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A phenomenological study of the lived experience of re-entry adjustment of Fulbright FLTA alumni from North Africa and South Asia

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dc.contributor.authorMarquis, George, author
dc.contributor.authorKuk, Linda, advisor
dc.contributor.authorBerensek, Alexandra, committee member
dc.contributor.authorJennings, Louise, committee member
dc.contributor.authorLynham, Susan, committee member
dc.date.accessioned2018-09-10T20:04:25Z
dc.date.available2018-09-10T20:04:25Z
dc.date.issued2018
dc.description.abstractSojourners returning to their home countries after working or studying in the United States may face challenges in the re-entry adjustment process. Traditionally, much research on the experience of re-entry adjustment has been survey-based, with researcher-crafted questions not allowing for in-depth and nuanced perspectives of the sojourners. Drawing on in-depth, qualitative interviews from nine North African and South Asian alumni of a Fulbright's Foreign Language Teaching Assistants (FLTA) program, this study employed interpretative phenomenological analysis to capture descriptions of participants' lived experience of re-entry adjustment. Interpretative analysis of unique individual lives combined the situated perspectives of both the participants and researcher. While the in-depth interviews revealed unique lived experiences, careful analysis also revealed four superordinate phenomenological themes of re-entry adjustment: Confidence and a Sense of Empowerment; Comparisons of the Home and Host Countries, Heightened Critical Sensitivity, and Adopting a Re-entry Style. The themes offer a clearer picture of the challenges of returning to areas of the world that are quite different in terms of culture and development from the United States. Descriptions of lived experience were infused with strong feelings and emotions that sometimes typified a process of grieving over separation and loss. Data revealed that the participants struggled to make sense of their current home environment and questioned whether returning home was the correct decision. However, data also revealed participants' strong sense of obligation to family and desires of participants to build on their experiences in the United States and achieve impact. Participants described their desire to transfer knowledge, skills, and new perspectives to their home countries, but expected some resistance. The findings suggest that alumni would benefit from opportunities to discuss their re-entry adjustment challenges in a more supportive home culture environment.
dc.format.mediumborn digital
dc.format.mediumdoctoral dissertations
dc.identifierMarquis_colostate_0053A_14894.pdf
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10217/191309
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relation.ispartof2000-2019
dc.rightsCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.
dc.subjectinterpretative phenomenological analysis
dc.subjectphenomenology
dc.subjectculture shock
dc.subjectre-entry adjustment
dc.subject.lcshSouth Asia
dc.subject.lcshNorth Africa
dc.titleA phenomenological study of the lived experience of re-entry adjustment of Fulbright FLTA alumni from North Africa and South Asia
dc.typeText
dcterms.rights.dplaThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
thesis.degree.disciplineEducation
thesis.degree.grantorColorado State University
thesis.degree.levelDoctoral
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

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