Communication strategies used by Chinese graduate students in a study abroad academic context.

摘要

This study investigated the communication strategies (CSs) that Chinese graduate students used to communicate with their peers and professors in a study abroad academic context. This study focused on the types, frequency and effectiveness of CSs used by two groups of students. Group A stayed in Canada for about two years; group B just came to Canada seven months ago. Each group consisted of four students. This study also examined whether there were differences and similarities in the use of CSs between the two groups.; Three instruments were employed to collect data in this study: conversational interviews, questionnaires and follow-up interviews. The conversational interviews provided preliminary information on the types, frequency and effectiveness of CSs used by the participants to communicate with an English native-speaking student in a real-life situation. The questionnaires served the purposes of getting data on the frequency of CSs used by the participants based on their self-perceptions. The follow-up interview probed in-depth understanding about why certain CSs were frequently used and which CSs led to effective communication in their academic study. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)