Beyond Ecological Challenges: International Students' Strengths and the Impact of Culturally Responsive Peer Mentorship on Academic Writing

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Title: Beyond Ecological Challenges: International Students' Strengths and the Impact of Culturally Responsive Peer Mentorship on Academic Writing
Language: English
Authors: Namsook Kim (ORCID 0000-0003-3317-4499)
Source: International Journal on Social and Education Sciences. 2026 8(2):270-283.
Availability: International Society for Technology, Education, and Science. ISTES Organization, Monument, CO 80132. e-mail: istesorganization@gmail.com; e-mail: ijonsesoffice@gmail.com; Web site: https://www.ijonses.net/index.php/ijonses
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 14
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Students, College Students, Writing (Composition), Academic Language, Peer Teaching, Mentors, Writing Instruction, Cultural Differences, Culturally Relevant Education, Writing Evaluation, Instructional Effectiveness, Writing Improvement, Cultural Awareness
Geographic Terms: New York
ISSN: 2688-7061
Abstract: This qualitative case study challenges the persistent deficit-based discourse and explores how culturally diverse international students negotiate ecological differences as academic writers in higher education. It highlights underrepresented student writers' assets as highly motivated, self-efficacious learners while it also addresses ecological challenges including academic language and cultural differences. Drawing on ecological, high-impact practices, self-transformation, and culturally responsive teaching frameworks, the research investigates participants' academic writing experiences including other-perceived surface-level barriers and self-perceived cultural challenges and learners' transformative strategies as well as peer mentors' culturally responsive mentoring strategies to provide targeted language support and foster deeper engagement for mutual transformations. Findings emphasize the importance of writer-assessed improvements in writing competence, tailored language support, culturally responsive peer mentoring, interaction with diverse peers, and fostering international cultural awareness. This study provides implications for curricular and extracurricular design and institutional support, and calls for reframing the discourse around international student engagement and success, acknowledging their strengths and the value of culturally responsive high-impact peer mentorship.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1506043
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
CustomLinks:
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  Data: Beyond Ecological Challenges: International Students' Strengths and the Impact of Culturally Responsive Peer Mentorship on Academic Writing
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Namsook+Kim%22">Namsook Kim</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3317-4499">0000-0003-3317-4499</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22International+Journal+on+Social+and+Education+Sciences%22"><i>International Journal on Social and Education Sciences</i></searchLink>. 2026 8(2):270-283.
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  Data: International Society for Technology, Education, and Science. ISTES Organization, Monument, CO 80132. e-mail: istesorganization@gmail.com; e-mail: ijonsesoffice@gmail.com; Web site: https://www.ijonses.net/index.php/ijonses
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  Data: 14
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Students%22">Foreign Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Students%22">College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Writing+%28Composition%29%22">Writing (Composition)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Academic+Language%22">Academic Language</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Peer+Teaching%22">Peer Teaching</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mentors%22">Mentors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Writing+Instruction%22">Writing Instruction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cultural+Differences%22">Cultural Differences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Culturally+Relevant+Education%22">Culturally Relevant Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Writing+Evaluation%22">Writing Evaluation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Instructional+Effectiveness%22">Instructional Effectiveness</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Writing+Improvement%22">Writing Improvement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cultural+Awareness%22">Cultural Awareness</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22New+York%22">New York</searchLink>
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  Data: 2688-7061
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: This qualitative case study challenges the persistent deficit-based discourse and explores how culturally diverse international students negotiate ecological differences as academic writers in higher education. It highlights underrepresented student writers' assets as highly motivated, self-efficacious learners while it also addresses ecological challenges including academic language and cultural differences. Drawing on ecological, high-impact practices, self-transformation, and culturally responsive teaching frameworks, the research investigates participants' academic writing experiences including other-perceived surface-level barriers and self-perceived cultural challenges and learners' transformative strategies as well as peer mentors' culturally responsive mentoring strategies to provide targeted language support and foster deeper engagement for mutual transformations. Findings emphasize the importance of writer-assessed improvements in writing competence, tailored language support, culturally responsive peer mentoring, interaction with diverse peers, and fostering international cultural awareness. This study provides implications for curricular and extracurricular design and institutional support, and calls for reframing the discourse around international student engagement and success, acknowledging their strengths and the value of culturally responsive high-impact peer mentorship.
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  Data: 2026
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      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 14
        StartPage: 270
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Writing (Composition)
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      – SubjectFull: Academic Language
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      – SubjectFull: Peer Teaching
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      – SubjectFull: Mentors
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      – SubjectFull: Writing Instruction
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      – SubjectFull: Cultural Differences
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      – SubjectFull: Culturally Relevant Education
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      – SubjectFull: Writing Evaluation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Instructional Effectiveness
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      – SubjectFull: Writing Improvement
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      – SubjectFull: Cultural Awareness
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      – SubjectFull: New York
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      – TitleFull: Beyond Ecological Challenges: International Students' Strengths and the Impact of Culturally Responsive Peer Mentorship on Academic Writing
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