Exploring Influential Factors Impacting Academic Achievements of International Students Enrolled in Mathematics Courses at an Idaho University
Authors
Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematics, Eastern Shore Community College, Melfa, Virginia (USA)
Article Information
DOI: 10.47772/IJRISS.2026.1026EDU0015
Subject Category: Mathematics
Volume/Issue: 10/26 | Page No: 206-214
Publication Timeline
Submitted: 2025-12-20
Accepted: 2025-12-26
Published: 2026-01-06
Abstract
The mathematical learning experience for international students becomes complex because they must navigate between language differences and education systems together with the cultural traditions of their home countries. The presence of these barriers strongly impacts both their academic performance and overall university experience in U.S. institutions. This study examines four essential aspects that affect international students' achievement in mathematics at Idaho University: language barriers merged with cultural adaptation, educational background history and institutional support programs. The research results reveal the necessity of improved English language education in addition to multicultural acceptance programs and specialized academic assistance programs which serve as fundamental approaches for student academic success. The study gives universities detailed recommendations about how to establish inclusive learning arrangements that serve STEM discipline students.
Keywords
Mathematics, academic achievement, cultural adaptation, Idaho
Downloads
References
1. Bai, J. (2016). Perceived social support and depression among college students: The mediating role of self-esteem. Journal of College Student Development, 57(6), 701–713. https://doi.org/10.1353/csd.2016.0071 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
2. Berdan, S. N., Goodman, A., & Taylor, C. (2013). A student guide to study abroad. Institute of International Education. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
3. Bondareva, S. V. & Bondarev, N. A. (2014) Gender differences in manifestations of anxiety among foreign students. Personality, family, and society: questions of pedagogy and psychology, 38, 159-164. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
4. Brunsting, N. C., Zachry, C., Liu, J., Bryant, R., Fang, X., Wu, S., & Luo, Z. (2019). Sources of perceived social support, social-emotional experiences, and psychological well-being of international students. The Journal of Experimental Education, 89(1), 1–17. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
5. Caskie, G. I. L., Sutton, M. C., & Eckhardt, A. G. (2014). Accuracy of Self-Reported College GPA: Gender-Moderated Differences by Achievement Level and Academic Self-Efficacy. Journal of College Student Development, 55(4), 385–390. https://doi.org/10.1353/csd.2014.0038 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
6. C. Rodrigues (2005). Culture as a Determinant of the Importance Level Business Students Place on Ten Teaching/learning Techniques: A Survey of University Students. Journal of Management Development, 608-622 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
7. Choudaha, R., & Chang, L. (2012). Trends in international student mobility. World Education News & Reviews, 25(2), 1-21. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
8. Chunguang Hou & Debin Du (2022) The changing patterns of international student mobility: A network perspective, Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 48:1, 248-272, https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2020.1797476 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
9. Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approach (3rd ed.). Sage. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
10. Cummins, J. (2017). Multilingualism and creativity. International Journal of Multilingualism, 14(3), 315-330. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
11. Denzin, N. K., & Lincoln, Y. S. (Eds.). (2011). The SAGE Handbook of Qualitative Research (4th ed.). Sage. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
12. Ecohard, S., & Fotheringham, J. (2017). International students' unique challenges - Why understanding international transitions to higher education matters. Journal of Perspectives in Applied Academic Practice, 5(2), 100-108. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
13. Ellerton, N.F. and Clarkson, P.C. (1996). Language factors in mathematics teaching and learning, in A.J. Bishop et al. (Eds.) International handbook of mathematics education (pp. 987-1033). The Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
14. García, O., & Wei, L. (2014). Translanguaging: Language, bilingualism, and education. Palgrave Macmillan. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
15. Glass, C.R., & Cruz, N.I. (2022) Moving towards multipolarity: Shifts in the core-periphery structure of international student mobility and world rankings (200-2019). Higher Education, 85(2), 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-022-00841-9 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
16. Gorgorió, N. and Planas, N. (2001). 'Teaching mathematics in multilingual classrooms,' Educational Studies in Mathematics, 47(1), pp.7-33. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
17. Guo, Y., & Guo, S. (2017). Internationalization of Canadian higher education: Discrepancies between policies and international student experiences. Studies in Higher Education, 42(5), 851-868 http://doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2017.1293874. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
18. Iheduru, K., Chollom, & Gwinong Olumayowa. (2022). Black African International Graduate Students in Midwestern U.S. University: Mentoring/social support and adjusting. ABNFF Journal, 1(1), 13-19. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
19. Institute of International Education (2023). Open Doors Report on International Students in the United States and Study Abroad by American Students are at All-Time High. Retrieved from: https://opendoorsdata.org/annual-release/international-students/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
20. Kuncel N. R., Credé M., Thomas L. L. (2005). The validity of self-reported grade point averages, class ranks, and test scores: A meta-analysis and review of the literature. Review of Educational Research, 75(1), 63–82. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
21. Lara-Alecio, R., Tong, F., Irby, B. J., Guerrero, C. H., & Huerta, M. (2016). Factors influencing academic achievement in English Language Learners. Journal of Education and Practice, 7(23), 86-95. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
22. Lashari, S. A., Kaur, A., & Awang Hashim, R. (2018). Home Away from the Role of social support for international students' adjustment. Malaysian Journal of Learning and Instruction (MJLI), 15(2), 33–54. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
23. Lee, O., Quinn, H., & Valdés, G. (2013). Science and language for English language learners about Next Generation Science Standards and with implications for Common Core State Standards for English language arts and mathematics. Educational Researcher, 42(4), 223-233. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
24. Levin, R. (2008). The American university and the global agenda - April 16, 2008. Retrieved from www.fpa.org. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
25. Lune, H., & Berg, B. L. (2017). Qualitative research methods for the social sciences. Pearson. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
26. McMurtrie, B. (2012, November 12). China continues to drive foreign student growth in the United States. The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved from http://chronicle.com/article/China-Continues-to-Drive/135700/ [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
27. Musu-Gillette, L., Robinson, J., McFarland, J., KewalRamani, A., Zhang, A., & Wilkinson-Flicker, S. (2016). Status and Trends in the Education of Racial and Ethnic Groups 2016. NCES 2016-007. National Center for Education Statistics. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
28. Neseth, H., Savage, T.A. & Navarro, R. (2009). Examining the impact of Acculturation and Perceived social support on Mathematics Achievement Among Latino/High School Students. Contempt School Psychol 14, 59–69. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03340951 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
29. Rahul Choudaha, & Schulmann, P. (2014). Bridging the Gap: Recruitment and Retention to Improve International Student Experiences. ResearchGate; unknown. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327078912_Bridging_the_Gap_Recruitment_and_Retention_to_Improve_International_Student_Experiences [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
30. Ratelle C. F., Duchesne S. (2014). Trajectories of psychological need satisfaction from early to late adolescence as a predictor of school adjustment. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 39(4), 388–400. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
31. Smith, C., Zhou, G., Potter, M., & Ammar, F. (2022). Engaging diverse international students: Promising teaching practices. In J. Christensen Hughes, J. Mighty, & D. Stockley, taking stock 2.0: Transforming teaching and learning in higher education 48–68. Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
32. Smith, C., Zhou, G., Potter, M., & Wang, D. (2019). Connecting best practices for teaching linguistically and culturally diverse international students with international student satisfaction and student perceptions of student learning. Advances in Global Education and Research, 3, 252–265. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
33. Smith, C., Zhou, G., Potter, M., Wang, D., Pecoraro, M., & Paulino, R. (2019). Variability by individual student characteristics of student satisfaction with promising international student teaching practices. Literacy Information and Computer Education Journal, 10(2), 3160–3169. https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/educationpub/25 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
34. Smith, B. O and Ennis, R. H. (1961). Language and concepts. Chicago: Rand McNally & Company. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
35. Tran, L. T. (2020). Teaching and engaging international students: People-to-people connections and people-to-people empathy. Journal of International Students, 10(3), xii–xvii. https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v10i3.2005 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
36. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. (2023). U.S. Citizenship. Retrieved from https://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
37. Wu, H.P., Garza, E., & Guzman, N. (2015). International Student's challenges and adjustment to college. Education Research International, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/202753 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
38. Yan, L. & Pei, S. (2018). "Home away from home"? How international students handle difficult and negative experiences in American higher education. Journal of International Students, 8(1), 453-472. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1134338 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
39. Yeh, C. J., & Inose, M. (2003). International students reported English fluency, social support satisfaction, and social connectedness as predictors of acculturative stress. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 16(1), 15-28. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
40. Yin, Z., Ong, L. Z., & Qiao, M. (2024). Psychological factors associated with Chinese international students’ well-being in the United States: A systematic review. Journal of International Students, 14(4), 529–551. https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v14i4.6428 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
41. Ying, Z., Kondo, A., & Piao, M. (2025). Mental health challenges among Chinese international students during COVID-19: A systematic review and meta-analysis of depression and anxiety. Journal of International Students, 15(8), 209–230. https://doi.org/10.32674/4mzv0c33 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
42. Yun Yu & Marta Moskal (2019). Missing intercultural engagements in the university experiences of Chinese international students in the UK, Compare A Journal of Comparative and International Education, 49:4, 654-671. https://doi.org/10.1080/03057925.2018.1448259 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
43. Zevenbergen, R. (2001). Changing contexts in tertiary mathematics: implications for diversity and equity, in D. Holton (Ed.) The Teaching and Learning of Mathematics at University Level, An ICMI Study. Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Kluw [Google Scholar] [Crossref]
Metrics
Views & Downloads
Similar Articles
- Interplay of Students’ Emotional Intelligence and Attitude toward Mathematics on Performance in Grade 10 Algebra
- Numerical Simulation of Fitzhugh-Nagumo Dynamics Using a Finite Difference-Based Method of Lines
- Fixed Point Theorem in Controlled Metric Spaces
- Usage of Moving Average to Heart Rate, Blood Pressure and Blood Sugar
- Exploring Algebraic Topology and Homotopy Theory: Methods, Empirical Data, and Numerical Examples