Chapter Overview
This chapter comprises of two sections. Section one provides detailed summary of research results with further description of empirical results. Section two offers specific recommendation to the Mandarin Training Center (MTC) of National Taiwan Normal University as well as to the international students, who pursue their language study in Taiwan.
Recommendations for further research are also included.
Conclusions
This study tried to asses which variables affect international students‟ performance and their satisfaction with life in Taiwan. Variables for questionnaire were gained through extensive literature review and through five interviews that were conducted with two psychology counselors of NTNU Student Counseling Center and three MTC students. The pilot test was run to test the reliability of main research instrument – a questionnaire which was developed by researcher. The actual field study was executed at the MTC at National Taiwan National University by the researcher and with significant help of MTC teachers, who helped to spread the questionnaire among students. Research hypotheses that were developed in order to test the findings and the results of statistical analysis are provided below.
Summary of hygiene factor
Sixteen items, that form hygiene factor, pointed out the environment MTC provides to its students. Hygiene factor has no significant relation to international students‟ performance.
Schools environment, equipment, learning materials, staff and teachers‟ attitude are not motivating neither de-motivating factors for foreign students and therefore do not affect their
72 performance in any way.
Statistics results showed that when the sixteen items (from hygiene factor) are treated individually, variables which stands for information about medical care, is significant. This result is also supported by respondents‟ comments (see chapter IV, table 4.24). Five respondents adverted to the fact that MTC does not provide enough information (not only about medical care).
Summary of situational factor
Six items come under situational factor that embodies issues of everyday life which, in another country, may bring unknown, even stressful, situations. These items were established after vast review of former studies and after interviews with psychology counselors from NTNU, who work with international students and hence have information about their life in Taiwan (and possible troubles and problems). However, according to research a result, situational factor is not related to international students‟ performance and thus does not affect students‟ accomplishments.
Two variables from situational factor appeared to be significant when they were tested independently. Being confused about one‟s career was one issue that was significant with students who have stayed in Taiwan for less than six months and for students who have been in Taiwan for two to three years. Having difficulties with adapting to local cuisine was the other issue and its significance was obvious for group of students who have been to Taiwan for less than six months and for students staying for almost two years.
Summary of adaptability factor
Three variables form the adaptability factor, which did not show any significant relation to international student‟s performance. However, when variables were studied independently with students divided according to the length of their stay in Taiwan, all
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variables showed high significance. Therefore, it can be said that openness, self-motivation and the ability to adapt easily to new life situations, new culture and environment does affect international students‟ adaptation process.
Summary of factor of region of origin
One of research hypotheses covered the idea that students from different regions (continents) may have different perception about factors which affect their performance.
However, the research results did not prove this hypothesis and therefore it can be stated that region of students‟ origin is not significantly related to their performance.
Outcomes on satisfaction
The researcher intended to see if there is any relation between international students‟
performance and their satisfaction with life in Taiwan. Therefore, a correlation test was run.
However, the result shows that there is no correlation between them.
Hypothesis six looked at hygiene, situational and adaptability factors and their possible relation with satisfaction. Result of this test revealed high significance of relation between hygiene factor and satisfaction and situational factor and satisfaction. Accordingly, it can be said that hygiene factors and situational factors do strongly affect international students‟ satisfaction with life in Taiwan. As is further illustrated in table 4.24 (chapter 4, page 57), respondents‟ comments also stated issues that affect their everyday life. These are not necessarily connected to school (as these factors do not affect performance), however school may probably help students to deal with those problems.
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Recommendations
Based on the conclusion of research results, the author provided recommendations to the authorities of Mandarin Training Center (MTC) at the National Taiwan University, and to international students enrolled at MTC Chinese language courses. The researcher sincerely hopes that the below recommendation will be considered by the abovementioned institution for further development of services towards international students. However, even students should be informed about the results of this study in order to know how to prevent problems with living in foreign country.
Recommendation for Mandarin Training Center (MTC)
Clean and affable environment
According to respondents‟ comments, hygiene should be improved at the premises of MTC. The empirical research results also showed that hygiene is a factor with high significance and affects international student‟s satisfaction with life in Taiwan. The MTC should provide cleaner and more sanitary ambience and so reach the international standard, as that is what most of its students expects.
More possibilities of exchange between MTC & NTNU students
Another recommendation that comes from respondents‟ comments and indirectly from interviews results is the call for more chances to meet with NTNU students in order to find new friends, to mutually benefit from language exchange as well as to get more involved in NTNU on-campus students activities. Therefore, the researcher proposes that MTC will provide information about all students‟ activities that take place at NTNU or even organize and promote activities that will bring MTC and NTNU students together. By getting more
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involved in the on-campus life, international students can find new friends and also get help with their adaptation issues.
Teachers’ and administration personnel training
Student interviewees and questionnaire respondents pointed out that some MTC teachers have very conservative attitude and this makes the multicultural communication rather hard. Also, interviewees and respondents complaint that administration personnel are not helpful and do not show concern for students‟ situations. Hence, the researcher recommends training in international communication for both teachers and administration personnel. For the later, problem solving workshops may also be helpful. Teachers may also study, what are the suitable teaching techniques for adult learners at international school.
The administration personnel should further improve the ways information is transmitted to students, even prior students‟ arrival. Also, training or workshops, that will help the MTC staff to prepare effective and efficient orientation for new enrolled students, should be included. MTC employees should learn how to think ahead of their customers – students. Only like this then can preserve good services and their students‟ satisfaction.
Switching classes’ procedure
As a stressful matter, students‟ interviewees and questionnaire respondents depicted the rules and procedure for switching classes. 1 The researcher thus recommends that this particular matter should be improved in such a way so that every student has a chance to get
1 During the first week on each semester, students can change their class in order to get to another level or to change their teacher. However, the student can easily end up without having any class, which is frustrating and, as was said before, administrative personnel is not very helpful with such issues. Students are at first asked to leave their current class without the option of going back. Only after that they are allowed to go and look for suitable class. However, if the class has too many students or the teacher rejects the student from any reason, it is hard to sort out this situation without stress.
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to their desired level and study under a teacher they find suitable. The author finds effective changing classes‟ possibility as one of the core services that should be provided to the students without any reluctance.
MTC and NTNU library
Last but not least, students commented on MTC and NTNU libraries. MTC library was criticized for its size and that it is persistently overcrowded.2 Also, the library only offers dictionaries and selected periodicals, but very little books. Therefore, the name library is misleading.
MTC students cannot enter main NTNU library.3As MTC library does not offer many items and also does not allow loan, it is understandable that international students are not satisfied with this situation. Possibly, some solution could be offered by MTC authorities so that students have access to library and therefore can practice their Chinese ability by reading books written in Mandarin or further study their areas of interest.
Recommendations for International Students
Seek information prior departure to Taiwan
The researcher supposes that if students have general information before their arrival to Taiwan, it would help them to overcome many unexpected troubles they may face during
2 This is especially due to the fact that international students have to spend 15 hours per week at school for the visa purpose (in contract with previous regulations which only required students to fulfill 10 hours of classes per week). However, ordinary courses only cover 10 hours. Therefore, students have to sit in the library or audio-visual rooms or attend cultural classes. However, to many to them, sitting in an overcrowded, noisy library is not contributing to language improvement.
3 In the past, it was possible for MTC students to enter the NTNU library with their student cards; however they were not entitled to borrow any items unless they had special permission that required a security.
77 first days of their stay.
In order to be informed, international students may seek the internet to learn more about everyday life, part-time job opportunities, accommodation possibility etc. For students whose country has diplomatic relations with Taiwan, they may contact their embassy or Cultural and Economical Office4 in order to get information about legal matters. Ideally, those representations should also organize an informational meeting for students who arrive to Taiwan. If this is not the case, they can at least provide some useful information about everyday life. The researcher believes, that such information can be very contributive, because it comes from a same national who perceive Taiwan in possibly a similar way as the arriving students (from cultural perspective, life-style differences, etc.).
Multicultural perception
Some interviewees and questionnaire respondents made the researcher believe that also students, who arrive to Taiwan, should try to adjust their attitude and should try to understand the new culture and life-style. The researcher beliefs, that it is international students‟ ethnocentrism that aggravates their adaptation process. Everyone is using his/her cultural background as a benchmark to the new culture. According to Martin and Chaney (2007), ethnocentrism is „the belief that your own cultural background, including ways of analyzing problems, values, beliefs, language, and verbal and nonverbal communication, is correct.‟ Therefore, everyone evaluates other cultures and people through his criterion, which is his culture, that he/she perceive as central (hence other cultures are incorrect, defective, or quaint). International students should try to overcome the illiberalness of ethnocentrism and should embrace all new without preconceptions.
4Countries that have official political relationship with People‟s Republic of China cannot have regular embassy in Taiwan. Accordingly, representation called Cultural and Economic Office protects all official activities between Taiwan and the other country.
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Recommendation for Further Research
As was stated in the introduction chapter, this research focuses exclusively on international students studying at Mandarin Training Center (MTC) at National Taiwan Normal University. To the author‟s knowledge, there is no other research that tries to study which factors affect international students‟ performance and satisfaction in the language center in Taiwan.
The researcher is aware of the fact that this is a pioneering study and is not flawless.
Further research should be conducted in order to fully understand the situation of international students. Future studies should consider more students‟ background (education, country of origin, etc.) in order to get clearer picture about students from certain regions. Also, students‟ background in Taiwan should be considered. Presence of family, spouse, children or other acquaintances as well as occupation (if students work here) may be quite influential for the issue of overall satisfaction with life in Taiwan.
Future researchers should also try to get official data from MTC authorities as well as support for doing research on their premises. More should be known about MTC‟s organizational structure and teachers‟ education and teaching techniques.
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APPENDIX: QUESTIONNAIRE
Vladimíra Bilijenková Graduate Student
National Taiwan Normal University Taipei, Taiwan ROC
Dear International Student,
I am a Master‟s degree student in International Workforce Education and Development at National Taiwan Normal University. I am writing my thesis on the major factors that affect international students‟ performance at Mandarin Training Center (MTC). I would like to ask you for help by filling in this questionnaire.
Only your participation can make this research significant. Your anonymity is guaranteed.
The results of this research will be forwarded the MTC mangers for the future improvement, so more foreign students can receive the benefits of your help from this study.
Thank you in advance for your participation in my research. If you have any questions about the study or you would like to know the research results, you may contact me via email at yewan_z_cech@yahoo.com.
Sincerely,
Vladimíra Bilijenková M.Ed. Student, NTNU
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QUESTIONNAIRE
Please, provide the following demographic data: 基本資料
Region/continent of origin／州別／國家: _____________________
Gender／性別: __________________
Age／年齡: _________________
Please, indicate your level of agreement with the following statements using the scale:
請於每一項敘述中，選出最適當的選項：
請於每一項敘述中，選出最適當的選項：