What makes 600 000 young people from all over the world come to study in the United States? Is it the reputation of the US degrees? The efficient teaching methods or the life on campus? Studying in the United States is a myth for a large number of students in the world. A lot of movies and series give us a dreamy image of what a US campus is. They make us believe that it must be very easy to integrate in such an environment. As our entire groups members had, at least once thought, of spending one year in an American College or still plan to do it, we decided to focus on the integration of French students on US campuses. Many questions arose: is it easy? What problems do students have? When do they feel integrated? Therefore, our main issue will be to find out how French students can experience a successful integration on a US campus. Thus, we could think about the following question: What are the decisive factors in matters of integration? In order to answer that question our project will be divided in two complementary parts: one more theoretical with texts, novels and articles analysis about the integration phenomenon and intercultural relations. The second and main part of our work will focus on a several case studies. The aim of that section is to share real experiences of this integration process and to find out how students deal with studying in the US and what their feelings are. The question is to know whether these personal experiences are in line with the theoretical researches or may be contradictory in some aspects.
[...] Indeed, there are many more students in the American universities than in any faculties in France It is possible to roam for a long time on the campus and in the building of the university without recognizing familiar faces even if the students are grouped together by specialization. A campus it is a real student's city. Which outstanding experiences do you remember? Tell me more about your integration. Yes, I have one outstanding experience. It was in a church in the center of Denver. [...]
[...] Although there is no sure recipe for a successful integration, our research enables us to determine some clues to understand how a French student can manage his integration on a US campus. The command of English appears to be crucial since it allows you to take part in discussions, debates or mere jokes. A strong will to be integrated and real efforts to succeed are also very important in the integration process. Even more determining is the attitude you have towards the new culture you are experiencing. [...]
[...] The results of the quantitative part of the analysis helped us to define what we want to know from people who actually experienced a long stay on a US campus. The qualitative analysis is of course the more interesting part for us because it gives us the opportunity to share with students their personal stories and feelings through 30 to 60 minutes interviews. In order to get the information we were looking for and to help people to share their experience with us, we prepared an interview guide presented below The qualitative research: our interview guide Method of interviewing: If possible, try to make non-directive or semi-directive interviews. [...]
[...] I have been working for 7 years before I have decided to do an MBA on a US Campus. I don't want to stay here after passing my degree. I want to go back to Europe. I think I'll move to London What were your first impressions when you arrived? When you arrive, you are quite busy: you move in, you visit the city. At the beginning I stayed a lot with other Europeans who were there. Actually, foreign students arrive earlier on campus because they have to settle. [...]
[...] The major problem for me was that I was unable to speak spontaneously because I did not speak English as fluently as I wanted .As a rule; people lose their patience quicker because it's tiring and boring for them to make extra-effort to try to understand .It did not make my integration any easier What were the signs of your successful integration? I knew I had been successful in the integration process when I could count on several true friends and we started going out as a group regularly 7. [...]
APA Style reference
For your bibliographyOnline reading
with our online readerContent validated
by our reading committee
