An Empirical Study On Correlation Factors And Acculturation Strategies Of Asian Students In China

The present study aims to find out the preference of acculturation strategiesadopted by the Asian students learning Chinese in Chongqing University, and providesthe insight to the relationships between acculturation strategies, Chinese level, gender,language learning motivation, language attitude and social support. The survey sampleconsists of59foreign students (their mean age=24.8years). Data are collected fromquestionnaires, the results of which show that both integration and separation are themost preferred acculturation strategies among Asian students. The subjects atelementary and advanced level of Chinese are inclined to choose integration andseparation, while students at intermediate level always employ assimilation andseparation. There are significant differences between male and female Asian students.Male prefer separation while female predominantly adopted assimilation. Students whochoose integration and assimilation have strong integrative motivation and obtain moreinstrumental and affective social support. The students at elementary level of Chineseare more likely to accept Chinese culture and have some Chinese identity when obtainmore social support from Chinese friends. The more confident the students who are atintermediate level are the more likely they will accept Chinese culture. In opposite,students will have difficulties in accepting Chinese culture when Chinese merelyprovide supports to them. By comparison, students at advanced Chinese level whoadopt the integration strategy present stronger integrative motivation.