Chinese Postgraduate Students in the UK: A Two-Way Reciprocal Adaptation

Abstract

Chinese students who come to study in the UK and their UK teachers have to adapt to cultural differences in their experience of and expectations about teaching and learning traditions and practices. Qualitative and quantitative data were obtained for Chinese postgraduate students and the staff teaching them in two Scottish universities to investigate the extent of their shared perceptions and their reciprocal adaptations. Students, especially those coming in groups, tended to deal with problems among themselves, which resulted in their teachers having limited awareness of their students’ difficulties. Several themes that emerged in relation to reciprocal adaptation are discussed.

Keywords:

• Chinese Students
• Postgraduate Students
• International Students
• Cultural Adaptation
• Shared Expectations

Acknowledgements

The research reported here was carried out by the first author as part of her doctoral degree research. We wish to express our gratitude to the Chinese postgraduate students and staff who participated in the project.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Yuefang Zhou

Yuefang Zhou is a member of the School of Psychology, University of Dundee

John Todman

John Todman is Professor of the School of Psychology, University of Dundee