Academic and Cultural Challenges Faced by Chinese Students: A Case Study at a Christian University in Thailand
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33541/jet.v12i3.8672Abstract
This study investigated the academic and cultural challenges faced by Chinese international students at a Christian university in Thailand, examining the relationship between these challenges, the students’ coping strategies, and the influence of the institution’s religious environment. Utilizing a convergent mixed-methods design, the study collected qualitative data through in-depth interviews with ten Chinese students and quantitative data via a structured survey administered to 65 Chinese students, analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. The findings revealed that students experienced moderate academic challenges (M = 3.16) and cultural challenges (M = 3.01), driven primarily by English language barriers, unfamiliar teaching styles, communication norms, and homesickness. A positive correlation emerged between academic and cultural challenges (r = .598, p < .001). To adapt, students deployed active (language immersion, seeking professor help), psychological (acceptance, faith, calmness), and behavioral (gradual adaptation, peer friendships) coping strategies. Regarding the institutional Christian environment, qualitative analysis revealed three distinct influence trajectories: facilitative and supportive influences (fostering spiritual safety, institutional continuity, and positive reframing); constraining and friction-inducing influences (generating spiritual discontent, time burdens for non-Christian students, and perceptive inclusion barrier); and indirect and adaptive outcomes (prompting pragmatic participation or self-reliant ethics). This research offers valuable insights for international Christian higher education institutions seeking to optimize student support services, language programs, and inclusive orientations.
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