How International Students’ Acculturation Motivation Develops over Time in an International Learning Environment

This research investigates how the acculturation motivation (AM) of new international students develops over time, and which factors play a role in this development. In the context of a Dutch university, we interviewed 25 students from 17 countries thrice over eight months. The results show that initial AM levels can be categorized as high or low. These AM levels evolved into four patterns in the three interview rounds: high-low-low, high-low-high, low-high-low and low-high-high. After four months, twelve factors emerged as affecting the development of students’ AM levels. Prominent factors were prior international experience, language difficulties, and perceived student identities. After eight months, seven additional factors contributed to subsequent changes in students’ AM levels. Prominent factors were the perceived international learning environment, friendship networks, and teachers’ role in intercultural contact. These imply that universities can introduce target interventions which could improve their international students’ acculturation experiences at specific times.