logo

Articles

Vol. 4 No. 2 (2025): TEL in English language teaching, learning and assessment

Can online pre-sessional courses be transformative learning opportunities for international student interns?

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.21428/8c225f6e.d67ae12c
Submitted
13 August 2026
Published
15-08-2026

Abstract

As more UK higher education institutions (HEI) reach for blended or online learning solutions, the ways students develop and build relationships in the EAP (English for Academic Purposes) classroom have changed. One way that universities have tried to support pre-sessional students in this new learning context is by employing student interns to assist teachers in the online environment to help students prepare for life in the UK. Although this may be a pragmatic approach by institutions, there has been limited research around the intern’s experience and how they develop through this process. This explorative study investigates the experiences of international student interns and the extent they experienced transformative learning while working on an online pre-sessional course at a teaching focused university in the UK. The data collected consists of semi-structured interviews with the four interns at the end of the course. It seems that all four research participants experienced some form of transformative learning. Three key areas were identified in the research: patience and communication skills in the online environment, dealing with culture and identity, and workplace practices. Evidence suggests that a unique combination of factors in the virtual learning environment contributed to disorienting situations that allowed the international student interns to alter their point of view. Further study is needed around the role of transformative learning in the online classroom.

References

  1. Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2012). Thematic analysis. American Psychological Association.
  2. Burke, K., & Larmar, S. (2021). Acknowledging another face in the virtual crowd: Reimagining the online experience in higher education through an online pedagogy of care. Journal of Further and Higher Education, 45(5), 601-615. https://doi.org/10.1080/0309877X.2020.1804536
  3. Drever, E. (1995). Using Semi-Structured Interviews in Small-Scale Research. A Teacher's Guide.
  4. Castelli, F. R., & Sarvary, M. A. (2021). Why students do not turn on their video cameras during online classes and an equitable and inclusive plan to encourage them to do so. Ecology and Evolution, 11(8), 3565-3576. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7123
  5. Cranton, P. (2006). Fostering authentic relationships in the transformative classroom. New directions for Adult and Continuing Education, 2006(109), 5-13. https://doi.org/10.1002/ace.203
  6. Cranton, P. (1994). Understanding and Promoting Transformative Learning: A Guide for Educators of Adults. Jossey-Bass Higher and Adult Education Series. Jossey-Bass.
  7. Erlangga, D. T. (2022). Student problems in online learning: solutions to keep education going on. Journal of English Language Teaching and Learning, 3(1), 21-26.
  8. Faulk, D. R., & Morris, A. H. (2012). Transformative learning environments: Teacher and learner perspectives. Transformative Learning in Nursing: A Guide for Nurse Educators, 15.
  9. Forte, K. S., & Blouin, D. (2016). Fostering transformative learning in an online ESL professional development program for K-12 teachers. The Qualitative Report, 21(4), 781.
  10. Huang, H. M. (2002). Toward constructivism for adult learners in online learning environments. British Journal of Educational Technology, 33(1), 27-37. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8535.00236
  11. Jurkova, S., & Guo, S. (2018). Connecting transculturalism with transformative learning: Toward a new horizon of adult education. Alberta Journal of Educational Research, 64(2), 173-187. https://doi.org/10.11575/ajer.v64i2.56383
  12. Kato, F., Spring, R., & Mori, C. (2016). Mutually beneficial foreign language learning: Creating meaningful interactions through video‐synchronous computer‐mediated communication. Foreign Language Annals, 49(2), 355-366. https://doi.org/10.1111/flan.12195
  13. Kitchenham, A. (2008). The evolution of John Mezirow's transformative learning theory. Journal of Transformative Education, 6(2), 104-123. https://doi.org/10.1177/1541344608322678
  14. Kumi-Yeboah, A., Dogbey, J., & Yuan, G. (2017). Online collaborative learning activities: The perspectives of minority graduate students. Online Learning Journal, 21(4). https://doi.org/10.24059/olj.v21i4.1277
  15. Kumi-Yeboah, A. (2010). A Look at the trend of distance and adult education in Ghana. International Forum of Teaching and Studies, 6(1) 19-27.
  16. Kumi-Yeboah, A., & James, W. (2014). Transformative learning experiences of international graduate students from Asian countries. Journal of Transformative Education, 12(1), 25-53. https://doi.org/10.1177/1541344614538120
  17. King, P. K. (1997). Examining activities that promote perspective transformation among adult learners in adult education. International Journal of University Adult Education, 36(3), 23-37.
  18. Koulouriotis, J. (2011). Ethical considerations in conducting research with non-native speakers of English. TESL Canada Journal, 1-1. https://doi.org/10.18806/tesl.v28i0.1078
  19. Lee, K. (2020). Autoethnography as an authentic learning activity in online doctoral education: An integrated approach to authentic learning. TechTrends, 64, 570-580. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11528-020-00508-1
  20. Lund, A., & Smørdal, O. (2006, August). Is there a space for the teacher in a wiki?. In Proceedings of the 2006 International Symposium on Wikis (pp. 37-46). https://doi.org/10.1145/1149453.1149466
  21. McBrien, J. L., Cheng, R., & Jones, P. (2009). Virtual spaces: Employing a synchronous online classroom to facilitate student engagement in online learning. International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 10(3). https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v10i3.605
  22. Mezirow, J. (1997). Transformative learning: Theory to practice. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, 1997(74), 5-12.
  23. Mezirow, J. (1996). Contemporary paradigms of learning. Adult Education Quarterly, 46(3), 158-172.
  24. Mezirow, J. (1994). Understanding transformation theory. Adult Education Quarterly, 44(4), 222-232.
  25. Mezirow, J. (1991). Transformative dimensions of adult learning. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
  26. Panke, D. (2018). Research Design & Method Selection: Making Good Choices in the Social Sciences. London: Sage.
  27. Patang, H., & Machmoed, H. (2020). Promoting autonomous language learners through Lesson Study Program: Vigotsky’s social constructivism perspective.
  28. Ritz, A. A. (2010, March). International students and transformative learning in a multicultural formal educational context. The Educational Forum, 74(2), 158-166. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131721003608497
  29. Roulston, K., & Shelton, S. A. (2015). Reconceptualizing bias in teaching qualitative research methods. Qualitative Inquiry, 21(4), 332-342. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077800414563803
  30. Ruales, S. T. P., Van Petegem, W., Tabudlong, J. M., & Agirdag, O. (2021). Increasing pre-service teachers’ multicultural sensitivity through online learning. Education and Information Technologies, 26(1), 165-186. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-020-10247-8
  31. Taylor, E. W. (2018). Transformative learning theory. educare gli affetti: Studi in onore di bruno rossi. -(I Problemi Dell'educazione), 301-320
  32. Taylor, E. W. (2008). Transformative learning theory. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education 119 (Fall), 5–15. https://doi.org/10.1002/ace.301
  33. Taylor, E. W. (2007). An update of transformative learning theory: A critical review of the empirical research (1999–2005). International Journal of Lifelong Education, 26(2), 173-191.https://doi.org/10.1080/02601370701219475
  34. Taylor, E. W. (2000). Analyzing research on transformative learning theory. In J. Mezirow Associates (Eds.), Learning as Transformation (pp. 285–328). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass
  35. Taylor, E. W. (1998). The theory and practice of transformative learning. A Critical Review.
  36. Tisdell, E. J. (2000). Spirituality and emancipatory adult education in women adult educators for social change. Adult Education Quarterly, 59, 308-335. https://doi.org/10.1177/074171360005000404
  37. Zerengok, D., Guzel, P., & Ozbey, S. (2018). The Impact of Leisure Participation on Social Adaptation of International Students. Journal of Education and Training Studies, 6(2), 1-9.