Rethinking the meaning of study abroad programs: The learning experiences of two female Gambian students in Taiwan

This paper is an ethnographic effort which examines the effects of oppression and social inequality on the learning experiences of foreign students in Taiwan, focusing on two female Gambian students. The theoretical frameworks utilized to interpret the learning experiences of these foreign students in Taiwan include Freire's critical pedagogy, critical travel pedagogy, global citizenship, and experiential learning. Unstructured interviews and observations were selected for data collection, and the findings suggest these international students used their learning experiences as a tool to transform their lives and their perspectives on the future of Gambian society. The findings also show these study abroad experiences raised the students' consciousness of the social, political, and economic disparities between the two nations and led them to act against oppression while helping them develop their critical thinking skills and place a high value on intercultural understanding.