scholarly journals Preparing Chinese Students for the New Zealand  Academic Environment: The Foundation Studies Programme

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Melinda Hall
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
International Students ◽  
Study Skills ◽  
Chinese Students ◽  
Chinese International Students ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Academic Environment ◽  
Undergraduate Study ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Two Phases

<p>This research project examines the Foundation Studies Programme at Victoria University of Wellington to see if it succeeds in its aim to prepare students for undergraduate study in New Zealand, and to identify what factors contribute to a Chinese international student's success. The research is conducted in two phases -the first phase considers the achievement of 40 Chinese international students - half of whom have been through the Foundation Studies programme and half of whom have not - and finds that there is a significant correlation between completing the Foundation Studies programme and academic achievement in undergraduate courses. Reasons for this are explored in the second phase of study through interviews with twenty Chinese international students, ten who have taken the Foundation Studies programme and ten who have not. Some of the explanations found for the difference in achievement are that the Foundation Studies graduates are more confident in using English, are more adjusted to life in New Zealand, and are more prepared for the New Zealand academic environment, having gained essential essaywriting and study skills during the Foundation Studies programme. The main issue raised is the need for institutions to better prepare Chinese international students who gain admission directly into undergraduate programmes before they commence their studies, so that they are more able to succeed in the New Zealand academic environment.</p>

scholarly journals Preparing Chinese Students for the New Zealand  Academic Environment: The Foundation Studies Programme

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Melinda Hall
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
International Students ◽  
Study Skills ◽  
Chinese Students ◽  
Chinese International Students ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Academic Environment ◽  
Undergraduate Study ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Two Phases

<p>This research project examines the Foundation Studies Programme at Victoria University of Wellington to see if it succeeds in its aim to prepare students for undergraduate study in New Zealand, and to identify what factors contribute to a Chinese international student's success. The research is conducted in two phases -the first phase considers the achievement of 40 Chinese international students - half of whom have been through the Foundation Studies programme and half of whom have not - and finds that there is a significant correlation between completing the Foundation Studies programme and academic achievement in undergraduate courses. Reasons for this are explored in the second phase of study through interviews with twenty Chinese international students, ten who have taken the Foundation Studies programme and ten who have not. Some of the explanations found for the difference in achievement are that the Foundation Studies graduates are more confident in using English, are more adjusted to life in New Zealand, and are more prepared for the New Zealand academic environment, having gained essential essaywriting and study skills during the Foundation Studies programme. The main issue raised is the need for institutions to better prepare Chinese international students who gain admission directly into undergraduate programmes before they commence their studies, so that they are more able to succeed in the New Zealand academic environment.</p>

scholarly journals Kites Flying: Chinese overseas Kites Flying: Reflections of Chinese Students in New Zealand on National Identity Students’ reflections on National Identity

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiudi Zhang
Keyword(s):  
National Identity ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
International Students ◽  
Chinese Culture ◽  
Chinese Students ◽  
Chinese International Students ◽  
Chinese Overseas ◽  
International Identity ◽  
The Individual

The study described in this paper examined the national identity tension that often occurs between Chinese international students and Western host country members. Research questions guiding the study were: How does the experience of studying in New Zealand provide challenges for Chinese international identity, and how do Chinese students reflect their cognitions of national identity in everyday life. Case study was used as a method to collect data from 20 Chinese international students. Cross-national discussions of China from the participants’ life experiences reveal a complex, sometimes contradictory, relationship between the individual and state, which is deeply rooted in Chinese culture and context, and provides a critical reflection on Chinese citizens. Drawing on interviews of Chinese students at a New Zealand university, this study showed that these Chinese international students are struggling with a changeable national identity which is relevant to their overseas experience, family history and education background.

scholarly journals Biphasic pattern in the effect of severe measles infection; the difference between additive and multiplicative scale

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nhat Thanh Hoang Le ◽  
Nhan Thi Ho ◽  
Bryan Grenfell ◽  
Stephen Baker ◽  
Ronald B. Geskus
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
Hospital Admission ◽  
Measles Virus ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Admission Rate ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Two Phases ◽  
Additive Scale

Abstract Background Infection with measles virus (MeV) causes immunosuppression and increased susceptibility to other infectious diseases. Only few studies reported a duration of immunosuppression, with varying results. We investigated the effect of immunosuppression on the incidence of hospital admissions for infectious diseases in Vietnamese children. Methods We used retrospective data (2005 to 2015; N = 4419) from the two pediatric hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. We compared the age-specific incidence of hospital admission for infectious diseases before and after hospitalization for measles. We fitted a Poisson regression model that included gender, current age, and time since measles to obtain a multiplicative effect measure. Estimates were transformed to the additive scale. Results We observed two phases in the incidence of hospital admission after measles. The first phase started with a fourfold increased rate of admissions during the first month after measles, dropping to a level quite comparable to children of the same age before measles. In the second phase, lasting until at least 6 years after measles, the admission rate decreased further, with values up to 20 times lower than in children of the same age before measles. However, on the additive scale the effect size in the second phase was much smaller than in the first phase. Conclusion The first phase highlights the public health benefits of measles vaccination by preventing measles and immune amnesia. The beneficial second phase is interesting, but its strength strongly depends on the scale. It suggests a complicated interaction between MeV infection and the host immunity.

scholarly journals Vietnamese International Students' Experiences in a New Zealand University: A Narrative Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Ha Thuong Vu
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
International Students ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Positioning Theory ◽  
Academic Environment ◽  
Self Directed Learning ◽  
Language And Culture ◽  
Narrative Study ◽  
Directed Learning ◽  
Field Notes

<p>This narrative study explored the adjustment experiences of six Vietnamese international students at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. Data for the study were based on two sources; in-depth interviewing and the researcher's field notes. Each of participants was interviewed twice on their adjustment experiences in New Zealand. Thematic analysis was applied to their stories and positioning theory provided a theoretical lens to further analyze and interpret the participants' stories.  The findings of the study indicated that the participants experienced many new and different things. Most experienced a stressful academic environment during their first few weeks but they felt better as time passed. The most common challenges they faced related to language issues. Difficulties came from differences between cultures with a mismatch between the participants' previous learning experiences and teaching and learning in the new environment. The participants felt stressed by the amount of self-directed learning expected. These challenges brought benefits such as becoming independent and self- regulated learners. After one trimester one participant had happily adapted and thought of a future life in New Zealand. Three participants had gradually adapted and come to enjoy their new life Two of the six students were clear that they did not belong in New Zealand and wanted to finish their degree and then go back to Vietnam.  The study concluded that the participants had diverse difficulties studying and living in New Zealand, mostly related to the different academic environment, language and culture. The participants used various coping strategies to deal with their challenges in the new environment and the main source of their support was from friends and families.</p>

scholarly journals The Selection, Promotion, and Reception of Translated Fiction in Wellington

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Mohsen Kafi
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
English Language ◽  
Strong Predictor ◽  
Complex Nature ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Second Languages ◽  
Commercial Practice ◽  
Two Phases ◽  
Treat All

<p>This is the first systematic study of the selection, promotion, and reception of translated fiction anywhere in New Zealand. The study has two phases. The first draws on the responses of 277 adult readers in Wellington to a questionnaire about their perceptions of translated fiction. The findings reveal that most Wellington readers say they enjoy reading books set in other cultures, but their actual reading is largely English-language oriented. While some respondents expressed a specific interest in reading translated fiction, most prioritised genre and content. Age and ethnicity correlate only weakly with perceptions of translated fiction, but knowledge of one or more second languages is a strong predictor of positive perceptions of translated fiction. The second phase of the study draws on seven semi-structured interviews with representatives from three major book-related entities in Wellington: New Zealand Festival’s Writers Week, Wellington City Libraries (WCL), and Unity Books. The interviews provided first-hand insights into each entity’s policies and practices for selecting and promoting translated fiction. Although its past and current coordinators speak highly of translated literature, Wellington’s Writers Week has seen a significant decline in the number of non-English-speaking writers in the last two decades. Similarly, Unity Books claims to treat all categories of books, including translated fiction, equally, but its commercial practice in fact prioritises certain other categories. Wellington City Libraries, on the other hand, has taken a proactive approach to the promotion of translated fiction, for example through blogs and physical displays. Combined with the survey data, the interview findings demonstrate both the complex nature of reading choices and the challenges of advocating for the enhanced visibility of translated fiction in a largely monolingual context. However, many signs also point to a growing recognition of translated fiction as an important element of eclectic reading. This recognition can lead to positive changes in the future.</p>

scholarly journals Chinese international students travelling with friends: Group decision-making and disagreement prevention

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Hanru Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
International Students ◽  
Shared Decision Making ◽  
Group Decision Making ◽  
Group Decision ◽  
Chinese International Students ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Shared Decision ◽  
Decision Making Model

<p>This thesis investigates the group decision-making process of Chinese international students travelling with friends in New Zealand. Focusing on groups of friends, a neglected decision-making unit, it explores models of group decision-making and disagreement prevention and resolution strategies of Chinese international students making travel-related decisions. Qualitative research method governed by the interpretive paradigm was adopted. Sixteen Chinese international students from Victoria University of Wellington were interviewed. They were from eleven travel groups and had experience of independent leisure travel in non-family groups in New Zealand. Given that Chinese independent visitor market to New Zealand keeps growing, and Chinese international students have been referred as “China's first wave of independent travellers” (King & Gardiner, 2015), this study adds knowledge to the understanding of the travel behaviours and decision-making process of this market travelling in New Zealand.  Tourism attractions were the most discussed travel-related decision during the group decision-making process, followed by decisions on travel activities, food and restaurants, accommodation and transportation. Three group decision-making models were identified: leadership, division of work, and shared decision-making. Leadership includes three roles of leaders, namely the travel initiator who has the initial idea for the trip and who gets potential members together, the main plan-provider who is responsible for collecting travel information and travel tips to make the whole travel plan and arrange travel schedules, and the main decision-maker who makes the final decision in the travel group. The former two roles are with less dominance, while the latter is with higher dominance in the decision-making process. The division of work model refers to dividing the tasks (e.g. organising accommodation or transport) within the travel group and includes two roles: the plan-provider who is responsible for making the plan for the allocated task, and the decision-maker who made the decision on the allocated task. In the shared decision-making model, the group members make the travel-related decisions collectively by discussion and voting.  Most travel groups were found to use multiple group decision-making models conjointly, with a few groups only using the shared decision-making model. Overall, the most used models were shared decision-making and leadership. Most travel group who adopted the leadership model tended to then use either shared decision-making model or the division of work model depending on the level of dominance of group leader.  Most interviewees indicated that there was lack of disagreement during the group decision-making process. Thus the research focus has shifted from the disagreement resolution to the disagreement prevention. Five disagreement prevention strategies and one influencing factor were identified: travelling with like-minded people, adequate preparation, empathy and mutual understanding, tolerance, compensation and external factors. If disagreements occurred, one or more of tight strategies were adopted by the interviewees to resolve them, namely making concessions, discussing and voting, looking for alternatives, persuasion, toleration, splitting up, accommodating and delaying. Implications and recommendation for industries and future studies are discussed.</p>

scholarly journals TWO PHASES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF HEDWIG CONRAD-MARTIUS’ ONTOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION ON HUMAN BEING AND LIVING THINGS

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 398-424
Author(s):  
SIMONA BERTOLINI ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Structure Change ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Human Being ◽  
Human Knowledge ◽  
Living Things ◽  
Ontological Categories ◽  
Biological Ontology ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Two Phases ◽  
Theoretical Results

Interest in the ontological constitution of living beings (with particular reference to the human being) characterizes the whole development of Hedwig Conrad-Martius’ philosophy. Several works written by the philosopher over the years deal with both the phenomenological description and the ontological foundation of the difference between plants, animals, and humans. Specifically, the ontological structure of the human being is investigated as a layered structure which presupposes those of plants and animals while overcoming them in a more complex and spiritual unity, on which human freedom and human knowledge depend. Although this topic maintains a crucial role in Conrad-Martius’ thought, the way the philosopher addresses it and the theoretical results of her phenomenological-ontological inquiry about it do not remain unchanged. Indeed, the ontological structure at the basis of phenomenal differences as well as the metaphysical foundations of this structure change over the decades. This paper aims at distinguishing between two phases, characterized by different ontological categories, through which Conrad-Martius’ anthropology and biological ontology develop. In the first phase, at the beginning of the twenties (precisely in her work Metaphysical Dialogues), the essential differences between plants, animals, and humans are explained with reference to a vital origin preceding the constitution of reality; to describe it Conrad-Martius employs terms such as “abyss” and “under-earthly realm.” In the second phase, exemplified by some writings published in the forties and the fifties, the reference to such a dimension disappears and the eidetic variety within the living world, including human specificity, is exclusively traced back to the finalistic substantiation of essences in the natural beings.

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