Acculturation Strategies Of Chinese International Students In The US From The Perspective Of Social Networks

With the massive power of globalization overwhelming the area of education,an increasing number of Chinese students choose to study abroad. Therefore, it isimperative to gain deep insight into the acculturation of Chinese internationalstudents.To examine Chinese international students’ acculturation, this study employsthe concept of social network. It has carried out surveys on two levels: one, aquestionnaire filled out by70students from5different universities in the UnitedStates to investigate Chinese international students’ acculturation strategies; two, aninterview with16students (each strategy4subjects), to study their social networksand social network features of students who adopt the same strategy.The results show:(1) most students choose integration as their most favoredstrategy, then assimilation, while few students adopt marginalization and separation.(2) Chinese international students build emotional and instrumental relationship withco-nationals; they find it difficult to be real friends with Americans; Asian studentsare easier to get along with.(3) students choosing integration find social network isessential in coping with culture shock; social network of students adoptingassimilation is diverse; students applying marginalization regret cutting offmonocultural network; students employing separation bulid mixed relationship withco-nationals. Significance of this thesis lies in that it not only studies internationalstudents’ acculturation and their social networks, but also the social network featuresof students who adopt the same acculturation strategy.