Social Capital Development in Community College Alumni Who Studied Abroad
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36366/frontiers.v35i3.828Keywords:
Agency, community college alumni, narrative inquiry, social capitalAbstract
This qualitative study explores how US community college students who studied abroad use their existing social capital to enhance their engagement with other students and host country residents. The study also shows that students who studied abroad develop new social capitals for bridging and bonding with others. Data collection consisted of two rounds of in-depth interviews with 27 alumni students as well as a survey on participant background. Findings show that students use their social capital to enhance their relationships with other students and host country individuals. These positive relationships, in turn, enrich and build new social capitals that remained with the students after studying abroad. Skills such as open-mindedness, cross-cultural communication, and consideration provide the social capital that helped student make lasting connections and friendships abroad and when they returned home.
Abstract in GermanDiese qualitative Studie untersucht, wie US-amerikanische Community-College-Studenten, die im Ausland studiert haben, ihr vorhandenes soziales Kapital nutzen, um ihr Engagement mit anderen Studierenden und Bewohnern des Gastlandes zu verbessern. Die Studie zeigt auch, dass Studierende, die im Ausland studiert haben, neues soziales Kapital entwickeln, um Brücken zu schlagen und Kontakte zu anderen zu knüpfen. Die Datenerhebung umfasste zwei Runden ausführlicher Interviews mit 27 Alumni-Studenten sowie eine Umfrage zum Hintergrund der Teilnehmer. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Studierende ihr soziales Kapital nutzen, um ihre Beziehungen zu anderen Studierenden und Personen im Gastland zu verbessern. Diese positiven Beziehungen wiederum bereichern und bauen neues Sozialkapital auf, das den Studierenden nach ihrem Auslandsstudium erhalten bleibt. Fähigkeiten wie Aufgeschlossenheit, interkulturelle Kommunikation und Rücksichtnahme stellen das soziale Kapital dar, das den Studierenden dabei half, dauerhafte Kontakte und Freundschaften im Ausland und nach ihrer Rückkehr in die Heimat zu knüpfen.
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