This Article Full Text (OnlineFirst PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Skinner, B. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Online Discussion: Can It Help International Students Ease into British University Life?

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: b.skinner{at}ulster.ac.uk.

	Abstract

International students arriving at UK higher education institutions often find the first stage of the period of transition from home to British university difficult. Research has shown that the difficulties relate to finding themselves in a new culture. This University of Ulster project encouraged them to explore their feelings by participating in a series of online WebCT discussion tasks during their 6week presessional programme with the aim of helping to mitigate any disabling effects of arriving in a new country.

The article found that virtual contact did not help students to openly express their thoughts by producing comments at an emotional level; that supportive friendships can be built across cultures as well as in conational groups and that the provision of direct advice on practical and physical problems indirectly brought emotional benefits therefore helping students to manage this time of transition more effectively.

First published on December 11, 2008
Journal of Studies in International Education 2008, doi:10.1177/1028315308327866


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?