A Qualitative Case Study on the Adaptation of Chinese Students to University Life in Corona Era

Objectives This study define the characteristics of the adaptation of Chinese students in South Korea during COVID-19, so suggest the direction about deep understanding on overseas students in a serious incident situation. Methods The researchers selected 5 Chinese students and 1 sub informant and conducted a qualitative case study. Collecting data with participation observation and in-depth interview and analyzing the characteristics of adapting experience in COVID-19 era by coding and categorizing the data. Results The adaptation phenomenon of Chinese students studying in South Korea during COVID-19 is shown as “chaos and confusion,” “difficult to adapt,” “increasing stress,” “overcome and move on”. Chinese international students have encountered a series of difficulties due to the changes in teaching methods and learning environment after the COVID-19 outbreak, and interpersonal communication is more online. Conclusions Chinese overseas students have new psychological pressure and the previous methods to relieve the pressure are no longer applicable and new solutions must be found. In order to create a better education environment in a unexpected situation like COVID-19, in addition to the efforts of Chinese students themselves, schools and society should also improve the relevant policies and systems.