.edu.au:8081/1959.8/24983.
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This dissertation addresses the discursive representation of international undergraduate students from the areas of South East Asia and Africa. The central question is: how are international students discursively represented in an Australian university setting? The study considers the university's teaching and learning practices and cultures as well as wider matters of policy. The study draws on postcolonial theory particularly on selected aspects of the work of Edward Said, Homi Bhabha and Gayatri Spivak and in so doing demonstrates the usefulness of postcolonial theory for exploring issues associated with international students in universities.thesis (PhDEducation)--University of South Australia, 2004.
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Bang, Eun-Jun Anderson Kim. "The effects of gender, academic concerns, and social support on stress for international students." Diss., Columbia, Mo. : University of Missouri--Columbia, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10355/6133.
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Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on Feb. 11, 2010). Vita. The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Dissertation advisor: Dr. Kim Anderson. Includes bibliographical references.
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Lin, Yin. "Efficacy of REACH Forgiveness for Foreign and Virginia Students." VCU Scholars Compass, 2012. http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/2952.
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People agree that forgiveness is a virtue in essentially all countries. However, different cultures have different ideas about how willing one should forgive and under what circumstances. Although the study occurred in the USA, I recruited both foreign-extraction and Virginia born-and-raised female college students (N=102) to participate a six-hour REACH forgiveness intervention, promoting their forgiveness through psychoeducational groups. In my thesis, I investigated whether students of foreign extraction and Virginia-born students would respond similarly to the intervention. I operationalized culture in two ways—by country and by individual self-reported self-construal. I measured forgiveness using two measures—decisional forgiveness and emotional forgiveness. I found that the six-hour REACH forgiveness intervention enhanced participants’ forgiveness regardless of their culture background. But foreign students who were functioning in a US university did not respond differently than Virginia-born students. The similar findings also applied to participants who perceived themselves differently in Collectivism and Individualism.
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簡潔枝 and Kit-chi Alice Kan. "The internal structure of the self description questionnaire: a Malaysian investigation." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 1993. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31956427.
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Schram, Judith Lee 1940. "PREDICTING ALIENATION IN INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS (ADJUSTMENT, CULTURE SHOCK)." Thesis, The University of Arizona, 1986. http://hdl.handle.net/10150/291262.
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Berger, Robert L. "Transnational learners : structuration and the decision making process of international students." Virtual Press, 2007. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/1380095.
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In today's world education and the resulting production of knowledge is highly valued as it can open the door to socioeconomic status and mobility. As a result, many students choose cultural and educational exchanges in a foreign country. The goal of this thesis is to better understand the decision making process international students experience prior to their study at an American university. Anchored in structuration theory, a two-step methodology was applied. First, a brief questionnaire survey was administered as a pilot study to gather preliminary data and initiate contact with participants. Second, interviews were conducted with foreign students to obtain background information and their reasoning for studying abroad. While most international students share common experiences in the decision making process, the temporal progression of "action steps" varies considerably among students.Department of Geography
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Lee, Eunah Kim Bratton Sue. "Effects of three interventions with international college students referred for adjustment and language difficulties a preliminary study /." [Denton, Tex.] : University of North Texas, 2007. http://digital.library.unt.edu/permalink/meta-dc-3649.
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Rivers, Gary James. "University selection in Singapore : a case study of students' past and intended decision-making." University of Western Australia. Graduate School of Management, 2005. http://theses.library.uwa.edu.au/adt-WU2005.0072.
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This research focussed Singaporean student decision-making when choosing an institution for university studies. It is contended that if a university does not understand the dimensions of how prospective students make decisions when choosing an institution it cannot meaningfully offer representation to these potential customers. Fittingly, this thesis drew on past research from buyer behaviour and college choice studies. Adapting an established model of consumer decision-making (Engel, Blackwell and Miniard, 1990), the study investigated the degree of compliance with the Extended Problem Solving concept (Howard, 1963), including what factors determined and influenced choices, and whether students learn from past decisions. To this end, an exploratory / descriptive study used mixed methods (Creswell, 1994) to map out the dimensions of student decision-making within an Australian University and Singaporean Association case. Results indicated students? decision-making was closely aligned to simple models and their decision-making steps could be best described as (1) having a need, (2) searching and gathering information, (3) evaluating alternatives, (4) making choice/s, and (5) accepting an offer and enrolling in a university program. Further, respondents did not necessarily engage in extensive searching and gathering activities, as theorised, demonstrated limited learning and had few discernible influences on their choices. The implications for the University-Association case included the need to guide students through their decision-making processes by providing relevant data on which they could make informed choices, relative to career and income advancement. For those indicating that they would choose an institution for postgraduate studies, ensure undergraduate post-choice regret is minimised and offer more choices of management programs so that respondents would consider continuing their studies with the same institution. The study contended that, despite delimits and limitations, contributions to both theory and practise had been made and concluded with several ideas for future research, including proposing two alternative hypotheses.
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Capellan, Frank. "A correlational study| Personality types and foreign language acquisition in undergraduate students." Thesis, Southeastern University, 2017. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10640559.
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The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between personality types and second language acquisition. The study addressed a problem that is inadequately investigated in foreign language acquisition research; specifically, personality traits as predictors of language learning in college students studying Spanish as a foreign language. The researcher conducted one sample t-tests to assess statistically significant differences between mean personality type score and the test value, as well as, a multiple linear regression analysis. A convenient sample of college students (n=52) completed the Neris Personality Type Indicator at the beginning of the course, and took several examinations throughout the semester. Personality traits were correlated with examination grades. The results of the analysis indicated that personality types were not related to second language acquisition. The results of the multiple linear regression analysis were not significant, F (5,46) = 0.39, p = .85, R2 = .04, indicating that the model consisting of the personality types contributed to 4% of the variance in test grade. Because the model was not statistically significant, the researcher did not evaluate the individual predictors.
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Rujipak, Thanyalak. "The re-entry adjustment of Thai students in the transition from graduation in Australia to the return home." Swinburne Research Bank, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/69982.
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Thesis (PhD) - Faculty of Higher Education, Lilydale, Swinburne University of Technology, 2009.Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy, Faculty of Higher Education, Lilydale, Swinburne University of Technology - 2009. Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (p. ??-??)
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Rogerson, Linda. "Adapting to change: An exploration of students' transition experiences in a senior college in Western Australia." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2011. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1729.
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This research sought to explore the experiences of students during their transition to a senior college. The senior college was established in response to the amendments to education policy in Western Australia that made it compulsory for students to remain in full-time education, training or employment until the age of 17 years (Department of Education and Training, 2008). Senior colleges were established to teach Years 11 and 12 exclusively, to promote a school environment that suited the maturity of senior students. Students attending senior colleges experience an additional transition during their senior school years and, as previous research has shown, this has the potential to influence their educational attainment and physical and mental health (Eccles, Midgeley, & Adler, 1984). By investigating the experiences of senior college students as they undertook the additional transition, the impact of the amendments to educational policy was examined. In phase one of the research, 16 Year 11 students were asked to share their transition experiences in personal interviews. The interviews were transcribed and analysed using grounded theory analysis processes. The findings that emerged indicated that the participants had transitioned successfully. The participants identified aspects of the school structure and environment that had contributed to their experiences. The participants credited the four-day week timetable, the open school policy allowing students to leave campus during lesson-free time, the mentor program, the accessibility and support of staff and the respectful relationships between staff and students with positively influencing their transition experiences. In phase two of the research, these findings were incorporated into a transition survey, which was administered to 91 Year 11 senior college students. Survey respondents were asked to rate their level of agreement with statements describing the beneficial aspects of the college using a five-point Likert scale. The results of the survey indicated that phase two participants had transitioned successfully and confirmed the beneficial influence of the college aspects as identified by phase one participants. The survey results were subjected to a multiple regression analysis with successful transition being the dependent variable and mentor program, lesson-free day, open school policy, teacher support and relationships the independent variables. The analysis indicated that the most significant contributors to successful transition were teacher support (t (85) = 3.40, p < .001) and relationships (t (85) = 3.46, p
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Wakabayashi, Satomi. "Personal assertiveness and perceived social support satisfaction among international graduate students." Virtual Press, 1995. http://liblink.bsu.edu/uhtbin/catkey/955095.
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The present exploratory study focused on international graduate students who might experience some difficulties with major life transitions and studying in a different culture. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between personal assertiveness and social support satisfaction among international graduate students. The researcher hypothesized that assertive international graduate students would report higher levels of seeking out and marshalling social support. Thus, they would more likely be satisfied with their perceived social support. The present study also examined several demographic variables such as ethnicity, sex, TOEFL scores, GPA, and length of stay in the U.S., as possible factors affecting their assertiveness and perceived social support satisfaction. The major findings indicated that assertiveness did not always augment social support satisfaction in the current sample. However, the results of the study demonstrated the effects of ethnicity and several other variables in predicting the levels of assertiveness and perceived social support satisfaction among international graduate students. The study also suggested several implications for future research regarding the relationship between interpersonal variables and perceived social support satisfaction.Department of Psychological Science
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Lin, Chia-Hui. "Sojourn in the United States life satisfaction and stress among East Asian graduate students and spouses /." Diss., Connect to online resource - MSU authorized users, 2006.
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Thesis (M.A.)--Michigan State University. Dept. of Family and Child Ecology, 2006.Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on June 19, 2009) Includes bibliographical references (p. 118-130). Also issued in print.
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O'Callaghan, Jamie Allison. "How a one semester study abroad experience affects an undergraduate college student's identity development." Thesis, Montana State University, 2006. http://etd.lib.montana.edu/etd/2006/ocallaghan/OCallaghanJ0506.pdf.
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Delahunty, Susan. "Portraits of Middle Eastern Gulf female students in Australian universities." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2013. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/585.
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This research explores the experiences and insights of ten Middle Eastern Gulf women as they cross international borders to study in Australian universities. The literature indicates that international students in Australia establish their identity within the context of their overseas existence. This is particularly important as Muslims may feel they are being placed in a precarious situation due to, more often than not, terrorism being linked to Islam. Also, when Muslim women wear Islamic or traditional attire, the general public tends to look upon them with curiosity. With this in mind, the complex and changed contexts faced by ten Middle Eastern Gulf female post-graduate students are investigated using qualitative research methods. Utilising a grounded theory approach to interpret data and identify themes from two online questionnaires and personal interviews, individual portraits are created to illuminate their experiences. The research findings reveal new knowledge indicating that education is a structured mechanism for the participants, resulting in the creation of a new hybrid self as a key instrument for survival. This enables them to better understand cultural contexts and barriers arising from class, tradition, religion and learning. The participants indicate that a two-way agreement between educators and learners is paramount to a smooth transition into the Australian education system and a positive return to their home communities.
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Netolicky, Cecilia. "Improving provision for disaffected students: Toward a new educational model." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 1998. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1448.
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The purpose of this study is to develop and review strategies and policies to drive retentive teaching-learning environments for disaffected students, modifying their modus operandi sufficiently for them to qualify and retain a tertiary place or position in the workforce, or sustain a return to mainstream schooling. I employed action research methods to examine Strike Four. an educational model servicing students with severe social and/ or emotional difficulties and behavioural disorders. I tested the Strike Four model during an intensive study period on two programs. Part 1 of the thesis comprises three Chapters. An introduction to the issue of the marginalisation and exclusion of troublesome students in mainstream education is presented in Chapter 1. The review of associated literature, which follows in Chapter 2, examines: early attitudes to crime and deviant behaviour; some modem sociological and psychological attempts to diagnose, categorise, or "cure" deviance; school-based behaviour modification •strategies; and various Australian states' attempts to service disaffected students with education. The theoretical framework presented in Chapter 3 includes the rationale for my choice of qualitative methods, discussion and selection of an action research model, and the position taken on the issues of anonymity and authenticity. Part 2 of the thesis, "The Study", comprises four chapters, and a concluding chapter. A grounded autobiography that clarifies my personal position, whilst demonstrating how my modus operandi was transformed through personal critical moments, is offered in Chapter 4. This provides a base from which to consider the potential for personal critical moments, texts, and mentors to transform an individual's ideology and modus operandi. The educational theory and ideological underpinnings held to underlie the Strike Four model are presented in Chapter 5. Chapter 6 comprises a critical examination of the evolution of Strike Four policy, in particular:, how and if the educational theory and ideological underpinnings claimed to underlie the model are apparent in model policy. Chapter 7 deals with three program strategies: harnessing golden teaching moments; using curriculum as a tool to shape behaviour; and the use of positive contracting to encourage behaviour self-management skills in troublesome students. In this chapter I critically examine how and if policy and ideology is reflected in practice on the programs, and if the various policies, and the three key strategies, are proving successful in modifying the modus operandi of the young people sufficiently to facilitate their functioning in mainstream society. An end piece to the fieldwork is included to fill in "gaps" resulting from the reporting of selected case studies. Chapter 8 includes the findings and recommendations for future research. The model's success in modifying students' modus operandi is demonstrated through the individual case studies and tables. Almost 100% of the students (on entry classified severely alienated) maintained their placement in work, technical college, or mainstream schooling for the three month post support period.
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Dixon, Kathryn C. "Attitudes of staff and students towards vocational education at a case study school." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 1991. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1121.
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The main purpose of this study was to investigate the attitudes of the staff and students at a metropolitan high school towards the vocational Education program, through examining the factors affecting the development of those attitudes and the factors affecting the implementation of the program at the school. The theoretical base of the study draws on the theories of attitude formation proposed by Fishbein (1963) who believed that there is a close relationship between individual belief systems and attitude formation. With respect to the formation of attitudes towards Vocational Education, this study proposes that in a school context influential areas are significant others, past experiences, individual personalities and information. The research is descriptive in nature. The staff and students were asked to complete a questionnaire and were formally interviewed. A measure of the non-verbal behaviour of staff and students during the interviews was also undertaken using a five point scale from negative to positive. The research was undertaken in a single metropolitan senior high school in Western Australia and the sample consisted of 14 staff and 240 students. The main findings of the study show that the majority of staff and students had developed negative attitudes towards Vocational Education. They believed that the course lacked rigour and that significant others such as peers, parents, students and the Western Australian Ministry of Education did not esteem Vocational Education. No needs analysis had been conducted prior to the introduction of the course in the school and staff were given no choice as to their involvement in teaching the units. Staff believed they were inadequately trained in the Vocational Education area and this led to low levels of confidence in teaching the course. The research question was investigated in terms of eight variables: individual attitudes towards Vocational Education; ,perception of the attitudes of significant others towards Vocational Education; satisfaction with course structure; satisfaction with availability of resources and equipment; level of choice with regards to involvement in Vocational Education; degree of ownership towards the course; level of involvement in decision making; and inservicing availability. With the exception of variable four; response to resources and equipment, the response by staff and students to questionnaire and interview items relating to the remaining variables were negative. The implications of the results of the study are discussed in full.
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Apple, Matthew Thomas. "The Big Five Personality Traits and Foreign Language Speaking Confidence among Japanese EFL Students." Diss., Temple University Libraries, 2011. http://cdm16002.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p245801coll10/id/127286.
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CITE/Language ArtsEd.D.
This research examined the relationships between the Big Five human personality traits, favorable social conditions, and foreign language classroom speaking confidence. Four research questions were investigated concerning the validity of the Big Five for a Japanese university sample, the composition of Foreign Language Classroom Speaking Confidence, the degree to which the Big Five influenced Foreign Language Classroom Speaking Confidence, and the degree to which perceptions of classroom climate affect Foreign Language Classroom Speaking Confidence. The first stage of the research involved three pilot studies that led to the revision of the Big Five Factor Marker questionnaire and the creation of a new instrument for measuring foreign language classroom speaking confidence that included both cognitive and social factors as theorized in mainstream social anxiety research. The second stage of the research involved the collection and analysis of data from 1,081 participants studying English in 12 universities throughout Japan. Data were analyzed using a triangulation of Rasch analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) in order to verify the construct validity of the eleven hypothesized constructs. Following validation of the measurement model, the latent variables were placed into a structural regression model, which was tested by using half of the data set as a calibration sample and confirmed by using the second half of the data set as a validation sample. The results of the study indicated the following: (a) four of the five hypothesized Big Five personality traits were valid for the Japanese sample; (b) Foreign Language Classroom Speaking Confidence comprised three measurement variables, Foreign Language Classroom Speaking Anxiety, Perceived Foreign Language Speaking Self-Competence, and Desire to Speak English; (c) Emotional Stability and Imagination directly influenced Foreign Language Classroom Speaking Confidence, and; (d) Current English Classroom Perception and Perceived Social Value of Speaking English directly influenced Foreign Language Classroom Speaking Confidence. The findings thus demonstrated a link between personality, positive classroom atmosphere, and foreign language classroom speaking confidence. The implications of the findings included the possibility that foreign language anxiety is not situation-specific as theorized, and that improved social relations within the foreign language classroom might help reduce speaking anxiety.
Temple University--Theses
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Khajavi, Hedieh. "The relationship between emotional intelligence and the adjustment process of international students." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2002. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/2270.
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Although there is a handful of research on Emotional Intelligence in organizations, there is a lack of research between Emotional Intelligence and the adjustment process of international students. This research aimed to gain a greater understanding of the adjustment process of international students in the United States.
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Mikulsky, Jacqueline. "“In or ‘Out?’”: An examination of the effects of school climate on same-sex attracted students in Australia." University of Sydney, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/2123/1969.
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Doctor of PhilosophyResearch has shown that the school-based experiences of same-sex attracted (SSA) young people are frequently less than ideal, often fraught with verbal and physical harassment and social isolation from peers. School-based victimisation of SSA students has been correlated with their negative mental health outcomes, drug and alcohol use, decreased academic outcomes and lowered tertiary aspirations. These outcomes raise issues related to duty of care for educators, including the general responsibility of schools to create safe, equitable learning environments for all of their students. In order to better meet the needs of SSA students in Australia’s secondary schools, this nationwide study examined the current school climate toward same-sex attraction as described by SSA young people aged 14-19 through their reported experiences and perceptions of environmental stresses and supports, using Margaret Spencer’s PVEST model as the theoretical framework. A web-based survey instrument, advertised through both mainstream and lesbian/gay/bisexual-orientated youth sources, was used to sample Australian SSA students (N = 282). The relationships between SSA students’ perceptions of their school climate (including the treatment of SSA students and topics), their sense of connection to their school community, and their reported academic self-concept and motivation toward learning were investigated using bivariate and multivariate techniques, including structural equation modelling. In-depth interview sessions were conducted with six SSA young people in order to further examine these findings. Results indicated that SSA students’ perceptions of their school climate were directly related to their sense of safety within the school environment, their social connection to their peers and teachers, and their feelings of connectedness to the school environment in general. SSA students’ connection to their teachers and their school environment had the strongest total impact on their academic self-concept and motivation to learn. Of key import was the clear indirect impact of SSA students’ perceptions of their school climate on both of these important academic outcomes, through their connection to both their school community and general school environment. These findings allow for the generation of informed recommendations for school policy and practice with the academic outcomes of Australia’s SSA students in mind.
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Hlokwe, Joy Katlego. "The psychological, social and cultural experiences of undergraduate international students at the University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus) : an afrocentric perspective." Thesis, University of Limpopo, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/10386/2876.
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Thesis (M. A. (Psychology)) --University of LimpopoThis research investigated the psychological, social and cultural experiences of undergraduate international students at the University of Limpopo (Turfloop Campus). The study was qualitative in nature with an exploratory research design. The research made use of purposive sampling. Data was collected through focus groups as it was an appropriate tool for collecting the in-depth experiences of international students registered at the University. There were four focus groups with six participants in each so the overall sample was twenty-four. The researcher sampled twelve females and twelve males to ensure gender representivity. Afrocentricity was used as theoretical framework underpinning the study. The data were analysed using Thematic content analysis (TCA). The following themes emerged out of an interpretation of data: Motivation; Discrimination; academic challenges; language barriers; sense of belonging; homesickness; avoidance, acculturation and shared African culture. International students experienced many challenges which resulted in loneliness and isolation. They also used negative defence mechanisms in order to cope in the new environment. Results indicated that there are divisions in terms of culture (both social and academic) in the University environment caused, in part, by the colonial partition of Africa. Conversely, elements of African culture that have survived the onslaught of colonialism (and in South Africa, apartheid) help bind international and peer host country students (and outside communities) together.
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Duthie, Myrna. "International peers : perceptions of the host-national peers in a program designed to aid the adjustment of international students at the University of British Columbia." Thesis, University of British Columbia, 1987. http://hdl.handle.net/2429/26807.
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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
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Amm, Lesley E. "Individual, family, social support and stress factors affecting university students' generalised self-efficacy beliefs." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2007. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/282.
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Students' success at university is influenced by their generalised self-ecfficacy beliefs. Previous studies compared these beliefs to individual variables derived from self-concept, family, stress, and self-support research. An holistic approach in this present study was used with data collected from 168 first-year students, to investigate the relationship between generalised self-efficacy beliefs and variables measuring students' self-descriptions, the functioning of their families-of-origin, their daily stress experienced in the university setting, stress management skills they wish to improve and their fear of disclosure in relation to peers.
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Conterno, Catia I. "Pastoral care of female students in cross-cultural context." Theological Research Exchange Network (TREN), 1997. http://www.tren.com.
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Liang, Huai-Liang. "The relationship between social support and adjustment issues of international students and international student-athletes in the United States." Virtual Press, 2004. http://www.oregonpdf.org.
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Lawson, Elizabeth J. "Adolescent coping styles and response to stress: A study of the relationship between the preferred coping styles of female senior high school students and their levels of anxiety and self-confidence when facing a major academic stressor." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 1993. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1154.
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A growing body of research indicates the importance of coping strategies when an individual responds to environmental demands. Community concern about the maladaptive responses of some adolescents, limited research with this age group, and the development of a new Australian measure of adolescent coping provided the impetus for this study. The study was conducted with 141 female students in their final year of High School. They completed the Adolescent Coping Scale (ACS) in March, and measures of anxiety and self-confidence in November, just before major external examinations. Behavioural rating scales were completed by parents and teachers. The adolescent group reported frequent use of coping strategies which research indicates are likely to be effective, and relatively little use of ineffective strategies. When facing a severe academic stressor, they were self-confident but reported very high levels of anxiety, which was cognitive rather than somatic in focus. The few students whose ACS scores showed relatively high use of ineffective and low use of effective coping strategies were identified as "At risk". When compared with a contrasting sub-group, the "At-risk" students were significantly more anxious and less self-confident. There was no evidence that parents or teachers were aware of the adolescents' high levels of anxiety. The findings provide support for the predictive validity of the ACS, and have implications for helping adolescents cope with stress and developmental demands. Further research directions are suggested.
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Radomski, Sharon. "Alcohol use in study abroad programs an application of two theories /." View electronic thesis (PDF), 2009. http://dl.uncw.edu/etd/2009-1/radomskis/sharonradomski.pdf.
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Cetinkaya, Yesim Bektas. "Turkish college students' willingness to communicate in English as a foreign language." Columbus, Ohio : Ohio State University, 2005. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc%5Fnum=osu1133287531.
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Smith, Shelley L. "The cognitive learning styles of international students." PDXScholar, 1986. https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds/3731.
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The purpose of this research was to examine the usefulness of David A. Kolb's Learning Styles Inventory (LSI) as a tool for categorization and analysis of systematic differences between American and International students. The research addressed five primary questions:
1. Are the learning styles of the International students tested different from those established by Kolb in previous studies of American students?
2. Do the learning styles of the International students tested differ among the various groups?
3. Are there differences among the groups of International students tested that can be related to gender?
4. Do the learning styles of the International students tested show any variation according to age? And if present, does that pattern differ in any way from patterns identified for American subjects tested?
5. Are the learning styles of the International students tested similar or dissimilar from the norms established by Kolb for American students in various fields of academic study?
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Li, Guang. "Effects of Cultural Intelligence and Social Support on Adjustment of International Students." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2018. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1404624/.
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The purpose of this study was to investigate direct and interaction effects of cultural intelligence and social support on the adjustment of international students to U.S. higher education. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted to test (a) if cultural intelligence was a predictor for adjustment of international students to U.S. higher education; (b) if social support was a predictor for adjustment of international students to U.S. higher education; and (c) if there was an interaction effect between cultural intelligence and social support on international students' adjustment to U.S. higher education. The participants included 262 international students from a southwestern university. The results found only social support from the university was a significant predictor of international students' adjustment. There was no interaction effect between cultural intelligence and social support from any sources on international students' adjustment.
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Fukuda-Oddie, Mayumi School of Modern Language Studies UNSW. "Non-verbal and verbal behaviour of beginner learners of Japanese: pragmatic failure and native speaker evaluation." Awarded by:University of New South Wales. School of Modern Language Studies, 2007. http://handle.unsw.edu.au/1959.4/27313.
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This study, undertaken within the field of interlanguage pragmatics, investigates the kinds of pragmatic failures observed among tertiary level foreign learners of Japanese and also seeks to find reasons to help explain the occurrence of these failures. The focus of the study is on the data generated from a role play where a student has to borrow a book from their Japanese teacher. The primary role play is performed by nine beginner level learners of Japanese studying at an Australian university, but the role play is also performed by ten Japanese native speakers in order to determine what is normative for native speakers in this situation. Unlike previous studies in this area, this research collects kinesic non-verbal data in addition to linguistic data. The data is analysed using Thomas's (1983) concept of pragmatic failure, and Brown and Levinson's (1978, 1987) politeness theory. The study also considers whether Japanese native speakers evenly evaluate the role play performances of the Japanese learners. Despite difficulties in the application of these linguistic theories to beginner level learners, a number of sociopragmatic failures and one pragmalinguistic failure are observed in the role play performances of the Japanese learners. These are partially explained by a lack of instruction, nervousness in performing the role play and the learners' limited proficiency in the Japanese language. Inconsistencies are also observed in the way that JNS participants evaluate the role play performances of the JFL learners.
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Harms, Craig. "Goal motivation, academic outcomes, and psychological distress of a group of Australian secondary students : scale refinement and an extension of the Ingledew, Wray, Markland, and Hardy (2005) model." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2010. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/136.
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Beliefs held about personal goals are termed goal dimensions. When applied to academic goals, goal dimensions represent a form of academic motivation. The purpose of this research was to examine if a model of goal dimensions developed by Ingledew, Wray, Markland, and Hardy (2005) in a business setting with adults could be applied to explain academic outcomes and psychological distress of two hundred and sixteen Australian final-year secondary students who were striving to gain a place at a university. Structural Regression (S-R) Analysis was used to examine the effect of the goal dimensions on psychological distress at Time 1 (April); psychological distress at Time 3 (September) while accounting for psychological distress at Time 1; and psychological distress at Time 3 as well as overall final academic performance, with consideration given to the effect of sense of goal progress and use of self-regulated learning strategies assessed at Time 2. Although not intended as a major part of the current research, several alternative models were developed for the scales that were used in the present study. Findings from the substantive analysis indicated that supportive beliefs about this personal goal were predictive of fewer symptoms of concurrently measured psychological distress.
These findings were most clearly demonstrated when an S-R (of a substantially modified version of the Ingledew et al. model) rather than a Path Analysis was conducted. Supportive goal beliefs were also predictive of subsequent beliefs about goal progress and academic performance.
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Abbassi, Amir. "Culture and Anxiety: a Cross-Cultural Study." Thesis, University of North Texas, 1998. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc279124/.
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By measuring interactions among and between anxiety and the independent variables of country of origin, gender, level of education, and age, this study attempted to gain insight into how students from different countries experience anxiety on a U.S. college campus. Results of the Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) and the univariate test(ANOVA) indicated that the gender and level of education of the subjects made no significant difference. However, when it came to country of origin, there were
significant differences between two of the cultural groups and respective anxiety level. Findings also support a positive correlation between age and anxiety levels, with the youngest participants having the lowest anxiety levels.
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Ribbe, David Paul. "The effectiveness of the Culture Shock Adaptation Inventory, II in assessing the degree of cultural adaptation of foreign graduate students." Theological Research Exchange Network (TREN), 1987. http://www.tren.com.
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Mander, David James. "The transition experience to boarding school for male Aboriginal secondary school students from regional and remote communities across Western Australia." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2012. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/521.
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The experience of transitioning to boarding schools away from home for Aboriginal secondary school students from regional and remote communities in Australia has not received the attention it deserves (Calma, 2009; Dodson, 2009). The weight of public discourse and a paucity in research provided strong testimony for undertaking the current study. Moreover, it was evident the voice of those Aboriginal students undertaking the experience was absent from this public dialogue and the literature. This qualitative research investigated from a social constructionist perspective how 32 male Aboriginal secondary school students from regional and remote communities constructed meaning and understanding around the experience of studying away from home at five boarding schools located in Perth, Western Australia (WA). While students’ experiences with being away at boarding school were explored, it also investigated how meaning was constructed around the experience of having a child away from home for 11 parents and the experience for 16 staff employed at boarding schools in supporting students. Congruent with the assertions of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC, 2003) this research was supported by an Aboriginal Advisory Group. A narrative interviewing style was used to collect data from student, parent, and staff informants. Thematic analysis of the data revealed three major themes emerged for student informants, these were 1) Decision Making and the sub-themes of Choice-Less Choice and Opportunity 2) Organisational Climate and the sub-themes of School Environment and Belonging, Culture Shock, Homesickness, Identity and Rites of Passage, Code-Switching, Teachers, Academic Expectations, Residential Life, and Friendships and Peer relations, and 3) Relational Change and the sub-themes of Family Dynamics, Friendships at home, and Cultural Connectedness. For parent informants the following major themes emerged from the data 1) Access, Standards and Quality, and the sub-themes of Declining Local Schools, Opportunity, and Worldliness 2) Parental Agency and the sub-themes of Parent-School Connection, Parenting Style, Communication, and Milestones and Siblings, and 3) Cultural Heritage and the sub-theme of Maintenance and Transmission. Finally, for staff informants the following major themes were identified 1) Indigenous Education and the sub-themes of Social Responsibility and Opportunity 2) Academic and Social Determinants and the sub-themes of Culture Shock, Homesickness, Friendships and Peer Support, Literacy and Numeracy, and Prejudice, Stereotypes, and Racism 3) Relationships and the sub-themes of Staff-Student Relationship, Staff-Parent Relationship, and School-Community Relationship. The key findings from each informant group are reviewed. However, to provide a wider discussion of informant’s experiences and constructions of the transition experience, attention is also drawn to meta-themes that were evident across the student, parent, and staff informant groups. The findings of this research are discussed in relation to policy and practice implications pertinent to boarding schools in WA. The strengths and limitations of the current research are considered and future research directions are suggested. This research offers a unique contribution to current understandings of the transition experience to boarding school for male Aboriginal secondary school students from regional and remote communities.
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Ralston, Sharon Anne. "Culture shock: the adjustment process for international students." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 1994. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/42961.
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Glynn, Warrick. "Non-hegemonic masculinities and sexualities in the secondary school : construction and regulation within a culture of heteronormativity /." Connect to thesis, 1999. http://repository.unimelb.edu.au/10187/1007.
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This project looks at the ways in which masculine identities are constructed and perceived in secondary schools. It identifies some of the links between broader gender politics and the more specific area of masculinities as they apply to the lives of gay-identified and non-identified secondary school students. Through focussed discussion with groups of students the research describes types of behaviours that are characterised by students as desirable or undesirable and the perceived relationship of such behaviours with particular sexualities. In this thesis I interrogate the treatment (including bullying, harassment and lack of acknowledgment of the gay experience), in schools, of boys who express gender unorthodoxy/non-hegemonic masculinities. In order to understand this behaviour I look at the means of control of such expressions as exercised by other students and teachers and explore the motivation behind this control. Through listening to the stories of students I identify the need to evaluate school policy and pedagogical practices with a view to making the educational experience more inclusive of a broad range of masculinities and sexualities and therefore a more relevant, positive and productive one.
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Kho, Jimmy P. "International student perceptions of the quality of learning experiences in vocational education and training." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2014. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1286.
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The private VET education industry has done well to maintain a high self-concept among the students, and perhaps the overall high praise of the teaching staff have contributed to maintaining high self-concepts among the students. Most international students treasured the social cultural, environment and lifestyles aspects of their stay in Australia and these items are also among the easy items of the linear scale produced in this present study.
The Rasch self-concept findings were consistent with the qualitative findings where students related much of their positive self-concept through their non-academic activities. Importantly, when the student’s Self-Concept is high they are able to benefit beyond just passing the units, they are able to find value and purpose in their study. The sub-group Standards which form part of the measure of Motivation to Achieve Academically seems to be rated harder by the students than was predicted, this may be due to the students not being familiar with the standard of the Australian VET system. Students may not have had sufficient understanding of the academic requirements of VET courses. This may have caused the students to be insufficiently prepared for their academic study and not fully informed of the standards expected of them. Some students perceive VET courses to be easier and can lead to good employment opportunities. Many international students do rate positively the opportunity to work and this could have provided the motivation for their courses.
Looking at the qualitative messages from the students, the colleges could do more to assist the students by assessing the language and study skills of the students and provide appropriate training to upgrade their skills accordingly. The colleges could also provide a more adequate explanation of the VET system to the students so as to better prepare the students with the necessary skills to pursue their academic studies. The negative responses were mainly about lack of resources and facilities among educational service providers and highlight the negative impacts when such expectations were not met. The colleges should be more aware that international students need more opportunities and facilities for these social, cultural and recreational activities
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Williams, Sheila Y. Guinier Clarke. "ASIAN INDIAN SOJOURNERS: AN INQUIRY INTO THE PROBASHI–“AWAY FROM HOME” EXPERIENCE OF GRADUATE STUDENTS AT A MID-WESTERN UNIVERSITY." Ohio : Ohio University, 2007. http://www.ohiolink.edu/etd/view.cgi?ohiou1188314140.
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Hardie, Julie Christine. "New Opportunities or difficult challenges? Self-regulation of learning in Chinese students in a western university setting." Thesis, University of Canterbury. UCTL - University Centre for Teaching & Learning, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10092/3392.
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International students often desire to study overseas and many countries, including New Zealand, welcome them into their schools and universities. Students from Mainland China, one of the most populous countries in the world and, until quite recently closed to the rest of the world, have, in the past few years, made up the large majority of those who come to New Zealand to study. Those wishing to enter university after completing high school in China must acquire a specified level of English and successfully complete a two semester long Foundation Studies course, before being eligible for undergraduate study. Research into independent or self-regulated learning has shown that Western (mainly American) students are much more successful academically and enjoy their studies more if they are willing and able to self-regulate their learning. This research has occurred mostly in Western settings with Western participants. The present research using a mixed methods approach aimed to examine the self-regulated learning, epistemological beliefs, demographic factors and personality traits of Mainland Chinese students studying in the Foundation Studies course and to determine whether any of these factors appeared to have any appreciable effect on their experiences in the course and on their final outcomes. The research found that while no one specific factor seemed to determine experiences and outcomes, it would appear that personality characteristics of face, optimism and other Dependability scores may mediate factors such as ability (measured by grades), length of time in the country, self-regulated learning and motivational strategies (such as organisation, time management, effort regulation and self-efficacy), and previous independent learning to influence these experiences and outcomes. While it appears that the North American theory of self-regulated learning is applicable to these students, it seems that cultural beliefs may affect which self-regulatory factor is most salient in their academic outcomes. Further research would be valuable to clarify these differences.
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Islam, Nehalul. "Assessment and Comparison of the Stress Experienced by International and American Students at the University of North Texas." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2001. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc2801/.
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There were two purposes of the current study: (1) to evaluate if the East Asian Student Stress Inventory could be used to assess the stress experienced by International and American students at the University of North Texas and (2) to determine if the Inventory could discriminate between the two groups on the basis of the stress assessment. A sample of International (n=205) and American (n=216) graduate and undergraduate students completed the inventory. Results indicated that the EASSI could be generalized to a wider spectrum of International students. Using principal component factor analysis with varimax rotation, eight factors were extracted: culture shock, physiological symptoms, family pressure, test anxiety, financial difficulties, attitude toward study, social support and academic self esteem. The inventory clearly discriminated between the two groups on the subscales of culture shock, family pressure and attitude toward study and the International students scored higher on these subscales.
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Praphruitkit, Thira. "The Relationships Among English Oral Communication Apprehension, Social Interest, and Locus of Control of Far Eastern Students." Thesis, North Texas State University, 1987. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc330917/.
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This study determined the relationships among English oral communication apprehension, social interest, and locus of control of Far Eastern students, and examined whether differences exist in these variables, compared to gender, age, academic classification, major field of study, employment status, and length of study in the United States. Four instruments, including a demographic questionnaire, the Adapted Personal Report of Communication Apprehension-24 (AFRCA-24), the Social Interest Scale (SIS), and the Rotter's Internal-External (I-E) Scale, were used to collect data from the sample of 240 Far Eastern students enrolled at North Texas State University in the fall semester of 1986.
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Fyson, Stephen J. "Understanding and Developing Transformational Community in Order to Prevent Alienation : a Longitudinal Study of Students Involved in a School Restructure." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2004. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/1654.
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The research examined whether the transition of students into junior high school from primary could school be managed with less alienation for the students by using a school restructure that intentionally attempted to increase psychological sense of community. The objectives of the research were therefore to (a) describe and understand students' perspectives of their community life world, (b) contribute to the knowledge of community-based practice in education, and (c) to add to the scope of understanding of the psychological sense of community.
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Bosch, Bailey. "Women who Study: Balancing the Dual Roles of Postgraduate Student and Mother." Thesis, Edith Cowan University, Research Online, Perth, Western Australia, 2013. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/592.
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Although the value of educating mothers has been established in the previous research, little is known about the experiences of mothers who participate in higher education. What is known supports a largely negative portrayal of the experience; it seems that it is a difficult journey, filled with tension. This thesis reports on an exploration of the experiences of mothers who are postgraduate students in Australia. The research comprised of two phases: the first phase was a narrative study of the experiences of 14 Australian postgraduate student mothers. The second phase comprised of a Q-method study of 75 postgraduate student mothers, where Q-method is a technique that incorporates both qualitative and quantitative components. In addition, there was a precursor study was undertaken to ensure variety in the Q-statements, as well as a follow-up study which checked for confirmability of the Q-study interpretation. The findings showed that studying impacted on almost every facet of a woman’s life. Postgraduate student mothers juggled childcare and timetabling issues and, for some, their main challenge was a lack of support. They overcame these difficulties with highly developed organisation and time-management skills, oftentimes with partner support, and by sacrificing sleep and recreation time. The women were strongly motivated by the desire for personal achievement, and the opportunity to create a better future for their children. Postgraduate education rewarded student mothers with a sense of freedom, growth, pride and achievement, as well as developing their professional identity. The results of this research program demonstrated that postgraduate education provided women with a major opportunity to grow and develop their personal abilities while raising their children. This fresh perspective offers an alternative, and more positive snapshot of life as a student mother, and contrasts with the previously reported experience in the literature.