A synergistic approach to the promotion of foreign students’ socialization and adaptation to the educational environment of higher educational institutions

Abstract

Introduction. The study focuses on providing conceptual theoretical and methodological frameworks for educational process in multi-level multicultural groups. The purpose of the research is to reveal the peculiarities of adopting a synergetic approach to the promotion of adaptation and socialization of foreign students to the educational process of the university. Materials and Methods. A synergistic approach is undertaken for the research purposes. In order to solve the research problems, the authors employed a complex of complementary theoretical methods including the analysis of Russian and foreign educational theory, general scientific methods such as classification, comparison and generalization; experimental methods based on diagnostic tools and mathematical and statistical data-processing. Level characteristics of the indicators of foreign students’ adaptation and socialization were developed for different samples of students using a normal (Gaussian) distribution. Results. The authors substantiated the use of a synergistic approach to the instruction of foreign students. The main essence of utilizing this approach is in organizing strictly systematized group classroom activities guided by a teacher of English and extracurricular activities provided by a tutor in purposefully changing in composition groups of foreign students, demonstrating different levels of adaptation and socialization. The effectiveness of the implementation of a synergistic approach to the process of adaptation and socialization of foreign students is experimentally proved through the development of teamwork skills, ability to tolerate social, cultural and personal differences and readiness for active interaction with the participants of the educational process. Conclusions. The findings indicate the need to introduce a synergistic approach for effective instruction of foreign students in classroom and extracurricular formats in methodological, content and organizational aspects. Authors’ practical experience presented in the article can be used by other higher educational institutions for developing a professional multicultural environment.