This study of linguistic and cultural adjustment of Chinese university students in the United States replicated a study of Japanese high school students in the United States under sponsorship of the Youth for Understanding International Scholarships. The prior study revealed that their instructional preparation in Japan for total English immersion in the United States was inadequate for the constant use of English that they experienced during a year long residence here. (Gurney, 1984. Unpublished)

Major findings of this first study of Chinese graduate students deal, firstly, with their English background in China (Table I):
1) the majority of the students had almost 3 years of English (M = 2.75 yrs.) Only about one third (31.8%) had 3 years or more of English;
2) the English teachers were primarily Chinese, but almost one quarter had teachers in high school or college from an English speaking country (27.3% / 40.9%);
3) English was sporadically used for instruction in English classes (13.9 NEVER and SOMETIMES 50%);
4) translation was the primary mode of instruction (most often from English to Chinese: 50% OFTEN, 22.7% MOST OF TIME) with scant use of English to relate students' activities (45.5% NEVER, 31.8% SOMETIMES); and,
5) there was a heavy concentration on memorizing English words with Chinese meanings (MOST OF TIME 45.5%,
OFTEN 27.3%).

On adjustment and linguistic difficulties (Table II), we found that: 1) the average length of time to become at ease in most speaking situations was 23.55 weeks. (However, one student reported 99 weeks for the adjustment period. A more realistic average is 17.5 weeks); 2) five students reported that they had yet adjusted during their stay in this country; 3) the rank order of linguistic difficulties was speaking, understanding, writing and reading; 4) students had less difficulty understanding and speaking with major professors than with native American students, and generally experienced more adjustment difficulty with other students as well; and, 5) the Chinese students requested and received more help with linguistic difficulties from students than from major professors and other professors, and felt more comfortable asking for help from students. (Table III)

On the matter of total immersion conditions and prior English preparation in China, most students reported that this preparation was insufficient (72.7%), and 86.4% reported they had not gotten enough practice in conversation in order to make a smooth transition to using English on a daily basis. Almost as many (77%) thought that well developed skills in listening and comprehension were either VERY BENEFICIAL OR ESSENTIAL. Also, classroom instruction by native or near-native speakers of English was the highest rated academic preparation relative to the demands of total immersion in the United States (36.4% ESSENTIAL, 40.9% VERY BENEFICIAL.)

These perceptions are reinforced by the indications of the types of instruction most prevalent in the high schools and colleges
in China: concentration on rules of grammar, translation from English to Chinese and memorization of English words with Chinese definitions. (As mentioned, ratings on the last two were generally very high: OFTEN/MOST OF TIME. Combined percentages: 72%.)

Although returns could not support highly accurate analyses, the validity of the Chinese students' responses was probably similar to that of the Japanese YFU students. One should be able to compare similar questions on linguistic preparation, adjustment and areas of difficulty between the two studies of Asian students. In this vein, the following are noteworthy.

A. The YFU STUDY had responses from 284 students, 73% more than the Chinese group (N = 22).

B. Findings

1. The Chinese students studied English for a shorter period of time in high school than the Japanese students (M = 2.76 vs 9 years), and had a larger percentage of natives as English teachers.
2. Neither group had studied other foreign languages with any regularity at all.
3. The mean period of adjustment was shorter for Japanese students than for the Chinese group (M = 12.6 vs 23.55 weeks, or 17.5 weeks with N = 21.)
4. The rank order of difficulties: speaking, understanding, writing and reading was a reverse of the findings in the YFU study.
5. The context for help was similar in terms of two response modes: OFTEN and MOST OF TIME.
6. The Chinese students felt as ill prepared for immersion as the Japanese students (72.7% / 75%), and reported that they had insufficient conversation as preparation for a smooth transition to the daily use of English (86.4% / 80%).
7. As to preferences in skills preparation, general skills in reading, writing and listening comprehension were ranked most beneficial by Chinese students (M = 1.96. Scale: 0 - 3), but extensive conversation, ranked first by YFU students, was close behind (M = 1.86) followed by a extensive vocabulary and a high level of reading (M = 1.73).
8. Ratings on beneficial academic preparation were, overall, lower than on skills preparation. The most beneficial in both studies was classroom instruction by natives or near native speakers of English followed by a combined English language/U.S. culture orientation in the U.S. before going on to the college/university.
9. Basic cultural empathy was rated higher by Japanese than by Chinese students on the most important cultural competence for members of the host country. The latter group rated basic awareness of Chinese culture the most desirable competence. They rated general cultural empathy second.

Return to Foreign Language Education Page