Date of Award
6-2019
Culminating Project Type
Thesis
Degree Name
English: Teaching English as a Second Language: M.A.
Department
English
College
College of Liberal Arts
First Advisor
James Robinson
Second Advisor
John Madden
Third Advisor
Kristen Carlson
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Keywords and Subject Headings
Female Acculturation
Abstract
This paper discusses the process female international students experience when acculturating, or adjusting, while studying abroad in the United States. The research includes interviews from ten female international students in their third or fourth year of study from a Midwestern university to answer the question of how females have handled their adjustment process and what outside factors contribute to their overall study abroad experience. It is important to find trends on the contributing factors for a positive or negative study abroad experience according to the student’s viewpoint. Females make up a significant portion of the student body population studying abroad, yet there is limited research about their acculturation process and what leads to success. This study found that participants recounted negative experiences relating to factors outside of their control, such as academic or social cultural differences, language barriers or financial stress. However, the female participants in this study, combined with their personal motivation and support networks, were able to find resources that enabled positive experiences to occur which offset the female students’ negative experiences. It is the female international student’s own mindset along with provided opportunities to create a support network that is vital for a positive acculturation process. This positive experience is important for the international female student population to succeed in their academic journey.
Recommended Citation
Kriesch, Miranda, "Acculturation Process and Influencing Factors for Adjustment for Female International Students" (2019). Culminating Projects in TESL. 8.
https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/tesl_etds/8
