Phenomenological Insights into Small Talk: A Co-Cultural Analysis of Chinese Graduate Students in Canada
Research shows that informal social interaction and engagement with peers and instructors play an important role in the academic success and mental well-being of international students. Small talk, a significant component of social interaction, poses a special challenge for those who use a second or...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Canadian Society for Studies in Education
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Canadian Journal for New Scholars in Education |
| Online Access: | https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/cjnse/article/view/79833 |
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| _version_ | 1846107193851510784 |
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| author | Hui Xu |
| author_facet | Hui Xu |
| author_sort | Hui Xu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Research shows that informal social interaction and engagement with peers and instructors play an important role in the academic success and mental well-being of international students. Small talk, a significant component of social interaction, poses a special challenge for those who use a second or additional language. Based on data from a phenomenological study which investigated challenges faced by Chinese graduate students in Canada, this paper uses co-cultural communication theory to explore the unique communicative strategies employed by three study participants who encountered ongoing problems with small talk in English. It was found that all three followed the same communicative orientation: non-assertive separation and adopted similar communicative strategies: avoiding, maintaining barriers, and leaving the situation. It is recommended that educational environments that embrace and value various communicative norms should be encouraged to support international students. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2d091303bcca4c85a56ca12a53767ff9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1916-9221 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Canadian Society for Studies in Education |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Canadian Journal for New Scholars in Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-2d091303bcca4c85a56ca12a53767ff92024-12-26T16:36:28ZengCanadian Society for Studies in EducationCanadian Journal for New Scholars in Education1916-92212024-12-01153Phenomenological Insights into Small Talk: A Co-Cultural Analysis of Chinese Graduate Students in CanadaHui Xu0University of ReginaResearch shows that informal social interaction and engagement with peers and instructors play an important role in the academic success and mental well-being of international students. Small talk, a significant component of social interaction, poses a special challenge for those who use a second or additional language. Based on data from a phenomenological study which investigated challenges faced by Chinese graduate students in Canada, this paper uses co-cultural communication theory to explore the unique communicative strategies employed by three study participants who encountered ongoing problems with small talk in English. It was found that all three followed the same communicative orientation: non-assertive separation and adopted similar communicative strategies: avoiding, maintaining barriers, and leaving the situation. It is recommended that educational environments that embrace and value various communicative norms should be encouraged to support international students.https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/cjnse/article/view/79833 |
| spellingShingle | Hui Xu Phenomenological Insights into Small Talk: A Co-Cultural Analysis of Chinese Graduate Students in Canada Canadian Journal for New Scholars in Education |
| title | Phenomenological Insights into Small Talk: A Co-Cultural Analysis of Chinese Graduate Students in Canada |
| title_full | Phenomenological Insights into Small Talk: A Co-Cultural Analysis of Chinese Graduate Students in Canada |
| title_fullStr | Phenomenological Insights into Small Talk: A Co-Cultural Analysis of Chinese Graduate Students in Canada |
| title_full_unstemmed | Phenomenological Insights into Small Talk: A Co-Cultural Analysis of Chinese Graduate Students in Canada |
| title_short | Phenomenological Insights into Small Talk: A Co-Cultural Analysis of Chinese Graduate Students in Canada |
| title_sort | phenomenological insights into small talk a co cultural analysis of chinese graduate students in canada |
| url | https://journalhosting.ucalgary.ca/index.php/cjnse/article/view/79833 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT huixu phenomenologicalinsightsintosmalltalkacoculturalanalysisofchinesegraduatestudentsincanada |