Academic Adjustment of First-Semester English Department Students When Transitioning to Study in University: Challenges and Strategies

Abstract

The transition from high school to university level can pose several challenges for first-semester students. Contextual and individual factors play an important role in the academic and social adjustment of first-semester students in learning English. This study sheds light on difficulties of academic adjustment that first-semester students encounter when they study English at university. The main aim is to investigate why first-semester students encounter challenges regarding the level of difficulty and autonomy required in their study. Adopting a descriptive research design, data were collected using a questionnaire of 13 items completed by 23 students studying English in the English Department at the Faculty of Education, Misurata University. The target sample was randomly chosen, and the data analysis was performed using the SPSS programme. The findings revealed that students found difficulty in adjusting to a new environment, academic demands, and autonomous learning.