How Can We Better Understand and Support International Students at Australian Schools? A Case Study of Chinese Learners
Despite the rapid increase in international students in the education sector, this area remains an under-researched. In Australia, many schools welcome international learners, but are also aware that the support they can offer cannot fully address the student’s needs. Drawing on surveys (<i>n&...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Education Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/11/12/807 |
| _version_ | 1797505234623266816 |
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| author | Hongzhi Zhang Philip Wing Keung Chan Yu Tim God |
| author_facet | Hongzhi Zhang Philip Wing Keung Chan Yu Tim God |
| author_sort | Hongzhi Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite the rapid increase in international students in the education sector, this area remains an under-researched. In Australia, many schools welcome international learners, but are also aware that the support they can offer cannot fully address the student’s needs. Drawing on surveys (<i>n</i> = 51) and focus group interviews (<i>n</i> = 16), this case study considers how Chinese international students at four Australian schools understand their everyday experiences. The findings show that students learn and socialise in ways that make sense to them, based on their observations and interpretations of everyday events. Although the support from the school, teachers, and local peers were appreciated, they did not completely solve students’ problems, nor were they necessarily interpreted and accepted by our participants as intended. It is important for educators to develop a more nuanced understanding of the challenges faced by international students in everyday life, and the kind of support that the students need. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:15:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-20e755d06dcd42518b88212b300bca71 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-7102 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:15:42Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Education Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-20e755d06dcd42518b88212b300bca712023-11-23T08:00:05ZengMDPI AGEducation Sciences2227-71022021-12-01111280710.3390/educsci11120807How Can We Better Understand and Support International Students at Australian Schools? A Case Study of Chinese LearnersHongzhi Zhang0Philip Wing Keung Chan1Yu Tim God2School of Education, Culture and Society, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, AustraliaSchool of Education, Culture and Society, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, AustraliaSchool of Education, Culture and Society, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, AustraliaDespite the rapid increase in international students in the education sector, this area remains an under-researched. In Australia, many schools welcome international learners, but are also aware that the support they can offer cannot fully address the student’s needs. Drawing on surveys (<i>n</i> = 51) and focus group interviews (<i>n</i> = 16), this case study considers how Chinese international students at four Australian schools understand their everyday experiences. The findings show that students learn and socialise in ways that make sense to them, based on their observations and interpretations of everyday events. Although the support from the school, teachers, and local peers were appreciated, they did not completely solve students’ problems, nor were they necessarily interpreted and accepted by our participants as intended. It is important for educators to develop a more nuanced understanding of the challenges faced by international students in everyday life, and the kind of support that the students need.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/11/12/807international studentsConfucian Heritage Culture learnerschool educationcultural differences |
| spellingShingle | Hongzhi Zhang Philip Wing Keung Chan Yu Tim God How Can We Better Understand and Support International Students at Australian Schools? A Case Study of Chinese Learners Education Sciences international students Confucian Heritage Culture learner school education cultural differences |
| title | How Can We Better Understand and Support International Students at Australian Schools? A Case Study of Chinese Learners |
| title_full | How Can We Better Understand and Support International Students at Australian Schools? A Case Study of Chinese Learners |
| title_fullStr | How Can We Better Understand and Support International Students at Australian Schools? A Case Study of Chinese Learners |
| title_full_unstemmed | How Can We Better Understand and Support International Students at Australian Schools? A Case Study of Chinese Learners |
| title_short | How Can We Better Understand and Support International Students at Australian Schools? A Case Study of Chinese Learners |
| title_sort | how can we better understand and support international students at australian schools a case study of chinese learners |
| topic | international students Confucian Heritage Culture learner school education cultural differences |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/11/12/807 |
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