Non-English-speaking countries are attracting burgeoning numbers of foreign students, yet research regarding these students’ experiences remains rather scarce. In line with global tendencies, Portuguese universities are seeing substantial growth in foreign student enrolment. This paper addresses the lived experiences of foreign students in the period following their arrival in a new cultural context, discussing the role that language and social support play in their adaptation. Rooted in a narrative approach, this paper is based on 41 indepth biographic interviews. The findings indicate that the ways in which students deal with the challenges of living and studying in a foreign country are highly diverse. Nevertheless, a universal aspect of their narratives is the central role assumed by social support. Although social support has beneficial outcomes for foreign students’ adaptation, if provided inadequately it can lead to less positive outcomes and even to marginalization.

中文翻译：

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移民与教育：葡萄牙外国学生经历的叙事方法

非英语国家正在吸引越来越多的外国学生，但关于这些学生经历的研究仍然相当少。与全球趋势一致，葡萄牙大学的外国学生入学人数大幅增长。本文探讨了外国学生在抵达新文化背景后的生活经历，讨论了语言和社会支持在他们适应中的作用。本文以叙事方法为基础，基于 41 次深入的传记访谈。调查结果表明，学生应对在国外生活和学习的挑战的方式非常多样化。然而，他们叙述的一个普遍方面是社会支持所承担的核心角色。