新南向政策國家學生赴臺留學動機、生活適應情形及跨文化調適策略之研究

Experiences of International Students from the New Southbound Policy Countries in Taiwan: Their Motivations and Negotiations of Cultural Differences

本研究以在臺攻讀學位和短期留學之新南向國家學生為研究對象，藉以探究其赴臺留學動機、在臺生活適應情形，以及跨文化和生活調適策略之建構經驗。本研究成功地訪問了23位在臺攻讀學位的新南向國家學生。研究結果發現，學術因素與經濟因素為新南向國家學生考量是否來臺就讀時最重要的兩個考量因素，但本研究亦發現，學術因素對於來自發展中國家的學生有較大的吸引力，對於來自澳洲、紐西蘭和新加坡的學生而言，臺灣高等教育的學術因素並非吸引其前來臺灣就讀的最重要考量因素。社會因素方面，本研究發現，社會因素及校友網絡的影響力對於來自東南亞（特別是馬來西亞）的學生有著較大的影響力，而這樣的影響力對於來自澳洲、紐西蘭與新加坡的學生則較小。文化因素方面，其對於學位生和非學位生、外籍生和僑生有著不一樣的影響。對於學位生而言，過大的文化與語言使用習慣差異反而會使得學位生對於來臺攻讀學位感到卻步，但對於非學位生而言，不一樣的文化環境與語言學習機會，反而會吸引非學位生來臺進行短期之文化體驗和語言學習。另外，由於僑生具有較高的中文語言使用能力，因此臺灣的文化因素是吸引其來臺的因素之一，但文化因素對於外籍生的吸引力和影響力則會受到中文能力之差異而有所不同。生活適應方面，大多數受訪學生表示其在臺留學生活之生活適應情形良好；但文化、飲食習慣及語言使用等差異，對於部分來自新南向國家的學生而言，確實是生活中必須面對的適應問題。而本研究亦進一步發現，面對在臺生活相關的生活適應問題與挑戰，新南向國家學生在日常生活中亦會建立各自多元的生活與文化調適策略，而這些策略促進了學生在跨文化生活經驗中展現文化邊界模糊（boundary blurring）的跨文化學習和生活適應能力。

This study investigated international students from countries involved in the New Southbound Policy. We explored the motivations for why they chose to come to Taiwan and their strategies in adapting to a new culture. We recruited 23 students using purposive and snowball sampling. Data were collected using the qualitative approach of semi-structured interviews. Academic and economic considerations were the largest pull factors. Specifically, academic considerations constituted a large pull factor among students from developing countries in South and Southeast Asia. However, for students from developed countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore, the academic environment in Taiwanese institutions of higher education was not the most attractive factor. Compared with students from other regions, social factors and the influence of alumni networks had a larger influence on students from Southeast Asian countries (especially Malaysian students, but not Singaporean students). The influence of cultural factors varied widely depending on whether the student was a degree-seeking student or was of Chinese ethnicity. For degree-seeking students, too many cultural and language differences may have a negative influence on their decision to study in Taiwan. For non-degree-seeking students, such differences engender a perception of Taiwan as exotic and represent a learning opportunity, thus constituting a pull factor. Moreover, because overseas Chinese students are, on average, more conversant in Chinese, cultural similarity is a pull factor. For non-Chinese students, their Chinese language proficiency is a major consideration. With regard to adapting to life in Taiwan, most students reported adapting well. However, differences in culture, dietary habits, and language were challenges for some students. This study also discovered that students establish individualized adaptation strategies for dealing with challenges during study in Taiwan. These strategies facilitate cultural exchange by blurring cultural boundaries, thereby enhancing their learning competence and acceptance of cultural differences.