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'Those First Few Months Were Horrible': Cross-Cultural Adaptation and the J-Curve in the International Student Experience in the UK and Norway

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Title: 'Those First Few Months Were Horrible': Cross-Cultural Adaptation and the J-Curve in the International Student Experience in the UK and Norway
Language: English
Authors: Dailey-Strand, Caroline, Collins, Helen (ORCID 0000-0001-9380-9025), Callaghan, David (ORCID 0000-0001-8918-3541)
Source: Journal of Comparative and International Higher Education. 2021 13(4):73-84.
Availability: Journal of Comparative and International Higher Education. 3107 B Hampton Highway, Yorktown, VA 23693. e-mail: oic213@lehigh.edu; Web site: https://www.ojed.org/index.php/jcihe/index
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 12
Publication Date: 2021
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Foreign Students, Cultural Differences, Student Adjustment, College Students, Anxiety, Culture Conflict, Study Abroad, Well Being, Student Attitudes, Barriers, Coping, Social Influences, Persistence, Language Skills, Employment Qualifications
Geographic Terms: United Kingdom, Norway
ISSN: 2151-0393
Abstract: Since the 1970s, international students have represented a growing proportion of the global student body, yet how they adjust and how universities can support them is relatively unexplored. We conducted a qualitative study of 36 international students of 11 nationalities studying in Norway and the UK and found that their experience did not fit the dominant 'U-Curve' of adaptation that suggests there is a honeymoon period on arrival. Confirmed with conversations with student wellbeing staff, who suggest that anxiety and culture shock are the norm, the data allows us to suggest factors that trigger adjustment and interventions to improve students' experience. Our contribution is a 'J-Curve' model comprising cultural challenge, adjustment, and mastery, to reflect the reality of the international student experience.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2022
Accession Number: EJ1326576
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
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  Data: 'Those First Few Months Were Horrible': Cross-Cultural Adaptation and the J-Curve in the International Student Experience in the UK and Norway
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Dailey-Strand%2C+Caroline%22">Dailey-Strand, Caroline</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Collins%2C+Helen%22">Collins, Helen</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9380-9025">0000-0001-9380-9025</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Callaghan%2C+David%22">Callaghan, David</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8918-3541">0000-0001-8918-3541</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Comparative+and+International+Higher+Education%22"><i>Journal of Comparative and International Higher Education</i></searchLink>. 2021 13(4):73-84.
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  Data: Journal of Comparative and International Higher Education. 3107 B Hampton Highway, Yorktown, VA 23693. e-mail: oic213@lehigh.edu; Web site: https://www.ojed.org/index.php/jcihe/index
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+Kingdom%22">United Kingdom</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Norway%22">Norway</searchLink>
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  Data: Since the 1970s, international students have represented a growing proportion of the global student body, yet how they adjust and how universities can support them is relatively unexplored. We conducted a qualitative study of 36 international students of 11 nationalities studying in Norway and the UK and found that their experience did not fit the dominant 'U-Curve' of adaptation that suggests there is a honeymoon period on arrival. Confirmed with conversations with student wellbeing staff, who suggest that anxiety and culture shock are the norm, the data allows us to suggest factors that trigger adjustment and interventions to improve students' experience. Our contribution is a 'J-Curve' model comprising cultural challenge, adjustment, and mastery, to reflect the reality of the international student experience.
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  Data: 2022
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  Data: EJ1326576
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 12
        StartPage: 73
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Students
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      – SubjectFull: Cultural Differences
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      – SubjectFull: Coping
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      – SubjectFull: United Kingdom
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      – SubjectFull: Norway
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