This study conducted questionnaires and in-depth interviews with 113 American and 106 Chinese students to understand and compare their satisfaction, challenges, and career plans regarding their studies in vocal performance majors in U.S. institutions of higher learning. The study results revealed the commonalities and differences between the two groups of students from different cultural backgrounds and educational systems. Regarding course satisfaction, Chinese and American students were optimistic about the teaching content and faculty but emphasized different priorities. American students emphasized creative educational methods, while Chinese students focused on essential knowledge. The competitive job market, high costs, improvement of singing skills, and study time management were common issues for students in both countries. However, there were some differences in dealing with these challenges. Regarding career planning, both Chinese and American students wanted to find opportunities in the music field. American students preferred self-employment and diverse career paths, while Chinese students valued stable career options. In summary, Chinese and American vocal performance students generally have positive attitudes toward American higher education, but as mentioned above, there are differences. Understanding these differences is essential for educational institutions to provide services that better suit students' needs.

Tingyu Yan, Hong Yu, Jiajun Tang. Perspectives on Satisfactions, Challenges, and Career Planning among Undergraduate Vocal Performance Students in China and the United States: A Cross-Cultural Comparative Study. Frontiers in Educational Research (2024) Vol. 7, Issue 8: 23-32. https://doi.org/10.25236/FER.2024.070804.

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