ERIC Number: EJ1152340
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0950-0782
EISSN: N/A
Immigrant Mothers' Beliefs and Transnational Strategies for Their Children's Heritage Language Maintenance
Kwon, Jungmin
Language and Education, v31 n6 p495-508 2017
This qualitative study investigates immigrant mothers' beliefs and practices toward supporting maintenance of their children's heritage language (HL) in the context of transnationalism. The data are primarily drawn from formal and informal interviews and observations of six mothers who immigrated to the United States from Japan and Korea. The findings demonstrate that the immigrant mothers view their children's HL maintenance as a bridge that connects intergenerational families across countries, and as a positive asset that will open up academic and career opportunities for their children in the future. Nevertheless, challenges in maintaining a balance between HL and English were noted. The participants shared three transnational strategies to support HL maintenance, including (1) use of transnational media to teach cultural knowledge and to motivate HL learning, (2) frequent visits to home countries for children to participate in public schooling, and (3) using print and literacy resources in HL that were imported from their home countries. This study calls greater attention to immigrant mothers' transnational knowledge and networks as valuable resources for their children's HL learning. The findings also demonstrate the necessity of examining immigrant children's language learning experiences that traverse across geographical boundaries.
Descriptors: Immigrants, Mothers, Native Language, Heritage Education, Qualitative Research, Mother Attitudes, Employment Opportunities, Language Maintenance, Printed Materials, Learning Motivation, Parent Child Relationship, Interviews, Observation, Japanese Americans, Korean Americans, Learning Experience, Family Relationship, Case Studies, Japanese, Korean, Audio Equipment, Language Usage, English (Second Language)
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A