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EXPLORING EAST ASIAN UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THEIR PREPARATION FOR STUDY ABROAD FOR ACADEMIC SUCCESS IN U.S. UNIVERSITIES Meiren Chen A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate College of Bowling Green State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS May 2015 Committee: Hyeyoung Bang, Advisor Christopher Frey Kimberly Spallinger ii ABSTRACT Hyeyoung Bang, Advisor This study used grounded theory as a framework to explore how the preparation for studying abroad would affect the academic success of East Asian undergraduate students in American universities. To understand how East Asian students’ previous educational experience would influence their current study in the U.S., 12 East Asian undergraduate students who had various educational experience before they began their undergraduate studies in the U.S. were interviewed. Three research questions were examined in this study, including: 1) how did East Asian students prepare to study in American universities; 2) how did their preparation affect their academic success in American universities; 3) what are challenges they are still facing in American universities? Twelve participants from China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong were selected on purpose from five universities in order to recruit participants with diverse background. Interviews were conducted individually with each participant. This findings show how East Asian students’ English learning experiences in their homelands, their preparation experiences, and their success and challenges in U.S. universities. The knowledge of English language and American culture is the core category which is highly involved with their preparation for study abroad and their undergraduate study in the U.S. The study concludes that East Asian students can benefit from all the preparation programs which are held either in their homelands or the host countries. However, the barriers in language and culture are difficult for East Asian student to overcome in college. This findings of this study not only help future East Asian students who interested in studying in the United States be better prepared before going abroad but also help American iii institutions to better understand their international students from East Asia and provide better on- campus support for them. iv Dedicated to all the participants in this study v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First, I would like to sincerely thank my advisor, Dr. Hyeyoung Bang, for her kind help, guidance, and support in the whole process of my thesis writing. Second, I would like to thank my committee members, Dr. Christopher Frey and Kimberly Spallinger, who gave me valuable feedback and suggestions on my thesis. Third, I would like to thank the participants who not only participated in this study but also helped me recruit more participants. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................... 1 Background of the Study ........................................................................................... 2 Justification for the Study .......................................................................................... 4 The Purpose Statement .............................................................................................. 4 Limitations ................................................................................................................. 5 Definition of Terms.................................................................................................... 5 CHAPTER II. LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................. 7 An Overview of East Asian Students in the United States ....................................... 7 Current East Asian Students in the United States .......................................... 7 Reasons for Studying in the United States ..................................................... 9 The push-pull model .......................................................................... 9 A preference to American universities ............................................... 10 An Overview on the Characteristics of Schooling and English education in East Asia 11 Similarities in Education in the Four Countries and Areas ........................... 12 China ............................................................................................................ 13 Characteristics of teaching and learning in primary and secondary education levels .................................................................................. 13 English education in primary and secondary level ............................ 15 South Korea ................................................................................................... 16 Characteristics of teaching and learning in primary and secondary education levels .................................................................................. 16 vii English education in primary and secondary level ............................ 17 Taiwan............................................................................................................ 17 Characteristics of teaching and learning in primary and secondary education levels .................................................................................. 17 English education in primary and secondary level ............................ 18 Hong Kong ..................................................................................................... 19 Characteristics of teaching and learning in primary and secondary education levels .................................................................................. 19 English education in primary and secondary level ............................ 20 Influence of Confucianism ......................................................................................... 20 The importance of examination ..................................................................... 21 Value of education ......................................................................................... 22 High expectation on academic success .......................................................... 22 A Brief Overview on the Classroom Communication in U.S. Universities .............. 23 Preparation for Studying in American Universities ................................................... 24 Test preparation programs ............................................................................. 25 International High School Programs .............................................................. 26 Advanced Placement (AP) ................................................................. 26 The General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Level ......... 27 International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme ............................. 27 Bridge Programs for International Students .................................................. 28 viii ESL programs in the U.S. .............................................................................. 29 Agency Help in the Application Process ................................................................... 30 Chapter Summary ...................................................................................................... 31 CHAPTER III. METHODOLOGY ...................................................................................... 32 Research Questions .................................................................................................... 32 Research Design ......................................................................................................... 33 Research Methodology -- Grounded Theory ................................................. 33 Permission from Human Subjects Research Board (HSRB) ......................... 34 Participant Selection ...................................................................................... 35 Interview Protocol .......................................................................................... 36 The role of researcher ........................................................................ 36 Demographic form ............................................................................. 36 Interview questions ............................................................................ 36 Interview settings and tools ............................................................... 37 Memoing ............................................................................................ 37 Member Checking .......................................................................................... 38 Data Analysis ............................................................................................................ 38 Open Coding .................................................................................................. 40 Axial Coding .................................................................................................. 42 Selective Coding ............................................................................................ 44 Trustworthiness .......................................................................................................... 45 Chapter Summary ...................................................................................................... 45 CHAPTER IV. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION ................................................................ 46 ix Overview of Participants

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