Insights into the Experiences of International Students in the UK: Key Findings Dr Qing Gu, University of Nottingham Dr Michele Schweisfurth, University

Insights into the Experiences Insights into the Experiences of International Students in of International Students in

the UK: Key Findingsthe UK: Key Findings

Dr Qing Gu, University of NottinghamDr Qing Gu, University of NottinghamDr Michele Schweisfurth, University of BirminghamDr Michele Schweisfurth, University of Birmingham

Prof Christopher Day, University of NottinghamProf Christopher Day, University of Nottingham

Key ThemesKey Themes

1. Change influences2. Conditions for change3. Change as achievement4. Perceptions of self: Identity

Theme 1: Theme 1: Change InfluencesChange Influences

At Home(e.g. parents,

family relationships,

etc.)

Student Life(e.g. friendship patterns, accommodation finance, etc.)

In Yourself(e.g. level of

English; positive attitude to life; internal states

etc.)

At University(e.g. lecturers’

support, ways of teaching, learning

resources etc.)

At Home(e.g. parents,

family relationships,

etc.)

Student Life(e.g. friendship patterns, accommodation finance, etc.)

In Yourself(e.g. level of

English; positive attitude to life; internal states

etc.)

At University(e.g. lecturers’

support, ways of teaching, learning

resources etc.)

Initial “Shock”: Student LifeInitial “Shock”: Student Life

Initial “Shock”: At UniversityInitial “Shock”: At University

Language Use and UnderstandingLanguage Use and Understanding

Majority of students (80%+): Confident about using English both inside and outside the classroom. (W1)

Language appears to have ceased to be a key ‘barrier’ in students’ academic adjustment over time. (W2 & case studies)

Tutors’ feedback appears to be particularly important to students who need an English language certificate for their studies (75% versus 56%).(W2 & focus group)

However, survey respondents who had stayed longer in the UK did not necessarily become confident users of English in their study or social lives (based on self perceptions in surveys).

Student responses to the item 'I am worried about understanding the content of my courses‘ (N=49, respondents of 2 surveys)

“…in the first few months, for example, I was reading books and just understanding 10%10% of what I was reading. And in the lectures I would catch only 20%20% of what the lecturers were saying. So I was thinking: how am I going to pass this exam and write these papers?

Now I understand almost 90%90% of what I am reading.”(Guzal, Kyrgystan)

Survey Strongly Agree

Agree Neither Agree

nor disagree

Disagree

Strongly Disagre

e

Total

W1 11 10 28 49

W2 9 N/A 4040 49

Language with CultureLanguage with Culture

A good mastery of the English language + good understanding of the “hidden” societal and cultural values and norms attached to the language

“I was sort of expecting … well coming from a background where I was being exposed to American culture and I thought that British culture and American culture were the same thing and I didn’t realise that they weren’t so similar. Just minor things like humour basically – I don’t get British humour that much. I sort of identify more with American humour. Just minor things like that.”

(Tristan from Trinidad)

Theme 2: Theme 2: Conditions for ChangeConditions for Change

1. Social Conditions1. Social Conditions

Multicultural society/university versus monocultural backgrounds

“The UK was a tolerant society”: over 60% reported agreement,

with more than one in ten indicating strong

agreement (W1)

‘I would honestly say that that has probably been the best thing

about living in England: having that experience of many cultures and not just English culture’

(Tristan from Trinidad)

2. Social and Academic Conditions (1)2. Social and Academic Conditions (1)

Problems: Cost of living Initial uncertainties

“I’ve decided not to focus on the differences between the groups because that was what I think fed into my inferiority complexinferiority complex … But I’ve met more people now and I’ve come to the realisation that they are generally the same.”

(Rina, Malaysia)

Social and Academic Conditions (2)Social and Academic Conditions (2)

Diverse student population Multicultural societyBUT Would like more interaction with host

culture More difficult to mix with UK students

3. Powerlessness3. Powerlessness

Back home I had a career and a future. I was in control of my own life, but I’ve lost track of that now. Because I had authority [as a hotel manager]. Here I’m virtually powerless. … Sometimes I miss “home”. Sometimes I miss my parents. Sometimes I miss my mum. Sometimes I just miss being a manager in the hotel. I miss my workplace.

(Doris, Cameroon)

4. Lack of a Sense of Belonging4. Lack of a Sense of BelongingI was just wondering why I didn’t feel lonely at all when I first came here – because I didn’t know what was going to happen. So every day was a new day.

But this time I came back [after Easter break] … I know I’m going to have a presentation and lots of study … and every day is normal. To be honest I don’t like my personal life here. I enjoy my study life but my personal life is kind of boring. … Everyone [friends in England] has got their [own] stuff to do. …

I just felt that I didn’t belong here. It’s not my place. I’m the guest and the guest is always less powerful; and also they are the host or something like that.

(Jiayi, China)

5. Friendship Patterns (1)5. Friendship Patterns (1) Initial survey: easy to mix with international

students from home countries (64%) and other countries (67%)

Increasing tendency to socialise with students from home culture

Role of cultural roots over time: • shared understanding • social and emotional

resources

‘…when we come, we are basically alone, and being in a group, it just like helped us from not wanting to go back’.

(Sophie, Mauritius)

‘…there is the language so you can find the way to say something without offending. Because we have a shared language we can be more diplomatic.’

(Guzal, Kyrgystan)

6. Peer Culture 6. Peer Culture

‘Social obligation’: “That’s when people make friends”

Challenges to social adaptation: Lack of common goals

I haven’t been going out to many of the social activities and they like going out clubbing and things like that. So they would be talking about what they had done the night before and I would not really understand. That’s another way that you feel outside of the group. (Rina, Malaysia)

Theme 3:Theme 3: Change as Achievement Change as Achievement

Academic Change (1) Academic Change (1)

Over time:

• More organised• More committed to their course of study• Using a greater range of study skills• Feeling more confident about their

relationships with their lecturers/tutors• Feeling more comfortable in small group

discussion (71% vs 29%)• Feeling more confident about managing

independent studies (72% vs 28%)

Academic Change (2)Academic Change (2)

Attitudes towards class discussion (W2):• “Uncomfortable speaking up in class

discussions”: 57% vs 43%BUT• Student discussion in class is helpful for

my learning: 85% Agree, 16% Strongly Agree

Perceptions of CulturesPerceptions of Cultures Perceptions of own culture (W2): Majority

have become more appreciative of their home cultural values (93%)

Perceptions of the host culture (W2): More than half felt confident that their understanding of the UK culture had improved (54%)

Acceptance of DifferencesAcceptance of Differences More accepting of people with different attitudes and

values (W2) (70%)

“It’s an interesting experience and you can see how different the countries in the world are and how different people behave and for them that is the natural way and that is how you should behave. So it’s never frustrating. …

If you are willing to communicate with someone you can always do that and so I have no worries about that. I mean it’s a very valuable learning experience and sometimes really quite funny how something can be normal for a Chinese guy and really weird for a westerner and equally it will be the other way round.”

(Maxwell from Germany)

Personal Achievement (1)Personal Achievement (1)

Biggest achievement:• Personal independence (67%)• Broadened life experiences and

interests (56%)• Improved interpersonal and

communication skills (41%)

Personal Achievement (2)Personal Achievement (2)

Factors contributing to these achievements:

•Self determination (64%)•Support from parents (21%)•Support from my friends here (12%)

“I am planning to pushpush myself to do things that I don’t really like to do…push myself outside this comfort area…at first you are not confident but then time will pass you feel yourself saying: yeah, I’ve done a good job, actually.”

(Guzal, Kyrgystan)

Theme 4: Theme 4:

Perceptions of Self: Identity Perceptions of Self: Identity

Maturity and interculturality

‘I’ve got two sets of values: one is for here and one is for China. … think they are just natural. … I’m a grown-up here. When I went back to China, I just went back to being the same – who I was – before I came here.’

(Jiayi, China)

Identity Change (1)Identity Change (1)

“A locus of self”

It’s [studying in England] opened up my thinking processes as well. When you are born and brought up in a restrictive environment, everything is family and you only have a very limited view on things. But when you go to another country and study and you meet people from other countries, then it opens up your perspective and you realise that everything in the world is not the same.

You are so torn between being yourself and what they want you to do – what others want you to do… (Raveena, India)

Identity Change (2)Identity Change (2)

Managing the Ups and Downs Managing the Ups and Downs of Living and Studying of Living and Studying

(MUDLS)(MUDLS)

Managing the Ups and Downs of Living and Studying (MUDLS)

Previous Previous YearsYears

Jan – SepJan – Sep20062006

Oct – DecOct – Dec20062006

Jan – MarJan – Mar20072007

Apr – JunApr – Jun20072007

Jul – Sep Jul – Sep 20072007




Managing Well (most satisfied)

Satisfied

Not Managing Well (least satisfied)











Satisfied


Low

New adaptation

Moving up

Nottingham getting settled

Down

Sponsor passed away, no help

Moving up a little arrangements for fees put in place

Satisfied got through first year and made arrangements for second year fees. Visa extended. Second year going away with results. Some staple and a lot has improved.

Going down, financial issues again












Satisfied


Came to NTV

Final presentationsNew friends, social life, exploring

Study pressure for finals

All friends gone

Looking for jobs

Graduation + new job

New job

Met family & old friends

Official job contract

Stress with work + need raise












Satisfied


Problems with my parents

Get pregnant but because of that I’ve got big family problems, my parents weren’t happy about it

Engagement contacts with my parents get better

Get married

My daughter was born

Very good relation with my family, Wiktoria get top list

Problems with decisions abut my husband and Wiktoria’s future

Start my degree happy but a little bit scared

Pass my first essay

Make new friends, pass lots of my essays, get some support in my English

I fail one of my coursework

Finally I get to the 2nd year and pass my referred work

I was worried do I manage to study with the body

I was really scared with the amount of work I have to do for April and June

I finish my essay, I manage to get them all on time and now I am only waiting for the results












Satisfied


Christmas

Back to England

During semester

Exams 07

Holidays - summer

Back to England

Christmas

Exams

Results (Jan exam)

Exams

Holidays


Managing the Ups and Downs of Living and Studying (MUDLS)- Rina











Satisfied


Adjustment period

Missing home

Met a lot of people, made many friends, used to the study Got support

from sister

Got a job

Nervous with group work

Felt more independent & confident

Difficult exam

Easier exam

Managing the Ups and Downs of Living and Studying (MUDLS)- Alanna











Satisfied


First school; problems with roommate no friends; didn’t get on with host family in 2nd year

Chineal friends; been invite by British girls to their parties; though not close friends, but feeling grateful!

Moved to a different s

chool

Different school, nice Ts, learned a lot of things; disappointed with British girls cultural problems, couldn’t be friends

Getting good results in new school

International school A-level

Missed people in school; didn’t get on with people here

University

“no guidance” ”lost”

Didn’t go to lectures; not many friends

Difficulties in personal life had negative impact on study

Felt good and wanted to get 2.1

Friends getting her well

“plagiarism”, other problems in personal life (mobile phone, driving lessons) ,lack of motivation

Good results in coursework

Messy personal life (mobile, driving, Spanish)

Felt need to catch up with uni. work

Exams

Waiting for result

Happiest Memories (W2)Happiest Memories (W2)

Academic achievements (87%) Bonding with friends and loved ones

(61%) Personal growth (29%)

Managing Transitions: The ProjectManaging Transitions: The Project

Study abroad as transitional event – intercultural attitude and skills development, identity shifts, stresses and rewards

‘I’ll always be changed by what I experienced here, and by other cultures I saw here.’

(Nadia, Slovakian student)

* But what will the nature of these changes be?* And how can universities facilitate the kind of contact that will ensure the changes reflect positive intercultural, academic and personal development?

THANK YOUTHANK YOU

Documents

Insights into the Experiences of International Students in the UK: Key Findings Dr Qing Gu, University of Nottingham Dr Michele Schweisfurth, University