Introduction
The United States is a popular destination for Chinese students, and their numbers continue to surge annually in United States high schools. The increase of Chinese international students in the United States high school resulted from bilateral trade between the United States and China. Some Chinese students find it hard to settle in the United States for various reasons, such as language barriers. However, over the years, the Chinese immigrants get to settle well in the country and make new friends, which is essential for their stay. When Chinese students come to the United States, they get to live with American families. High school students still need that protection and warmth from families, including foster ones. The report will discuss the history of Chinese high school students’ immigration to the United States and how they settled in the country.
History
The bilateral trade of 1979 between China and the United States helped develop better relations between these countries. One of the critical factors of the bilateral trade was exchange students between China and the United States. Over the next few decades, more Chinese students in high school and higher education levels have been immigrating to the United States for education. According to the Institute of International Education (IIE), around 2 of 5 international students enrolled in the United States high schools are from China (Gao & Liu, 2020). The number of Chinese international students in the United States is significantly increasing over the past decades. It is attributed to the increase in the number of middle-class families who can afford to send their children to United States high schools (Zhang et al., 2018). However, the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the number of Chinese students in the United States.
Sociocultural Effects
International Chinese students often face sociocultural challenges in the United States when they first arrive. These students’ challenges are cultural and linguistic, making it hard for them to settle well in the country (Zhang et al., 2018). A significant percentage of the international Chinese students in the United States high schools are not fluent in English when they arrive. It makes it hard for them to socialize with fellow students and make new friends in their new schools. Another challenge they face is culture, and this touches on several aspects, such as the difference in the types of foods (Gao & Liu, 2020). All these prove to be a challenge when the Chinese students first move to the United States.
New Life in the US
A significant percentage of international Chinese students are usually placed with American families when they move to the United States for high school education. It is a measure to ensure that students feel the warmth of a family even when they are far away from theirs (Gao & Liu, 2020). These families play a crucial role in ensuring that the students settle well in the country and provide the emotional support needed. According to Zhang et al. (2018), some international students get lucky to have friends of Chinese origin or those who can speak Mandarin, making it easier for them to settle well. Over the years in high school, the international Chinese students settled well in the country and became among the top performers.
Conclusion
Chinese students make up a significant percentage of international immigrants in United States high schools. The increase in numbers of international students results from the growth of Chinese middle-class families who can afford to send their children to the United States. Chinese students face some sociocultural problems when they move to the United States, which initially affects them. However, the students get to settle well in the country over time because of making friendships and becoming fluent in English.
References
Gao, Y., & Liu, J. (2020). International student recruitment campaign: Experiences of selected flagship universities in China. Higher Education, 80, 663–678. Web.
Zhang, H., Zhou, Y., & Stodolska, M. (2018). Socio-cultural adaptation through leisure among Chinese international students: An experiential learning approach. Leisure Sciences, 1-20. Web.