Micro-Ethnography Study: Effect of Home Habitus, and Western Cultural Capital on Foreign Students’ Small Group Discussion Experience

This study explores the learning experiences of an international student, as a special case, in small group discussions within American classrooms. Utilizing Bourdieu’s capital theory, the research investigates how past experiences influence current educational experiences, highlighting disparities in cultural, linguistic, and knowledge capital between international and domestic students. The study identifies power dynamics affecting international student’s participation and learning outcomes. It emphasizes the need to consider international students holistically, with their unique backgrounds shaping their ways of learning and participating within and outside of the academic setting. The findings challenge the uncritical acceptance of Western-centric cultural, linguistic, and knowledge capital in multicultural educational settings, advocating for a more inclusive approach that acknowledges and values diverse student backgrounds.

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