The Meaning and Experience of International Education Tour – A Case Study on High School Students Traveling Abroad Independently for the First Time

• Main Authors: HSU, MING-WEN, 許銘汶
• Other Authors: CHEN, YU LING
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2017
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/bma8xq

碩士 === 國立臺灣體育運動大學 === 休閒運動管理研究所 === 106 === International educational tour is currently one of the major practical ways to foster global education in senior high schools and vocational schools in Taiwan and its effectiveness is of considerable concern from both teachers and students. Accordingly, the present study aims to delve into the views on traveling from those students who travel abroad independently for the first time and also the learning effects of participating in the international education tours. This study adopts a qualitative approach for data collection and analysis and recruit 40 high school students who travel abroad independently for the first time through purpose sampling to conduct a focused group interview. The research findings suggest that high school students who travel abroad independently for the first time perceive traveling as a process to get away from the status quo, to experience adventures and to change their sentiments. The participants’ perception of the functions of traveling falls into the categories including experiencing things in person, growing through reflection, gaining pleasure through relaxation and building friendship. Secondly, Deardorff’s cross-cultural model performs well in examining the effectiveness of international education tour and can serve as a rationale for establishing the goal and examining the results of international education tours. Thirdly, students can benefit from the tour and attain the purpose of international education tour. Also, to establish cross-national friendship is advised to be included as one of the goals of international education tour. Finally, the current study proposes some suggestions for schools as well as future researchers.