Academic Engagement, Social Integration, and Academic Socialization: English as an Additional Language in Higher Education

Abstract

With a fast-growing population of immigrant and international students entering English-medium higher education in Canada, it is critical to understand the nature of academic experiences for these students and what contributes to their academic acculturation and post-secondary success. As such, a literature review was carried out to identify emerging themes related to students using English as an additional language in post-secondary settings. This article is based on a literature review of 87 empirical studies, conducted between 2008 and 2018, related to the academic acculturation journey of international students using English as an additional language in English medium higher education setting. Three major themes—academic engagement, academic socialization, and social integration in relation to English language ability—emerged from the literature among a multitude of influential factors. The findings of this literature review point to the importance of supporting students using English as an additional language as they navigate a new academic culture.