Date of Award
5-6-2021
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Leadership Studies
First Advisor
Dr. Crystal Hoyt
Second Advisor
Dr. Donelson Forsyth
Third Advisor
Dr. Melissa Ooten
Abstract
This research investigates the impact of microaggressions and social exclusion on Chinese international students’ English fluency and leadership emergence. We entered a group of Chinese international students into an online study in which they filmed two videos of themselves speaking English before and after being exposed to either an identity-threatening or an identity-safe condition, both presenting an ostensible group they would be joining and with the identity-safe condition added small inclusionary changes. The results demonstrated that Chinese international students speak English more fluently and tend to show more interest in participating in group activities when put into an identity-safe environment. The findings underscore the importance of promoting an inclusive and welcoming environment in academic institutions and point to the fact that small and simple changes can impact how non-native speakers articulate and communicate.
Recommended Citation
Li, Kexin, "When They Lost Their Words: The Impact of Microaggressions and Exclusion on Chinese International Students’ Linguistic Capacity and Leadership Emergence" (2021). Honors Theses. 1566.
https://scholarship.richmond.edu/honors-theses/1566