Learning in the Language of Cinema:A Case Study ...
Yuxing Zhou and Shaoming Zhou
Abstract:Chinese students make up the largest portion of international students in Australia，yet we know relatively little about their study experience in the humanities and the impact of Australian humanities subjects on their critical thinking ability.Through a qualitative analysis of the academic performance of two cohorts of Chinese international students enrolled in two film studies subjects，this study has revealed that Chinese international students benefit considerably from an Australian-style training，as evident in their improved analytical skills and critical thinking ability.However，English proficiency remains a major challenge for them in obtaining higher scores，which they could have otherwise achieved in a native language educational environment.This study has also discovered that Chinese international students are generally adept at using multi-media tools to present and communicate ideas.Distanced from their home country，Chinese international students are more motivated to study if they feel a cultural or emotional connection with the course content.Communicating in a language that students can resonate with，be it more visual or culturally sensitive，will help both students and educators achieve better outcomes.
Keywords:Chinese international students;humanities;critical thinking;Chinese cinema;Australian higher education