Factors Affecting the Academic and Cultural Adjustment of Saudi International Students in Australian Universities

Authors

  • Nisreen Alsahafi University of New South Wales
  • Seong-Chul Shin University of New South Wales

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v7i1.245

Keywords:

Affecting factors, Australian universities, International education, Saudi students

Abstract

The authors investigate factors affecting Saudi students’ educational experiences in Australian universities and their adjustment issues. The data comes from the survey of 100 Saudi international students in Sydney and subsequent interviews. The analysis revealed that language proficiency is the main barrier to Saudi students’ academic and social adjustment, with some academic factors such as classroom activities and assessment methods, and social factors such as homesickness and loneliness also affecting their study. The analysis also identifies Saudi students’ coping strategies such as improvement of language competence, time management and mixing with others. It then discusses differences in perceived level of difficulty with respect to gender, age, educational level and length of residence, as well as some implications of the findings.

Author Biographies

  • Nisreen Alsahafi, University of New South Wales

    NISREEN ALSAHAFI, is currently completing a PhD in Linguistics in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of New South Wales.

  • Seong-Chul Shin, University of New South Wales

    SEONG-CHUL SHIN, PhD, is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Humanities and Languages. His research interests include error analysis, socio-linguistic issues in L2 contexts and other topics such as L2 pedagogy and curriculum planning. 

Downloads

Published

2017-01-01

Issue

Section

Research Articles (English)

Categories

How to Cite

Factors Affecting the Academic and Cultural Adjustment of Saudi International Students in Australian Universities. (2017). Journal of International Students, 7(1), 53-72. https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v7i1.245