Taiwanese Students ’ Perspectives on Their Educational Experiences in the United States

The United States welcomes a great many international students each year. Asian students make up the fastest growing segment of this international student body. Asian students have to deal with bicultural conflicts on many fronts in order to achieve a balance between participating in a new cultural environment and maintaining their own cultural identity. At the same time, they are likely to experience a great deal of homesickness. In this study, the investigators explored these issues with five Taiwanese students during their first academic year at a Midwestern university, hoping to gain insights about this uniquely situated group of Asian international students. In-depth interviews were conducted. An exploration of the pre-entry and early integration phases of study abroad was the focus of analysis. Thematic categories were identified. Cultural identity, adjustment, international students, Taiwan, stress, United States of Americ