Cultural exposure, adaptability, and academic self efficacy of the Southeast Asia student teachers during the preservice abroad: Basis for international internship monograph

This mixed methods study was conducted to determine the cultural exposure, adaptability, and academic self-efficacy of the Southeast Asia (SEA) student teachers during the preservice abroad as basis for international internship monograph year 2025-2026. The participants of this study were the 105 from a total population of 141 Southeast Asia student-teachers from Capiz State University and in Indonesia through stratified random sampling using the cochran formula. The research instruments used in this study were the survey questionnaires and the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) Guide. The survey questionnaires were composed of: A 37-item standardized Academic Self Efficacy Questionnaire; 51-item standardized Cultural Exposure Questionnaire; and the 10-item standardized Adaptability Questionnaire. Another instrument used in this study was the Focus Group Discussion (FGD) Guide. The independent variables in this study were the cultural exposure and adaptability while the dependent variable was the academic self-efficacy. The statistical tools used in the analysis of data are the frequency count, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Analysis of Variance and Pearson r. The inferential statistics were set at 5% alpha level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that on its entirety, the level of cultural exposure as responded by 105 SEA student-teacher participants was “moderate”. When grouped into subscales, data showed that multicultural exposure was “high” and multicultural interaction was “moderate”. In general, the level of adaptability as an entire group was “high”. In terms of subscale, data showed that cognitive ability was “very high”, behavioral ability was “high, and affective ability was “high”. As a whole, the level of academic self-efficacy of the 105 SEA student-teachers during the Preservice Abroad was “high”. There were significant relationships” among cultural exposure and adaptability towards academic self-efficacy of SEA Student Teachers during the Preservice Abroad. Based on the findings, an International Internship Monograph was developed to serve as guide for a more cohesive preparation of the student-teachers and the host Universities.