International students : host perceptions of their social impact on home, school and community
Date
1997
Authors
Owen, Diane Louise
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Abstract
The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the perceptions of Canadian families in Victoria as they host international students. This purpose addresses the broad question of cross-cultural interaction, but its particular interest is in the effect of international students on the host families with whom they live. Conversational interviews were conducted over a one-year period with five homestay mothers who spoke of how the international students affected the lives of the host families, the schools that they attended, and the community at large. The interviews were transcribed, coded and analyzed and they present a rich picture of interactions. The study reveals an often complex relationship between hosts and international students; it suggests a need for more integration of foreign students in the schools and in the community, and it exposes the potential for increased awareness of diverse cultural perspectives in Victoria.