The transformation of “a frog in the well”

This chapter explores the developmental trajectory of a Hong Kong Chinese university student who participated in a year-long exchange program in Canada. After Kingston (a pseudonym) returned home, he enrolled in Intercultural Transitions, an elective course designed to enhance and extend sojourn learning through guided, critical reflection. Kingston’s oral and written narratives provided a window into his second language learning, intercultural communication, cross-cultural adjustment, and evolving sense of self. Multiple sociocultural factors (e.g. host receptivity), personality attributes (e.g. ability to overcome psychological barriers, degree of ethnocentricism/reflexivity, willingness to try new things), and depth of investment in language and (inter)cultural enhancement impacted on his “whole person” development. The findings underscore the complexity of learning on stays abroad.

• Affiliations: 1: Chinese University of Hong Kong