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Language, Food, and Transportation: Cross-Cultural Adaptation of Chinese Students in Thai Higher Education

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Title: Language, Food, and Transportation: Cross-Cultural Adaptation of Chinese Students in Thai Higher Education
Language: English
Authors: Wei Wang, Supot Rattanapun
Source: Online Submission. 2026.
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 16
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Acculturation, Undergraduate Students, Student Adjustment, Business Education, Language Proficiency, Barriers, Food, Transportation, Cultural Differences, Learner Engagement, Social Integration, Intervention
Geographic Terms: China, Thailand
Abstract: This study investigates the cross-cultural adaptation experiences of Chinese undergraduate students in Thailand, with a focus on the interactions of language, food, and transportation as dimensions of daily life adjustment. A qualitative design was used to conduct semi-structured interviews with 42 second-year business students at a Thai institution. Language difficulties emerged as the most major difficulty, with pupils mostly talking in Chinese with their peers and displaying low involvement in English or Thai. Inadequate speaking practice in prior education led to challenges with vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation, which harmed both academic involvement and social integration. Food adaptation resulted in different experiences: some students struggled with Thai cuisine's flavors and portion proportions, while others embraced it as part of their cultural adjustment. Transportation was less difficult due to campus proximity, however climate discomfort and occasional hassles were reported. The study identifies language proficiency as the most significant barrier to adaptation and emphasizes the significance of focused language preparation, intercultural competence training, and institutional assistance. These findings add to the literature on international student mobility in Southeast Asia, and they have practical implications for colleges looking to improve the academic and social experiences of Chinese students in Thailand.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED679427
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
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  Data: Language, Food, and Transportation: Cross-Cultural Adaptation of Chinese Students in Thai Higher Education
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wei+Wang%22">Wei Wang</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Supot+Rattanapun%22">Supot Rattanapun</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Online+Submission%22"><i>Online Submission</i></searchLink>. 2026.
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  Data: N
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  Label: Page Count
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  Data: 16
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Reports - Research
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  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Acculturation%22">Acculturation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Undergraduate+Students%22">Undergraduate Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Adjustment%22">Student Adjustment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Business+Education%22">Business Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Language+Proficiency%22">Language Proficiency</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Barriers%22">Barriers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Food%22">Food</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Transportation%22">Transportation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cultural+Differences%22">Cultural Differences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Learner+Engagement%22">Learner Engagement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+Integration%22">Social Integration</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intervention%22">Intervention</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22China%22">China</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Thailand%22">Thailand</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: This study investigates the cross-cultural adaptation experiences of Chinese undergraduate students in Thailand, with a focus on the interactions of language, food, and transportation as dimensions of daily life adjustment. A qualitative design was used to conduct semi-structured interviews with 42 second-year business students at a Thai institution. Language difficulties emerged as the most major difficulty, with pupils mostly talking in Chinese with their peers and displaying low involvement in English or Thai. Inadequate speaking practice in prior education led to challenges with vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation, which harmed both academic involvement and social integration. Food adaptation resulted in different experiences: some students struggled with Thai cuisine's flavors and portion proportions, while others embraced it as part of their cultural adjustment. Transportation was less difficult due to campus proximity, however climate discomfort and occasional hassles were reported. The study identifies language proficiency as the most significant barrier to adaptation and emphasizes the significance of focused language preparation, intercultural competence training, and institutional assistance. These findings add to the literature on international student mobility in Southeast Asia, and they have practical implications for colleges looking to improve the academic and social experiences of Chinese students in Thailand.
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      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 16
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Acculturation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Undergraduate Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Adjustment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Business Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Language Proficiency
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Barriers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Food
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Transportation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cultural Differences
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      – SubjectFull: Learner Engagement
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      – SubjectFull: Social Integration
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Intervention
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      – SubjectFull: China
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thailand
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Language, Food, and Transportation: Cross-Cultural Adaptation of Chinese Students in Thai Higher Education
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            NameFull: Wei Wang
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            NameFull: Supot Rattanapun
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              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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