The Bridge to America

2018 ◽  
pp. 147-159
Author(s):  
Tsz Kin Kwok
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Students ◽  
Research University ◽  
The United States ◽  
Psychological Needs ◽  
Transitional Period ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
International Graduate Students ◽  
Summer Bridge ◽  
Bridge Program ◽  
International Graduate

The current mixed method research study explored the acculturative experiences of international graduate students through a summer bridge program known as the webinar. The study was conducted at a comprehensive research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania before newly admitted graduate students arrived in the United States. Both quantitative and qualitative results were collected to gain greater insights during their transitional period. The following themes emerged in this study: (1) physiological and psychological needs, (2) sense of belonging, (3) peer-to-peer support, and (4) faculty and professional staff engagement. The themes presented in this study may assist international graduate students with their adjustment timeframe from their home country to the host environment.

scholarly journals Attracting and Retaining Global Talent: International Graduate Students in the United States

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (93) ◽  
pp. 11
Author(s):  
Rajika Bhandari
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Graduate Students ◽  
International Student ◽  
The United States ◽  
Data Sources ◽  
Current Status ◽  
International Graduate Students ◽  
International Graduate ◽  
The U.S

In light of current developments in in-bound international student flows to the U.S., this articleuses multiple recent data sources to examine the appeal of the U.S. as a destination forinternational graduate students, as well as the current status of international graduate enrollmentin the U.S.

scholarly journals Adjustment Experiences of International Graduate Students to Life in the United States

2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 2243-2262
Author(s):  
Nur Aira Abd Rahim
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Graduate Students ◽  
Graduate Program ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Qualitative Inquiry ◽  
Adjustment Process ◽  
International Graduate Students ◽  
International Graduate ◽  
Starting Point

The adjustment process, also interchangeably referred as a transition or adaptation process, is a stage that every international student went through as part of their study abroad experiences. For international graduate students, their pursuit represents an important milestone in their self-development and personal growth. However, adjusting to a new educational and social environment can be challenging. During this important starting point of their academic journey, what are the key aspects that shaped the adjustment experiences of these international graduate students? This study explored the narratives of international graduate students of their adjustment process to academic life in the United States using the integrated acculturation framework using a naturalistic qualitative inquiry process. Participants’ selection includes criterion sampling and maximum variation strategy to elect international students who were at least completing his or second semester in a current graduate program. In total, 9 participants were selected based upon different countries of origins and program majors and having both male and female and doctorate and master level participants in this study. The findings show that these international graduate students experienced varied adjustment experiences, impacted by motivation, personality, coping strategies, and social support received. All the participants also reported having a varying set of growth as a result of the adjustment process. The recommendations include providing more support geared towards academic well-being and creating a supportive culture among faculty and other students on the diversity and difference these international graduate students bring on campus.

“It's Doable”: International Graduate Students’ Perceptions of Online Learning in the U.S. During the Pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 102831532110614
Author(s):  
Yesul Han ◽  
Yunjeong Chang ◽  
Erin Kearney
Keyword(s):  
Online Learning ◽  
Graduate Students ◽  
International Education ◽  
Online Teaching ◽  
Learning Experiences ◽  
The United States ◽  
International Graduate Students ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
International Graduate ◽  
Sudden Transition

This study aims to understand the learning experiences and challenges of international students enrolled in Master's and PhD programs in various institutions who were forced to transition to online learning during the pandemic. In particular, the study explores the experiences and perceptions of seven non-native English-speaking international graduate students who came from six different countries and studied at different schools of education through phenomenological interviews. Analysis yields insight into these students’ online learning experiences and identifies factors which contributed to the mixed quality of these learning experiences. Overall, students tried to adapt to the “new normal,” while enduring learning and emotional challenges due to the harsh conditions of the pandemic in the United States and their home countries. Instructors’ readiness for online teaching as well as the extra support provided to help students cope with the sudden transition in the learning environment were particularly important factors affecting the students’ learning experiences. Our findings lead us to several recommendations for practice within graduate-level online learning environments and suggestions for further research, as well as broader considerations of what broader implications the case suggests for international education in light of digitalization.

scholarly journals Speaking in Tongues: Can International Graduate Students Read International Graduate Admissions Materials?

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary W. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Reading Comprehension ◽  
Graduate Students ◽  
Graduate Student ◽  
The United States ◽  
Future Research ◽  
International Graduate Students ◽  
Reading Levels ◽  
Speaking In Tongues ◽  
International Graduate ◽  
International Graduate Student

A recent Educational Testing Services report (2016) found that international graduate students with a TOEFL score of 80—the minimum average TOEFL score for graduate admission in the United States—usually possess reading subscores of 20, equating to a 12th-grade reading comprehension level. However, one public flagship university’s international graduate student admissions instructions are written at a 17th-grade reading comprehension level, or, a 27-30 band on the reading section of the TOEFL. This study seeks to answer the question, “Do U.S. graduate programs compose admissions materials at unreadable levels compared to these programs’ minimum reading comprehension levels for international graduate student admission?” Findings reveal average public flagship international graduate student admissions materials are written above 15th-grade reading comprehension levels, with select flagships composing these materials at 19th grade reading levels. Implications for practitioners and policymakers, as well as areas of future research, are addressed.

scholarly journals Issues of International Students’ Academic Adaptation in the ESL Writing Class: A Mixed-Methods Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 887-904
Author(s):  
Eunjeong Park
Keyword(s):  
International Students ◽  
Graduate Students ◽  
Social Impact ◽  
The United States ◽  
International Graduate Students ◽  
Esl Writing ◽  
Lexical Bundles ◽  
International Graduate ◽  
Academic Adaptation ◽  
Field Notes

Despite the contribution to economic and social impact on the institutions in the United States, international students’ academic adaptation has been always challenging. The study investigated international graduate students’ academic adaptation scales via a survey questionnaire and explored how international students are academically adapted in the U.S. college setting through qualitative research with class observations, field notes, and semistructured interviews. In addition, the use of lexical bundles was examined as one of the academic literacy adaptation indicators. The quantitative and qualitative results revealed international graduate students’ academic adaptation in different angles. The implications of the findings are discussed.

scholarly journals Challenges Facing Asian International Graduate Students in the US: Pedagogical Considerations in Higher Education

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shu-Yuan Lin ◽  
Susan Day Scherz
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
United States ◽  
Graduate Students ◽  
Phenomenological Study ◽  
The United States ◽  
International Graduate Students ◽  
International Graduate ◽  
Conceptual Structures ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Linguistic Challenges

Non-Native English Speaking (NNES) international students attending colleges and universities in the United States often encounter difficulties in adjusting to their new cultural environment. In addition, they often struggle with academic language while learning the content and conceptual structures of various graduate level disciplines. This phenomenological study identified cultural and linguistic challenges experienced by NNES Asian international graduate students at a mediumsized rural university in the northwestern United States. A pedagogical framework and recommendations for professional practice address the linguistic, cultural, and academic needs of this particular student population in higher education.

scholarly journals “It’s My Fault”: Exploring Experiences and Mental Wellness Among Korean International Graduate Students

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Katie Koo ◽  
Young Won Kim ◽  
Joonyoung Lee ◽  
Gudrun Nyunt
Keyword(s):  
Graduate Students ◽  
Limited English Proficiency ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
College Campuses ◽  
Limited Attention ◽  
International Graduate Students ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
International Graduate ◽  
Mental Wellness

Mental health issues are on the rise on college campuses for all students, including international students. This qualitative study explores the mental wellness of Korean international graduate students, a sub-group that has received limited attention. By interviewing 18 Korean international graduate students in the United States, we found that limited English proficiency shapes various aspects of Korean international graduate students’ well-being; self-imposed pressures negatively influence mental wellness; self-blaming and an inability to express one’s feelings lead to further deterioration; and students turn to physical and religious/spiritual activities to improve their mental wellness. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

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