Hmong parents' critical reflections on their children's heritage language maintenance
Author(s):
Yang, Terry
Format:
Thesis
Degree granted:
Ed.D.
Publisher:
Ann Arbor : University of San Francisco, 2005.
Pages:
98
Language:
English
Abstract:
The Hmong refugees in the United States have realized that the possibility of returning to their homeland is minimal. They face the challenges of leaving their traditional lifestyle and entering the mainstream American society. Like other immigrants who came before them, they want to maintain their heritage language and pass it on to their children. This participatory research examined the experiences of and challenges parents faced in helping their children maintain the Hmong language. Eight Hmong parents who are living in Sacramento, California critically reflected on their experiences relevant to the topics addressed in the research questions: (a) advantages of using the Hmong language for the younger generation, (b) disadvantages of using the Hmong language, (c) how they try to maintain or not maintain their heritage language, (d) how successful have they been in helping their children to maintain their heritage language, and (e) challenges they faced in helping their children to maintain their heritage language. The researcher engaged the participants in dialogues twice during the course of the study. The dialogues were recorded, transcribed, analyzed for generative themes, and presented to the participants for their feedback on their accuracy. The results of the study revealed that the parents realized that language, culture, and tradition are the foundation of a strong Hmong family and that in order to preserve their language, culture, and national identity, they must maintain their heritage language at home. Although they tried hard to keep their cultural values and language, they faced enormous challenges. In conclusion, the parents spoke their native language at home, but they were apprehensive about the future of their children if they could not help educate them in their native language. They agreed that maintaining their heritage language was useful in facilitating family communication, improving their job performance, and assuring a bright future for their children. Therefore, they suggested that the school create opportunities for their children to learn the Hmong language.