Interest in home-school communication has paid little attention, to date, to the experiences of English as a second language (ESL) parents. This article examines recent Chinese immigrant parents' and Canadian teachers' perspectives of ESL learning presented at Parents' Night. On the basis of observations of three annual Parents' Nights, interviews…

This essay focuses on how people respond to cultural difference, and, specifically, two tendencies. One tendency is to romanticize the cultural differences encountered. Another tendency is to rush to a negative judgment about the specific people involved, and about their culture more generally. In this essay, the author illustrates these…

Describes the chronic and acute subscales (SOMAC and SOMAA) of the Chinese Somatic Scale that was administered to 2150 Hong Kong secondary education students to measure their psychological well being. Results showed that both the SOMAC and SOMAA had acceptable reliability and validity status as compared with similar type tests. (GG)

During the past five years, an increasing number of younger international students from mainland China have appeared on Canadian campuses to pursue their first university degrees. What is it like being a international student studying in a foreign language and culture at such a young age? Through narrative inquiry (Clandinin & Connelly, 2000),…

Reports on a study of the effects on adjustment of three dimensions of support among 92 Chinese college students in Japan. Finds that the relationship between needed support and adjustment was strongly negative. Also finds that all support gaps were negatively related to adjustment. (CFR)

Discusses the perceived immunity of gifted children to social adjustment problems. Reports the findings of a study of the issue. Concludes that some gifted students, particularly girls, are highly susceptible to crises of self-esteem, alienation, anxiety, and locus of control. Suggests preventive guidance to assist such children in developing…

A discussion of issues in the cultural adjustment of Chinese students in American universities compares and contrasts the educational philosophies and organizations of the two countries and the expectations and cultural norms of the two groups of students. The history of Chinese international exchange since 1949 is briefly reviewed, and the…

Examined the social behavior, social adjustment, and school adjustment of a sample of elementary school students in Shanghai, China. Found that, consistent with studies of Western children, sociability-leadership was associated with and predictive of indexes of adjustment. Inconsistent with Western studies, shyness-sensitivity was positively and…

Explored how perceptions of social support changed during first semester of university, and how social support, coping strategies, and adjustment were interrelated among freshmen in China. Found that overall social support did not change significantly. Support from different sources (parents, peers, teachers, siblings) showed distinctive change…

The purpose of the present study was to examine relations between self-perceptions of competence and social, behavioural, and school adjustment in Brazilian, Canadian, Chinese, and Italian children. Self-perception data were collected through children's self-reports. Information about social behaviours, peer acceptance, and school achievement was…

Excerpts from interviews with 30 Asian high school students concerning their acculturation to the American classroom are presented and discussed. The students had been in the United States for no more than 2 years, and were here for a variety of reasons, including extended visits with relatives to temporary appointments of their parents to U.S.…