Paradigm shift: Learning is a two-way street between American universities and Asian international students

Abstract

This introductory chapter presents key rationales, the main argument, and the organization of the book. It argues that there is a power asymmetry between Asian students and American universities, and this power asymmetry provides one of the fundamental social contexts in which Asian international students at American universities are situated. This power asymmetry also sets up the academic discourse for studying these international students with a traditional deficit framework that emphasizes their adjustment and adaptation. It argues for the urgency to shift from the deficit framework to the one calling for proactive institutional efforts engaging both international students and American university to bring about successful experiences of international students.