It is a common but not unrealistic stereotype of Asian students that educational success is a matter of personal identity and status. As such, achieving distinctions in as many subjects as possible (the popular target of becoming a 'straight A' student) is usually a non-negotiable objective nurtured by both parents and educators. However,…

This chapter introduces the learner profiles and the sociocultural roadmap of participating Chinese graduate students. The learner profiles illustrate the demographic and linguistic background of each participating student. Their lived experiences include pre-departure experience (i.e., learning the English language as a foreign language),…

Many international students coming to a U.S. university, especially those coming from a collectivist culture such as Asia, experience acculturation stress due to encountering different cultural norms and values. Lack of available resources may limit their coping ability, and prolonged exposure to acculturation stress may result in a decline in…