Course : Research Writing and Publish I

Presenter: Chi-Ying Betty Hu

Date : 2008/10/20

Academic Culture in Distance between Penn State Taiwanese Graduate Students and American Teachers:

Case Study

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Lin, C. (2008). Academic Culture in Distance between Penn State Taiwanese Graduate Students and American Teachers: Case Study. Chaoyang Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 6(1), 177-220.

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Outline

I. Introduction

II. Research questions

III. Methodology

IV. Results and Discussions

V. Reflection

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Introduction

A situation of cultural obstacles between

ESL/EFL students and their native teachers

in the academic setting

The differences could result in different educational developments and outcomes

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The differences could result in different educational developments and outcomes

Native English-speaking Teachers

ESL/EFL academic learners

The USA classroom

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Research questions

Eight Penn State Taiwanese graduate students

Q1.

What

Q2.

What

Q3.

How

The expectation/belief of learning and teaching

The perceived difference between their expectation

The adjustment for the differences

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Methodology

Participants

Man Woman

Working experience less than one year at Penn

State

Working experience more than one year at

Penn State

2 2

2 2

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Methodology

Interview Second check

Face-to-Face interview

Open-ended questions

One-half to two hours

Tape-recorded interview

Use phone or email

Interview the same participants

Clarify some doubts from the former interview data

An in-depth interview

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Methodology

1. Organizing the data

Data Analysis Method-

2. Generating categories, themes and patterns

3. Coding the data

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Methodology

4. Testing emergent understandings

Data Analysis Method-

5. Searching for alternative explanations

6. Writing the report

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A. Academic Cultural Distance

between Taiwan and USA

Results and Discussions

Authority in Knowledge

LearnerAutonomy

The powerissue

The faceissue

GroupHarmony

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A. Academic Cultural Distance

between Taiwan and USA

B. The Problems Taiwanese Students Encountered

at Penn State

EnglishProficiency

Results and Discussions

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Results and Discussions

Taiwan USA

Role

Thinking

Atmosphere

Participation

Interaction

A. Academic Cultural Distance betweenTaiwan/USA

teacher-centered

uncritical critical

student-centered

Authoritative & serious

Easygoing & encouraging

active involvement

pasive participant

rarely asking questions

frequently asking questions

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Results and Discussions

B. The Problems Taiwanese Students Encountered at Penn State

Think there were too many papers or readings

Have problems writing papers

Find it hard to blend in American culture &make friend with Americans

Feel anxious or less self-esteem

Feel uncomfortable in sharing opinions, asking questions, or challenging teachers

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Reflection

There should be two group participants involved in the study according to the topic.

Academic Culture in Distance between Penn State

Taiwanese Graduate Students and American Teachers

: Case Study

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Reflection

The third question is seldom discussed in this paper.

Eight Penn State Taiwanese graduate students

Q1.

What

Q2.

what

Q3.

How

A. Academic Cultural Distance between Taiwan and USA

B. The Problems Taiwanese Students Encountered at Penn State

The adjustment for the differences

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Thanks for your listening