A Case Study of Nonnative English-Speaking International Students' Adjustment to a Korean University

Abstract

Kim, Jeongyeon. 2018. “A Case Study of Nonnative English-Speaking InternationalStudents' Adjustment to a Korean University”. The Sociolinguistic Journal of Korea 26(1).111~133. In the midst of intense global economic competition, institutions of highereducation in many non-English-speaking societies have rigorously expandedinternationalization and seen a dramatic increase of international students. This studyinvestigated a case of nonnative English-speaking international students' adjustment toa Korean university devoted to internationalization. A mixed method was adopted toexamine the relationships between adjustment and factors including perception ofEnglish as a lingua franca (ELF), perception of English-medium instruction, culturalknowledge, and perceived language proficiency. The analysis of the questionnaireresponses of 132 international students and qualitative interviews with seven of therespondents revealed their negative view of EMI, which was frequently associated withthe local language used in class. Their adjustment correlated significantly with theamount of the knowledge of the Korean culture and with the extent to which theywould perceive English as a means of intercultural communication. Although therelationship between their view of EMI and adjustment was not significant, it was foundstill valid and indirect through the factor of the Korean language proficiency. Notably,in the qualitative interviews, the participants revealed limited understanding of the wayinteraction is framed in different local communities. These findings are discussed topropose improved support for international students of non-English-speaking highereducation.