“Филологические науки”/1.Методика преподавания языка и литературы
Kryvoruchko A.
Poltava University of Economics and Trade
STUDENTS ADAPTATION IN INTERNATIONAL HIGHER SCHOOLS
In
the modern world contacts between the countries intensively develop, streams of
youth from one country to another simultaneously increase. The states accept numerous groups of international students for training. Among
set of problems there is a problem of their adaptation to a society of that
country in which they get education. Research
of a difficult and many-sided process of living in a new environment is assumed
to be concerned with studying of various aspects of a phenomenon of adaptation.
Preparatory
faculties are an initial link in the system of training of international experts.
In this connection, the adaptation problem is the most important in these
divisions of the higher school. The success of the further training of
students-foreigners appreciably depends on the adaptation period – the period
of time during which the basis for their future professional work is created. Adaptation process should be considered at various stages, i.e. at
levels of interpersonal relations, individual behavior, basic mental functions,
psycho-physiological regulation, physiological mechanisms of maintenance of
activity, a functional reserve of an organism, health. Among these factors, the
main role belongs to the mental adaptation appreciably influencing adaptable
processes, carried out on other levels. The criteria of adaptation of students to
educational activity can be objective (progress, indicators of public activity,
stabilization of attention, memory, thinking, absence of obvious signs of
exhaustion) and subjective (the relation to subjects, to received knowledge,
satisfaction by training process, collective and the relations which have
developed in it).
Adaptation
to new unfamiliar conditions provides formation of psychological mechanisms
thanks to which safety and adequate orientation in a new situation is provided.
At successful adaptation the person has an opportunity the maximum
self-realization in the conditions of training in higher school.
"Impracticality", is observed in inadequate perception of a
situation, in such way of actions which creates adverse development of a
situation and leads to psychological trouble of the student, to a condition of
stress and serious threat to its vital interests.
Ability
to behave in different situations defines adaptation to student's life. It is
possible to allocate some types of behavior of students in a training
situation. The first type the external motivation of training is characterized
by aspiration to approval of the collective (as a rule is characteristic, they
are "honors pupils"). They have a dependence on opinion of parents,
teachers, and friends. In that case the estimation received at examination, has
a role of a status indicator. Therefore to the estimation of this kind as a way of self-affirmation, great
value is given. Other type is contrast of the first. The student quickly enough
notices that regular work demands a considerable quantity of efforts, and the
diploma can be received without them. The representative of the given type
refuses to struggle for an appreciation, showing indifference, original
independence of them. The training system causes in them the criticism and
tearing away, as a result they don't use the possibilities and waste time for
nothing. The internal motivation of training and the pragmatism caused by it
are inherent in the third type. Unlike the first and second types, the student,
as a rule, has already rather real vital installations. Training in higher
school for representatives of the given type means the necessity defined by
plans for the future. They are focused on rational use of time, really estimate
the possibilities, and are concentrated on reception of advantage of training.
It is obvious that as the main motive of educational activity for the given
group of students and one of major factors of their adaptation act the future
work on the specialties, necessary skills and knowledge. Professional work prevails over other elements of valuable orientations
of the person. Comparing these types of strategy of behavior, it is possible to
assert that most effective of them is the third.
It
is obvious that adaptation process begins with the first day of stay of the international
student in the country, and from the first day, his/her way of life which has
developed earlier comes to specific relations with a way of life in a society.
Readiness of all students for educational activity, installation on higher
education reception seem to the teacher in the beginning of academic year by
itself understood, but soon in educational groups there is a clear split:
students who want and can study, and students who are morally and
psychologically not ready to study. The
active attitude to the future profession is generated at students who already
started to study in secondary and higher educational institutions in the
homeland on the given specialty, or worked in their area of interest. The most
frequent consequence of absence or vagueness on getting the future trade is
frequent change of specialization by students.
Today
it is possible to ascertain that preparation of foreign experts has mass
character and tends to the further development. In this connection the necessity
of studying regulations and laws at a pre-university level becomes a more
essential part of training. The analysis of process of adaptation of foreign
students to the new social environment and revealing of mechanisms of managing
this process will allow developing practical recommendations about optimization
of their training.
Literature:
1.
Stories of Student Adaptation. Korean
Students Share Experiences of Living and Studying in the United States, Casey
M.,2009
2.
Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Second
Language Acquisition. A Study of International Students in Universities of the
People’s Republic of China, Baohua Y.,2009
3.
Metamorphosis: A Grounded Theory
Study Identity Outcomes in International Student Adaptation, 2008.