Abstract
This research explores the perception and experiences of 15 Burmese international students temporarily studying at two international colleges in suburban Bangkok, Thailand and compares their impressions of and reaction to history with 10 Thai students studying at the same international colleges. This ethnographic exploration of Burmese sociocultural adjustment to Thai international programs aims to clarify the historical causes of the present day tension through in-depth interviews of the affected student groups. An historical analysis of causation and the student response is necessary to understand the relationship between these neighboring countries.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adler, P. (1975). The transitional experience: An alternative view of cultural shock. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 15, 13–23.
Aita, M., & Richer, M. C. (2005). Essentials of research ethics for healthcare professionals. Nursing and Health Sciences, 7, 119–125.
Andrade, M. (2006). International students in English-speaking universities: Adjustment factors. Journal of Research in International Education, 5(2), 131–154.
Asia Times Online. (2001). Interview with Dr. Sunait.
Ashworth, P. (2003). The origins of qualitative psychology. London: Sage.
Bektas, Y., Demir, A., & Bowden, R. (2009). Psychological adaptation of Turkish students at U.S. campuses. International Journal of Advancement Counseling, 31, 130–143.
Berger, M. (2008). Parents and teachers as partners: Families and schools working together (7th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Merrill/Prentice Hall.
Berry, J., & Sam, D. (1997). Acculturation and adaptation. In J. Berry, M. Segall, & C. Kagitcibasi (Eds.), Handbook of cross-cultural psychology: Social behavior and applications (Vol. 3, pp. 291–326). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Bradley, G. (2000). Responding effectively to the mental health needs of international students. Higher Education, 39, 417–433.
Brown, H. D. (1980). The optimal distance model of second language acquisition. TESOL Quarterly, 14, 157–164.
Brown, L. (2008). Language and anxiety: An ethnographic study of international postgraduate students. Evaluation and Research in Education, 21(2), 75–95.
Brown, L., & Holloway, I. (2008). The initial stage of the international sojourn: Excitement of culture shock? British Journal of Guidance & Counseling, 36(1), 33–49.
Bush, K., & Saltarelli, D. (Eds.). (2000). The two faces of education in ethnic conflict. Florence: UNICEF Innocenti Research Center.
Chongkittavorn, K. (2001). Thai-Burma relations. Challenges to democratization in Burma (Vol. 5, pp. 117–129). Retrieved from http://www.idea.int/asia_pacific/myanmar/upload/chap5.pdf.
Chutinaranond, S. (1991). The image of the Burmese enemy in Thai perceptions and historical writings. Bangkok: Chulalongkorn University. Retrieved from http://www.siamese-heritage.org/jsspdf/1991/JSS_080_1l_SunaitChutintaranond_ImageOfBurmeseEnemy.pdf. Accessed 19 September 2015.
Constantine, M. G., Ogazaki, S., & Utsey, S. O. (2004). Self-concealment, social self efficacy, acculturative stress, and depression in African, Asian, and Latin American international college students. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 74(3), 230–242.
Coombes, P., Danaher, M., & Danaher, P. A. (2004). Strategic uncertainties: Ethics, politics and risk in contemporary educational research. Flaxton, QLD: Post Pressed.
Creswell, J. W. (1998). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five traditions. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Davies, P. (2004). Is evidence-based government possible? Jerry Lee Lecture, presented at the 4th Annual Campbell Collaboration Colloquium, Washington, DC.
Duru, E., & Poyrazli, S. (2007). Personality dimensions, psychosocial-demographic variables, and English language competency in predicting level of acculturative stress among Turkish international students. International Journal of Stress Management, 14(1), 99–110.
Duru, E., & Poyrazli, S. (2011). The role of demographics, English language competency, perceived discrimination and social connectedness in predicting level of adjustment difficulties among Turkish international students in the U.S. The International Journal of Psychology, 46, 446–454.
Edgeworth, K., & Eiseman, J. (2007). Going bush: International student perspectives on living and studying at an Australian rural university campus. Journal of Research in Rural Education, 22(9), 1–13.
Erlandson, D. A., Harris, E. L., Skipper, B. A., & Allen, S. D. (1993). Doing naturalistic inquiry. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
Fan, J., & Wanous, P. (2008). Organizational and cultural entry: A new type of orientation program for multiple boundary crossings. Journal of Applied Psychology, 93(6), 1390–1400.
Francis, L. (2008). Privacy and confidentiality: The importance of context. Monist, 91(1), 52–67.
Fritz, M., Chin, D., & DeMarinis, V. (2008). Stressors, anxiety, acculturation and adjustment among international and North American students. Journal of Intercultural Relations, 32, 244–259.
Ganeson, N. (1996). Thai-Myanamr-ASEAN relations: The politics of face and grace. Asian Affairs, 33(3), 131–149.
Gullahorn, E., & Gullahorn, T. (1963). An extension of the U-curve hypothesis. Journal of Social Issues, 19, 33–47.
Hunter, A. J., & Chandler, G. E. (1999). Adolescent resilience. Image: Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 31, 243–247.
Jackson, D., Firtko, A., & Edenborough, M. (2007). Personal resilience as a strategy for surviving and thriving in the face of workplace adversity: A literature review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 60, 1–9.
Jacobsen, K., & Landau, L. (2003). The dual imperative in refugee research: Some methodological and ethical considerations in social science research on forced migration. Disasters, 27(3), 185–206.
Karasz, A., & Singelis, T. (2009). Qualitative and mixed methods research in cross-cultural psychology. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 40(6), 909–916.
Kilinc, A., & Granello, P. F. (2003). Overall life satisfaction and help-seeking attitudes of Turkish college students in the United States: Implications for college counselors. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 6, 56–68.
Lee, J. J., & Rice, C. (2007). Welcome to America? International student perceptions of discrimination. Higher Education, 53(3), 381–409.
Lee, R. M. (2003). Do ethnic identity and other group orientation protect against discrimination for Asian Americans? Journal of Counseling Psychology, 50, 133–141.
Lee, R. M., & Robbins, S. B. (1998). The relation between social connectedness and anxiety, self esteem, and social identity. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 45, 338–345.
Leong, F. T. L., & Chou, E. L. (1996). Counseling international students. In P. B. Pedersen, J. G. Draguns, W. J. Lonner, & J. E. Trimble (Eds.), Counseling across cultures (4th ed., pp. 210–242). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Lincoln, Y. S., & Guba, E. G. (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
Lysgaard, S. (1955). Adjustment in a foreign society: Norwegian Fulbright grantees visiting the United States. International Social Science Bulletin, 7, 45–51.
Major, E. M. (2005). Co-national support, cultural therapy, and the adjustment of Asian students to an English-speaking university culture. International Education Journal, 6(1), 84–95.
McCormack, A. S. (1998). Revisiting discrimination on campus: 1988, 1992, and 1996. College Student Journal, 32, 378–393.
McLachlan, D. A., & Justice, J. (2009). A grounded theory of international student well-being. Journal of Theory Construction & Testing, 13, 27–32.
Misra, R., Crist, M., & Burant, C. J. (2003). Relationships among life stress, social support, academic stressors, and reactions to stressors of international students in the U.S. International Journal of Stress Management, 10, 137–157.
Mohamed, O. (1997). Counselling for excellence: Adjustment development of Southeast Asian students. In D. McNamara & R. Harris (Eds.), Overseas students in HE: Issues in teaching and learning (pp. 156–172). London: Routledge.
Msengi, I. G. (2007). Sources of stress and its impact on health behaviors and academic performance of international students at a comprehensive Midwestern university. International Journal of Global Health & Health Disparities, 5(1), 55–69.
Oberg, K. (1960). Culture shock: Adjustment to new cultural environments. Practical Anthropology, 7, 177–182.
Poyrazli, S., & Grahame, K. M. (2007). Barriers to adjustment: Needs of international students within a semi-urban campus community. Journal of Instructional Psychology, 34(1), 28–45.
Poyrazli, S., & Lopez, M. D. (2007). An exploratory study of perceived discrimination and homesickness: A comparison of international students and American students. Journal of Psychology, 141(3), 263–280.
Poyrazli, S., Kavanaugh, P. R., Baker, A., & Al-Timimi, N. (2004). Social support and demographic correlates of acculturative stress in international students. Journal of College Counseling, 7, 73–82.
Rajapaksa, S., & Dundes, L. (2002). It’s a long way home: International student adjustment to living in the United States. Journal of College Student Retention, 4, 15–28.
Ramsay, S., Jones, E., & Barker, M. (2006). Relationship between adjustment and support types: Young and mature-aged local and international first year university students. Higher Education, 54(2), 247–265.
Reynolds, B. (2004). Phibun Songkhram and Thai nationalism in the Fascist era. European Journal of East Asian Studies, 3, 99–134.
Richardson, G. E. (2002). The metatheory of resilience and resiliency. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 58, 307–321.
Rhein, D., & Sukawatana, P. (2015). Thai university student schemas and anxiety symptomatology. International Education Studies, 8(7), 108–126.
Rosenthal, D., Russell, J., & Thomson, G. (2007). Social connectedness among international students at an Australian university. Social Indicators Research, 84, 71–82.
Sunait, C. (1992). The image of the Burmese enemy in Thai perception and historical writings. Journal of Siam Society, 80(1), 89–103.
Sunait, C., & Than, T. (1995). On both side of the Tenasserim ridge: History of Siamese Burmese relations. Bangkok: Chulalongkorn University, Institute of Asian Studies.
Sunpuwan, M., & Niyomsilpa, S. (2012). Perception and misperception: Thai public opinions on refugees and migrants from Myanmar. Journal of Population and Social Studies, 21, 47–58.
Tebes, J. K., Irish, J. T., Puglisi-Vasquez, M. J., & Perkins, D. V. (2004). Cognitive transformation as a marker of resilience. Substance Use and Misuse, 39, 769–788.
Tin, W. M. (2002). A new tune from Ayutthaya. In W. M. Tin (Ed.), So bold the courage as blood red (Vol. 47). Yangon: News and Periodical Enterprises.
Torbiorn, I. (1994). Dynamics of cross-cultural adaptation. In G. Althen (Ed.), Learning across cultures (pp. 31–55). New York: NAFSA.
Turpin, M. (1908). History of the Kingdom of Siam. Bangkok: American Presby Mission Press.
Townsend, P., & Wan, C. (2007). The impact of multicultural experience in the development of sociocultural adaptation for international business students. International Journal of Educational Management, 21(3), 194–212.
Ward, C. (1996). Acculturation. In D. Landis & R. S. Bhagat (Eds.), Handbook of intercultural training (2nd ed., pp. 24–147). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Waite, P. J., & Richardson, G. E. (2004). Determining the efficacy of resiliency training. Journal of Allied Health, 33, 178–183.
Wint, E., & Frank, C. (2006). From poor to not poor: Improved understandings and the advantage of the qualitative approach. Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare, 33(1), 163–177.
Wyatt, D. (1984). A short history of Thailand. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Yeh, C. J., & Inose, M. (2003). International students’ reported English fluency, social support satisfaction, and social connectedness as predictors of acculturative stress. Counseling Psychology Quarterly, 16(1), 15–28.
Zambrana, R., & Morant, T. (2009). Latino immigrant children and inequality in access to early schooling programs. Zero to Three, 29(5), 46–53.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rhein, D. Burmese sociocultural adjustment to Thai international programs: an analysis of the impact of historical revisionism. Educ Res Policy Prac 15, 189–208 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10671-016-9192-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10671-016-9192-9