Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore Japanese students’ views about their academic and social experiences at majority White university in the United States (US). The six participants were Japanese undergraduate students (4 males, 2 females) with various academic majors. This descriptive qualitative study was situated in the concept of an academic Soujourner (Sato & Hodge, 2009;Siu, 1952). The primary data sources were a demographic survey and interviews. The demographic data were analyzed descriptively (Gravetter & Wallnau, 1996). The interview data were analyzed by constant comparative method (Merriam, 1998) and uncovered the recurrent themes: (a) differences exacerbate difficulties, (b) unwelcomed outsider, and (c) shifting attitudes. The participants’ cultural and linguistic differences exacerbated their academic and social difficulties. They were marginalized, which led to negative attitude shift against White peers. Implications and recommendations for improving the experiences of Asian international students at US college and universities are discussed.
Appendix: questions asked at three separate interviews
Questions asked at the first interview
Why did you decide to attend a university in the United States (US)?
Why did you choose to attend this particular university?
What were your initial expectations in attending this university?
What did your family and friends say about you studying abroad in the US?
What were your initial feelings before you arrived here at this university?
Questions asked at the second interview
What were your initial impressions of American students on this campus?
What were your initial impressions of other international students on this campus?
What were your initial impressions of the faculty on this campus?
What surprised you about your social or academic experiences at this university?
What did you learn about yourself and others from this experience?
What experiences were most meaningful to you?
What are your impressions of American students?
What are your impressions of different international students?
What are your impressions of the university’s faculty?
What stories have you shared with your parents about this university?
Questions asked at the third interview (Modified from Samuel, 2004, pp. 410–411)
Describe your interactions with different groups of students?
Did you at any time have doubts about your status and ability in relation to your status as an Asian international undergraduate student?
Have you felt minimized, marginalized, silenced, excluded, or segregated?
Have you experienced intangible, subtle or vicarious forms of racism?
Have you had feelings of visibility and invisibility?
What were your social and academic experiences at this university?
Has attending this university changed your views about American students?
Has attending this university changed your views about different international students?
Has attending this university changed your impressions of the faculty?
What would you recommend for improving the experiences of minority students, particularly Japanese undergraduate students?
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