- Library Home /
- Search Collections /
- Open Collections /
- Browse Collections /
- UBC Theses and Dissertations /
- The voyage of cultural transition : adjustment issues...
Open Collections
UBC Theses and Dissertations
UBC Theses and Dissertations
The voyage of cultural transition : adjustment issues of Chinese-speaking foreign-born students in a social environment where they form the largest cultural group in a secondary school setting Minichiello, Diane Betty
Abstract
This study investigates the adjustment experiences of 23 Chinese-speaking foreignborn students in a social climate where they form the largest cultural group in a secondary school setting. The study's objectives were to determine initial adjustment issues, to examine adjustment issues of international and satellite students as sub-groups within this population, to identify students' lived experiences concerning racism and discrimination; to identify adjustment concerns subsequent to graduation and to examine student perception of Canada's multicultural policy. Ethnographic interviews were conducted over a four-week period. Data were subsequently categorized into 14 different categories: Agency, Chinese Population Concerns, Comparing Education Systems, Cultural Considerations, Current Adjustment Issues, ESL Program, Facilitating/Hindering Issues, Friendship/Peer Relationships, Initial Observations and Concerns, Language, Mental Health Issues, Multicultural and Assimilation Issues, Racism and Discrimination, and Satellite and International Students. Adjustment issues were divided into two main categories: those pertaining to the large numbers of Chinese-speaking foreign-born students and those that are independent of their large numbers. Issues that seem to stem directly from the large numbers of Chinesespeaking foreign-born students are language development, developing friendships outside the Chinese cultural group, assimilation/integration issues, and EAL program concerns. Language, peer relations, cross-cultural concerns and education and the school environment are the adjustment issues identified in this study. Satellite student results, further divided into satellite and full-satellite categories, produced somewhat different findings. While mental health issues began to emerge in the satellite category, they overrode the adjustment concerns of full-satellite students. Students do not identify racism and discrimination as adjustment issues though they are part of their everyday lives. Students were aware of Canada's reputation as a multicultural country and understood the concept of cultural pluralism. Most students could see the benefits of this policy to them as Chinese-speaking foreign-born students. Some students felt the policy was good for Canada; others did not. Recommendations included reviewing the current provincial EAL Policy in view of the changing demographics in some of British Columbia's school districts, placing a priority on identifying/addressing the needs of satellite students and increasing funding to develop and implement a more comprehensive program concerning racism and discrimination.
Item Metadata
Title |
The voyage of cultural transition : adjustment issues of Chinese-speaking foreign-born students in a social environment where they form the largest cultural group in a secondary school setting
|
Creator | |
Publisher |
University of British Columbia
|
Date Issued |
2000
|
Description |
This study investigates the adjustment experiences of 23 Chinese-speaking foreignborn
students in a social climate where they form the largest cultural group in a secondary
school setting. The study's objectives were to determine initial adjustment issues, to examine
adjustment issues of international and satellite students as sub-groups within this population,
to identify students' lived experiences concerning racism and discrimination; to identify
adjustment concerns subsequent to graduation and to examine student perception of Canada's
multicultural policy.
Ethnographic interviews were conducted over a four-week period. Data were
subsequently categorized into 14 different categories: Agency, Chinese Population Concerns,
Comparing Education Systems, Cultural Considerations, Current Adjustment Issues, ESL
Program, Facilitating/Hindering Issues, Friendship/Peer Relationships, Initial Observations
and Concerns, Language, Mental Health Issues, Multicultural and Assimilation Issues,
Racism and Discrimination, and Satellite and International Students.
Adjustment issues were divided into two main categories: those pertaining to the
large numbers of Chinese-speaking foreign-born students and those that are independent of
their large numbers. Issues that seem to stem directly from the large numbers of Chinesespeaking
foreign-born students are language development, developing friendships outside the
Chinese cultural group, assimilation/integration issues, and EAL program concerns.
Language, peer relations, cross-cultural concerns and education and the school environment
are the adjustment issues identified in this study.
Satellite student results, further divided into satellite and full-satellite categories,
produced somewhat different findings. While mental health issues began to emerge in the
satellite category, they overrode the adjustment concerns of full-satellite students.
Students do not identify racism and discrimination as adjustment issues though they
are part of their everyday lives. Students were aware of Canada's reputation as a
multicultural country and understood the concept of cultural pluralism. Most students could
see the benefits of this policy to them as Chinese-speaking foreign-born students. Some
students felt the policy was good for Canada; others did not.
Recommendations included reviewing the current provincial EAL Policy in view of
the changing demographics in some of British Columbia's school districts, placing a priority
on identifying/addressing the needs of satellite students and increasing funding to develop
and implement a more comprehensive program concerning racism and discrimination.
|
Extent |
10609954 bytes
|
Genre | |
Type | |
File Format |
application/pdf
|
Language |
eng
|
Date Available |
2009-07-13
|
Provider |
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
|
Rights |
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.
|
DOI |
10.14288/1.0055463
|
URI | |
Degree | |
Program | |
Affiliation | |
Degree Grantor |
University of British Columbia
|
Graduation Date |
2000-11
|
Campus | |
Scholarly Level |
Graduate
|
Aggregated Source Repository |
DSpace
|
Item Media
Item Citations and Data
Rights
For non-commercial purposes only, such as research, private study and education. Additional conditions apply, see Terms of Use https://open.library.ubc.ca/terms_of_use.