“We’re out in the deep,” but “This is the life. We should fight for the life.”: A Study of L2 International Students In Their First University Semester During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Abstract

This study sought to explore L2 international students’ perspectives about what challenges and accomplishments impact their academic acculturation process and success while studying in a bridge program during their first semester of university amidst the coronavirus pandemic. The findings showed that pandemic safety protocols, study habits, language proficiency, religious practices and racism were challenges. In many instances, students found workarounds to accomplish their academic goals. These findings were interpreted using Ryan and Deci’s (2000) basic psychological needs (BPNs) of competence, autonomy, and relatedness as explained in their Self-Determination Theory. This study also combined denotative and connotative concepts of academic success (York et al., 2015; Cachia et al., 2018) for one collective understanding of academic success. Students’ behaviors indicated that they fulfilled their BPNs to meet the definition of academic success. Support networks also contributed to successful academic and social learning environments.