Extracurricular activities and the adjustment of Asian international students: A study of Japanese students

Sociocultural Adjustment and Coping Strategies of Korean and Japanese Students in a Thai International College

“…Research using qualitative methods explored adjustment issues related to loneliness (Sawir et al 2008), discrimination (Poyrazli and Garhame 2007), feelings of alienation (Major 2005) emotional adjustment problems (Ang and Liamputtong 2008), academic setting (Townsend and Poh 2008) and language (Trice 2003). Several studies indicated that social support (Chirkov et al 2008;Jung et al 2007;Lee et al 2004;Sumer et al 2008;Toyokawa and Toyokawa 2002) and self-efficacy (e.g., Li and Gasser 2005) are crucial factors in international students' adjustment. Previous studies have also confirmed many international university students are not satisfied with their multicultural relationships (Choi 1997) and expressed the need for local assistance with sociocultural adjustment (Nesdale and Todd 1997).…”

“…The lack of participation in clubs with host nationals limits opportunities for the development of social support (Toyokawa and Toyokawa 2002). Therefore, participants chose to cope with this aspect of linguistic isolation through the development of relationships with other international students who either spoke their native language or conversed in English.…”

The British host: just how welcoming are we?

“…Ward et al (2001) are not alone in referring to contact with the host as the most important friendship bond; although multicultural and monocultural friendships are valued for their stress-reducing capacity, host nationals promise the route to improving language and host cultural knowledge, which in turn facilitate successful adjustment in the new culture. This is acknowledged in empirical studies which document international students' hope for and attachment to bicultural bonds with the host; they are quick to perceive the benefits associated with host contact of improved language capability, increased satisfaction with the total student experience and greater host communicative competence (see Kim 2001;Ward 2001;Toyokawa and Toyokawa 2002;Brown 2009a). …”

International student adjustment : does the size of the population dictate the experience?

“…International students are less likely to get involved on the college campus and are more likely to feel isolated and alone (Toyokawa, 2002).…”

“…As a high-risk population, international students are prone to "feelings of uneasiness and insecurity" and are likely to struggle with both the social and academic adjustments of college life in the U.S. (Yakunina, 2012, p. 216). International students are less likely than domestic students to get involved on the college campus and are more likely to feel isolated and alone (Toyokawa, 2002). A considerable amount of research has been conducted examining the adjustment of international students, focusing on cultural adjustment, stress, language issues, and family pressure (Carr, 2010;Kashima, 2006;Moores, 2011;Sodowsky, 1992;Yaunina, 2012;Zhang, 2011).…”