Chinese Students’ Experience of Student-instructor Relationships at the University of Ottawa

Abstract

Research shows that there is an increasing number of international students studying in universities and colleges in Canada, with China a top source country of international students. However, Chinese students’ experience studying in Canada has been rarely researched. Taking University of Ottawa as a case, this study explores the experience of Chinese students in terms of their relationships with instructors through a relational communication lens. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with Chinese first year students studying at the University of Ottawa to explore their experience of student-instructor relationships, to understand their overall experience of the student-instructor relationship, to identify the contributors and hindrances to the development of positive student-instructor relationships, and to explore the impact of such relationship on the students. Findings indicate that Chinese students experience different education and acculturation which influences their overall experience of student-instructor relationships. Teacher immediacy, rapport and classroom justice are factors that affect the development of such relationships, whose impact include both academic and social outcomes.