Only if you say 'Please' in Chinese...

AAS346 07-7

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/3725 Copy

Description

Title

Only if you say 'Please' in Chinese...

Author(s)

AAS346 07-7

Issue Date

2008-02-25

Keyword(s)

• Language Courses
• Retention
• Asian
• Second Generation
• AAS346 F07

Abstract

In this study, observation of a Chinese 231 class and student interview helped generalize as to why Asian-American students take their respective language classes. This, in turn, led to the broader question of the importance 2nd-generation Asian-Americans place on language retention for future generations. In the observation of a Chinese class, the students gave primarily positive affirmation of language retention. In the interview of a Chinese-American student, theinterviewee agreed with the importance of language retention. However, all these studies only partly substantiated the initial claim; their first motivation was actually that of fulfilling academic requirement. Statistically, conclusions could not be drawn with validity due to lack of random measurements and such. In the study, the broadened issue of language retention can be generalized in the following manner: that Asian-Americans probably view language retention through subsequent generations as important. Perhaps a similar view can be extended to that of cultural heritage and its importance in maintaining it. One of the primary detractors in taking a language class is the prospect of extreme busywork. To encourage multilingualism, classes should focus more on pure learning and lightening coursework and language classes/study abroad opportunities should be advertised more.

Series/Report Name or Number

AAS 346, Asian American Youth, Prof. Soo Ah Kwon: This course explores the ways that second-generation Asian and Pacific Islander (API) youth are actively shaping the U.S. landscape in terms of identity formation, youth cultural production, education, organizing, and community formations. These experiences are examined within larger historical, economic, racial, social and political forces in the United States. Rather than approach the study of youth through a developmental psychological model of adolescence, this course will examine youth as a culturally specific social formation. We will engage with texts that draw from different academic disciplines to provide us with theoretical, historical, and ethnographic perspectives of young people. We will also compare and situate the unique (and not so unique) experiences of API youth with young people of different racial and ethnic backgrounds. The course syllabus is available at: www.eui.uiuc.edu/docs/syllabi/AAS346F07.doc

Type of Resource

text

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