An Exploration of How a Self-Access Centre Supports Integration of International Students in a Higher Education Context

by

Abstract

The increasing trend of globalization as well immigration induces the percentage of the international students in the UK. However, it is crucial to highlight the fact that the international students usually face difficulties in their higher education in the English speaking universities terms of cultural, linguistic as well as educational differences. Language deficiency in the international students exerts negative impact on the performance of the students as well as it hinders their integration in the new cultural context. In order to overcome these issues, universities are integrating self access centers in their educational system with the intention to facilitate the students with independent learning opportunities. Self access learning enters facilitate learners with wide range of learning activities to enhance their abilities to quickly and efficaciously adopt English as their second language. SAC play crucial role in reshaping the social as well as academic lives of the international students that are getting higher education in the UK. The study findings analysed that the SAC play exceptionally crucial role in providing independent language learning opportunities to the international students in order to improve their English learning as well as to boost their confidence. The study is aimed to explore the role of the SACs in supporting the integration of international students in the higher education context of the British universities.

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION2

Introduction2

Research Setting2

Rationale of the Research3

Potential Benefits3

Limitations of the Study4

CHAPTER 2: CRITICAL SUMMARY5

Research Aim and Objectives5

Research Questions5

Research Plan6

Collection, Analysis and Quality of Data7

Summary Justification for Chosen Method8

Ethical considerations of the study9

Justification for changes in the 6011 Research Proposal10

CHAPTER 3: LITERATURE REVIEW11

Globalization and/or Internationalisation11

Problems and challenges facing international students11

International Students' Urgency to learn English in Higher Education13

Integrative and/or Instrumental Motivation13

Importance of a self-access centre in higher education14

Role of self access centres in preventing cultural shocks15

Role of the SAC in language development16

Role of SAC in supporting international students in the context of higher education17

References18

Appendix33

Survey Questionnaire35

Semi-Structured Interview Questionnaire41

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Introduction

Globalization has highlighted the importance of the speaking and learning of English as a second language (Sawir, 2005). A total of 435,230 international students have been enrolled at university in the UK in 2012-2013 as compared with 428,225 in 2010-2011 (UKCISA, 2012), this shows a 2% increase in the last year alone. Andrade, (2006) highlighted in his studies that the international students that international students usually face problems in higher education due to deficiencies in speaking and learning English. Moreover, limitations on their university lives due to intercultural differences induce the need of an efficacious educational system with the aim to facilitate international students with the opportunity to enhance their skills in the context of EFL (Gu, Schweisfurth & Day, 2010, p. 7-23). Furthermore, according to Lai & Hamp-Lyons (2001), self -access centres (SACs) play a vital role in enhancing the English language skills of international students. According to him, students can access support in their higher education through the SAC, positively impacting on the educational as well as social life ...