AbstractsEducation Research & Administration

Teaching general education to international students at Humboldt State University

by Megan Marie Mefford




Institution: Humboldt State University
Department: Education
Degree: MA
Year: 2014
Keywords: Faculty perspectives/attitudes; International education; Higher education; International student; General education; Intercultural communication
Record ID: 2025655
Full text PDF: http://hdl.handle.net/2148/1952


Abstract

In the era of globalization, U.S. higher education institutions have been making efforts to attract international students for various reasons. Humboldt State University has seen a steady increase in the enrollment of international students as the emphasis on international recruitment has picked up. It is well documented that International students face difficulties adjusting to U.S. culture both socially and academically. Many studies investigate the challenges that international students experience in American classrooms, but little research has been conducted on faculty perspectives on either campus internationalization or cross-cultural competencies. This research is designed to answer the question: Do Humboldt State University faculty members??? perceptions and attitudes about international students affect their communication and interaction with those students? What, if any, adjustments do faculty members make to their curriculum, classroom design, speech and general availability in order to better teach to an internationally diverse student population?