Coming to America for Spiritual or Academic Growth? Experiences of International Students at One Christian School

Abstract

The number of international students flocking to North American private Christian schools has continued to grow. The author examined the overall experiences of 67 international high school students studying at a private Christian school in South Carolina. Their frustrations and struggles with academic and spiritual growth in a new cross-cultural setting, their reasons for coming to study in the United States at their own expense, as well as their motivations to come to the United States were investigated. The findings signified that none of the participants came to the Christian school for a Christian education, but for a good academic education and a bright future. In addition, the absence of their home cultures, the lack of academic language, and the large culture distance contributed to their frustrations and struggles in the process of adaptation to the new school environment.

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