Investigation of adaptation experiences of international students studying at international Mevlana Anatolian İmam Hatip high school

The aim of this research is to reveal the adaptation status of international students by examining the experiences of international students studying at the International Mevlana Anatolian Imam-Hatip High School in terms of educational, social, cultural and linguistic factors. The case study method based on the qualitative research approach was used in the research. Interview, observation and document analysis techniques were used as data collection tools. The study group consists of 20 international students from different countries. Interviews were conducted with 11 semi-structured questions, necessary observations were made at the school, necessary documents were examined, and the data obtained were analyzed and the findings were reported. The findings obtained in the study examining the adjustment status of international students were formed in 7 themes and in 20 categories related to them. The main themes are the reasons for preference, their thoughts about Turkey, cultural adaptation situations, social adaptation situations, educational adaptation situations, language adaptation situations, recommendations and expectations. As a result, the social and cultural adaptation of the students was realized in an attitude suitable for the integration approach. It has been observed that international students face various difficulties and problems in their social, cultural, academic and language adaptation. It was concluded that these difficulties and problems affect their adjustment status. By concluding the study, some suggestions were made by taking into account the difficulties, problems and student expectations faced by the students in their adaptation situations.