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Unaccompanied Asian Secondary Students Studying in Canada

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Abstract

This research examined the facilitating and hindering events associated with the transition and adjustment of Asian adolescent international students - that is, unaccompanied secondary school students studying abroad. Twenty-one male and female participants attending three urban secondary schools in Western Canada were interviewed using the Critical Incident Method. A total of 352 incidents was used to develop seventeen thematic categories. In this paper, the researcher discusses how transition and adjustment is facilitated or hindered by examining five categories associated with the overriding theme of relationality including: receiving encouragement, appreciating others, being accepted, making friends, and having fun with others. Counselling implications include foreseeability of difficulties, normative case conceptualizations, developing strong relational connections, and vigilance about potential abuse.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Education, Counselling Psychology Program, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, V5A 1S6, Canada

    Natalee E. Popadiuk

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  1. Natalee E. Popadiuk
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Correspondence to Natalee E. Popadiuk.

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Popadiuk, N.E. Unaccompanied Asian Secondary Students Studying in Canada. Int J Adv Counselling 31, 229–243 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-009-9080-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-009-9080-6

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