Exploring Classroom Communication Stress in the Voice of International Graduate Course Instructors
Teaching has been identified as highly stressful from kindergarten through higher education. In the higher education context, international graduate course instructors (IGCIs) carry an important instructional load. However, research specifically focused on the mental health of this group is rare. My thesis will uncover IGCIs’ mental health conditions through an investigation of their classroom communication stress. The research objectives are to learn how IGCIs international graduate course instructors 1) appraise stressful experiences related to classroom communication, 2) evaluate the impact of stress on themselves and their teaching, 3) manage their communication-related stress, and 4) identify their needs for stress management.
Kexin Jiang is a Ph.D. candidate in the Educational Psychology program at Washington State University. She holds an MA in Educational Psychology from WSU. Kexin is currently pursuing her doctoral degree with a focus on the mental health of international graduate course instructors. Her research interests include culturally responsive teaching and assessment, teacher stress, and teacher stress management.