Exploring Academic Achievement of the International Students from Southeast Asia: A Case Study from SUNY Albany

Abstract: Researches on individuals’ English language proficiency and its impacts on the academic achievement of the international students need to be taken into account. Based on a case study with mixed-method, this article conducted questionnaire survey and interview among the participants who are studying in SUNY Albany, a state university in the northeast of the U.S. The participants are international students who come from English outer circle and expanding circle countries of Southeast Asia. The findings show that there is significant correlation between age and length of learning English; there exists correlation between improving English language proficiency via language training course and it is beneficial to get scholarship; English language proficiency and academic achievement is not always clear; studying abroad in the U.S. does not necessarily lead to the improvement of the international students’ second language acquisition; English language proficiency has correlation with one’s future job and career development.

Key words: case study; mixed-method approach; English language proficiency; academic achievement 

CHEN Bing VOLUME 1 APJHSS.pdf