scholarly journals An Exploration of the Cultural Adaptation Process during an International Experience in France

Author(s):  
Nathan W. Conner ◽  
T. Grady Roberts ◽  
James Sterns

The purpose of this study was to explore how a group of students experienced cultural adaptation during a short-term study abroad program in Paris, France. The intrinsic case study was used and data collection methods included pre-experience questions, reflective journaling, post-experience questions, and participant observation. The grounded theory analysis method was used to identify the following eight stages of cultural adaptation: a) Initial Feelings, b) Cultural Uncertainty, c) Cultural Barriers, d) Cultural Negativity, e) Group Dynamics, f) Academic and Career Growth, g) Feelings throughout the Program, and h) Cultural Growth. Findings indicated that participants experienced cultural adaptation in a non-linear fashion and study abroad facilitators should incorporate and encourage cultural learning.

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-59
Author(s):  
Amber Lynn Beseli ◽  
Wendy J. Warner ◽  
Barbara M. Kirby ◽  
David W. W. Jones

The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of the student participants’ motivations to partake in a short-term study abroad experience. This was an observational case study of the North Carolina State University College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Agribusiness Short-Term Study Abroad Program with the 2014 program student participants. The study explored student participants’ motivations to participate in a short-term study abroad program. This study found students were motivated to participate in a short-term study abroad program because of the short-term length aspect, the completion of course credits, and encouragement from other people, both other students and faculty.


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard B. Apgar

As destination of choice for many short-term study abroad programs, Berlin offers students of German language, culture and history a number of sites richly layered with significance. The complexities of these sites and the competing narratives that surround them are difficult for students to grasp in a condensed period of time. Using approaches from the spatial humanities, this article offers a case study for enhancing student learning through the creation of digital maps and itineraries in a campus-based course for subsequent use during a three-week program in Berlin. In particular, the concept of deep mapping is discussed as a means of augmenting understanding of the city and its history from a narrative across time to a narrative across the physical space of the city. As itineraries, these course-based projects were replicated on site. In moving from the digital environment to the urban landscape, this article concludes by noting meanings uncovered and narratives formed as we moved through the physical space of the city.


1996 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-122
Author(s):  
Joseph R. Stimpfl

The literature annotated here is from a subset of literature in cultural anthropology that deals with ethnographic fieldwork: the basic research exercise of cultural immersion. This bibliography is meant to offer a representative sample of literature in anthropology that deals with the fieldwork experiences of researchers. Cultural anthropology is devoted to the concept of “discovering the other.” Its method of inquiry is often referred to as participant/observation: the researcher lives the culture while observing it. Since so much of the fieldwork experience deals with personal adjustments to living in different cultures, the literature is charged with the problems of adjustment and understanding so common to study abroad experiences. This literature is particularly relevant to those interested in cross-cultural learning and issues in cultural adjustment. 


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 38-52
Author(s):  
Anthony Tobin

This study investigates both the benefits of and recent trends in studying abroad for Japanese students and examines the results of a survey on study abroad taken by students majoring in English at a private university in Tokyo. Statistics from JASSO showed that the trend in study abroad before 2020 was for an increasing number of Japanese university students to spend a period of time studying abroad, though most of the increase was in short-term study. The English language questionnaire sought to discover what proportion of a group of seventy-two students had already studied abroad, or planned to do so, and to establish whether those who had gained experience had benefited from it, as well as detailing student anxieties which may have deterred students from studying abroad. The survey on study abroad, taken in January 2018, had a 100% response rate. Twenty-three (32%) of the students answered that they had already studied abroad, mostly for short durations in English-speaking countries. Most of the students who studied abroad had a positive experience, reputedly improved their English skills and recommended that other students study abroad. Twenty-six (53%) of the students without study abroad experience were planning to study abroad, even though they had some issues which concerned them, such as their ability to communicate in English, personal safety, and financial matters. The main reason for not electing to study abroad for this particular sample was found to be related to the overall costs of overseas travel, accommodation, and tuition. この研究では日本人学生に対する留学の利点および最近の留学の傾向を調べ、さら に東京の私立大学で英語を専攻している学生に対して実施した留学についての調査 の結果を検討している。JASSO の統計によると、2020年までは留学する日本人 大学生の数は増加傾向であったが、そのほとんどは短期留学であった。英語で行わ れたアンケート調査の目的は、著者の三つのクラスの72名の学生のうちの何割が 留学経験がある、もしくは留学の予定があるか、またすでに留学した学生はその経 験から恩恵を受けたと感じているか、学生は留学をするにあたってどのような不安 を持つか、さらに留学しないと答えた学生の場合は留学しない理由を明らかにする ことである。2018年1月に行われた調査の回答率は100パーセントであっ た。23人(32パーセント)の学生は留学経験があり、ほとんどの場合が英語圏 の国への短期留学である。留学経験のある学生の大半数が有益な経験ができ、英語 力が上達したと感じており、他の学生に留学を勧めると答えている。留学経験のな い学生の26人(53パーセント)が留学する予定だが、英語のコミュニケーショ ン、安全、金銭などについて不安を感じていた。留学しない理由については、旅 費、宿泊代、授業料など経済的な理由が大半であった。


2020 ◽  
Vol 2019 (1) ◽  
pp. 229
Author(s):  
Tomoka Kaneko

This paper describes how I designed and implemented a portfolio project in a short-term study-abroad program at my university in Japan. Sixteen EFL students participated, and of these, none had experience of producing portfolios before the study. I planned the project based on an analysis of the program and students. Central to the portfolio was a reflective report, designed to help the students reflect on what they learned and to set goals based on reflection throughout the program. The students received instructions on how to complete the portfolio in predeparture sessions, continuously worked on their portfolios during the stay abroad, and completed them after they returned to Japan. The examination of submitted portfolios and interviews with the students show that the process of producing the portfolios helped them become autonomous learners and maximize their study abroad experience and opportunities. 本稿では、著者が勤務する大学の短期海外語学研修プログラムに、どのようにポートフォリオを構想し、組み込んだかについて説明する。16名の大学生がプログラムに参加した。参加者は全員、プログラム以前にポートフォリオを作成した経験がなかった。海外での研修内容と参加学生の分析に基づいて、ポートフォリオの構想を立てた。学生は自分の学びをその都度振り返り、それに基づいて目標を立て、それらを振り返り報告書に記入した。この振り返り報告書は、ポートフォリオの中核を担うものである。学生は事前研修でポートフォリオの作成方法を学び、主に研修先で作成に取り組み、事後研修後に完成させた。提出されたポートフォリオと学生へのインタビューから、ポートフォリオを作成することにより、学生がよりよい自律的学習者となり、短期間の海外語学研修を有意義なものにしたと感じていることが分かった。


2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 148-168
Author(s):  
Sara A. McComb ◽  
Lorenzo Fedele ◽  
Patrick A. Brunese ◽  
Vicki L. Simpson

The purpose of this paper is to describe a short term study abroad program that exposes engineering and nursing undergraduate students from the United States and Italy to an intercultural and interprofessional immersion experience . Faculty fr om Purdue University and Sapienza Università di Roma collaborated to design a technical program that demonstrates the complementary nature of engineering and public health in the service sector, with Rome as an integral component of the program. S pecifically, the intersection of topics including systems, reliability, process flow, maintenance management, and public health are covered through online lectures, in class activities and case study discussions, field experiences, and assessments. Here in, administrat ive issues such as student recruitment, selection, and preparation are elucidated. Additionally, the pedagogical approach used to ensure constructive alignment among the program goals, the intended learning outcomes, and the teaching and learning activitie s is described. Finally, examples of learning outcomes resulting from this alignment are provided.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-18
Author(s):  
Masaki Seo

新型コロナウィルスの感染拡大で人々の国や地域を超えた移動に制限がか かり、海外協定校などに学生を派遣する大学主催の海外留学及び海外研修の 実施は現時点では難しくなっている。このような状況において、オンライン を駆使した海外研修プログラムの開発が進められている。本稿では、2020 年 8 月に実施したブルネイでのオンライン短期海外研修に参加した学生の経 験と学びを考察し、オンラインによる海外留学の可能性を検討する。 本研究のリサーチクエスチョン(RQ)は、(1)オンライン短期海外研修 を通して参加者はどのような経験をしていたのか、(2)オンライン短期海 外研修を通して参加者は英語の能力を伸ばすことができたのか、である。 RQ1 に答えるために研修の事前事後にアンケート調査を、RQ2 に答えるた めに研修の事前事後に英語の試験を行い、それらを分析した。 調査の結果、オンライン短期海外研修の参加者の満足度は高く、講義型及 び体験型の授業を通してブルネイの言語や文化、ビジネスと産業、自然科学 などのコンテンツを学んだり、現地の学生と交流をしたりすることで、参加 者は「自宅にいながら、ブルネイにいるような体験ができ」ていた。また、 本研修が実際に海外に渡航することを躊躇している学生の参加を促している ことも伺えた。そして、研修の事前事後に行った英語の試験を分析した結果、 総合得点及びリスニングでの大意把握の得点は向上し、参加者の英語の能力 の伸びに対する自己評価でも、リスニングの能力の向上が最も認識されてい た。


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