Cambodian and Laotian Students' Experience of Language Barriers, Cultural Differences, and Teacher-Student Rapport in a University in Vietnam: A Grounded Theory Approach

Abstract

An increasing number of international students have enrolled in university degree programmes in Vietnam in recent years and this has presented a range of new pedagogical opportunities and challenges in the higher education context of the nation. Currently, little is known about international students’ academic experiences in Vietnamese universities although the literature suggests that effective teacher–student relationships are an important factor in establishing effective teaching and learning processes. This study employs grounded theory to examine the influence of teacher–student relationships on international students’ academic experiences at a university in Vietnam that is located in a region that draws in students from the neighbouring countries of Cambodia and Laos. A mixed research design combining data from questionnaires and in-depth interviews was used in this research. Data from questionnaires were collected from all Cambodian and Laotian international students who were enrolled at a university in the An Giang province in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. These data were supplemented by in-depth interviews with a sample group of the students. The findings from this study show that while the Cambodian and Laotian international students reported good relationships with their Vietnamese teachers and having no difficulty in adapting to Vietnamese culture, they also struggled with the challenges of studying in a new language and this made it difficult for them to communicate effectively with their teachers or participate fully in classroom activities.