Date of Award
8-2008
Culminating Project Type
Thesis
Department
Sociology and Anthropology
College
College of Liberal Arts
First Advisor
Rob Lavenda
Second Advisor
Joseph Edelheit
Third Advisor
Niloufer Merchant
Keywords and Subject Headings
Respect, Communication, Feedback, Dialogue, Adjustment, Coexistance, Nature, Peace, any Person is Important
Abstract
This thesis was about to know how international students adjusted to living and studying outside of their country of origin by finding the ways each student adjusted to the challenges of living and studying in a foreign country. Specifically, being aware of what they have to say about living here and telling us their point of view.
The study was conducted with international students at St. Cloud State University. St. Cloud is one of the major city of the state of Minnesota, USA. This thesis is an effort to supply more information that can elevate awareness about cultural misunderstanding, and help to reduce frustration and discrimination of any kind and care of the transition time the students pass to adjust.
It is important to be aware of the transition issues faced by international students, issues that emerge in different ways for each individual, student and group. The students' needs come at different times, depending on the many situations that arise from the process of learning to live in a college in the USA.
The research was a qualitative research a focus on adjustment of current international students studying in the Intensive English Center in St. Cloud State University in the summer of 2007, teachers of IEC, ESL, former international students and a mini research with second year international students.
In general, I want to identify how international students adjust in American culture, by looking at the use of different roles, awareness of spirituality, faith, cultural shock, cultural awareness, language, career goals, role of meanings, academic development, motivation, personal meaning, interpersonal relationships, mental health, cultural adjustment, and better knowledge in the languages and all these add to their personal cultural heritage, in general their personal life.
FINDINGS AND SUGGESTIONS:
For teachers their considered their role of teaching academic English language is a priority factor of international students adjustment in American system and to learn the host culture. The second main factor for them was the role of "care taker" more than other professors; they usually serve the students in their first semester(s) on the campus and in the country. They feel are responsible to help international students prepare for university life too.
The teacher's tendency was to assume the extra role of being a guide to international students not only academically also outside the classroom. This tendency made the teachers show openness and understanding of what diversity and multicultural awareness and multicultural adjustment means for students and for themselves and this openness shows a tendency of their personal growth and character. This personal growth tendency is transmitted to their students inside and outside the classroom influencing in the positive and successfully adjustment and improvement character of international students.
Former international graduate students and international undergraduate students' tendency of accept or reject St. Cloud State University Orientation Program may be influence b•y age and previous academic experiences. In addition, other indicators were found to address the process of adjustment.
The help of a team can.be helpful for teachers, staff, and faculty to help in the adjusting of the students, unique circumstances of international students need to be individually addressed during transitional time for the success of students and university goals.
As a suggestion case manage St. Cloud State University II office creation this can be inside International, Multicultural and Religious studies but also linked to Academic, Student Affair, Student Services and Student Development plus direct communication with the President of the St. Cloud State University.
Recommended Citation
de Orecho, Maria Lazaro, "Cultural Identity Adjustment for International Students in St. Cloud State University, MN, USA" (2008). Culminating Projects in Sociology. 2.
https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/soc_etds/2
