A meta-synthesis study on the problems experienced in education of foreign students

This study aimed to determine the studies examining the problems of foreign students studying in primary school by using the meta-synthesis method. In addition, it took the opinions of the teachers and foreign students in a primary school with a large number of foreign students on the problems and compared them with the themes of the meta-synthesis study. Qualitative research approach was adopted in the study. In the first stage of the study, studies on the problems of foreign students studying in primary school were examined using the meta-synthesis method. Meta-synthesis is a research method that examines and interprets the findings of multiple studies. 20 studies meeting the criteria determined were included in the meta-synthesis study.In the examination of the studies, a coding form was prepared by taking expert opinion, and all studies were examined one by one. The studies examined according to the steps of the meta-synthesis study were analyzed with the thematic approach, and codes and themes were reached. The main themes determined in the meta-synthesis stage of the study are as follows: educational problems of students, social problems of students, problems faced by teachers due to foreign students.The second stage of the study was carried out by interviewing 5 classroom teachers and 10 foreign students in a primary school in Konyaaltı, Antalya province, in the 2020-2021 academic year. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview form. The data obtained as a result of the interview were analyzed by content coding. Problems as a result of the meeting; language proficiency, academic problems, parent support and adaptation problems."Lack of language" is seen as the main source of the problems reached with the findings obtained in the study. It has been determined that foreign students who do not speak Turkish experience academic and social problems and cause problems for teachers. Suggestions for the solution of these problems are included in the study.