Hmong Language Barriers

This research paper examines the factors first generation Hmong American college students encounter while pursuing completion of higher education. Existing studies shows that many Hmong American college students encounter struggles with families’ language barriers (Lee 4), differences in cultural expectations (Vang 2), and finical issue. The struggles they face shows on the Hmong American college students academics (Vang 2).

Introduction

Vocabulary

Hmong: Hmong are a group from the mountains of China, Laos, and Vietnam.

Language Barrier: barrier to communication resulting from speaking different languages

Self-Introduction

My nationality is United States, America and my ethnicity is Hmong. I am the second youngest child in my family. My parents

Many Hmong college students are first generation college student (Xiong 2). Since majority of first generation Hmong college students’ parents do not speak English, the students are to help themselves through their college route. Therefore, first generation Hmong college students mostly are not educated concerning the following components: applying for college financial aid, completing basic admissions procedures, and making connections between career goals and educational requirements (Vargas, 2004). Like many students who have English as a second language, first generation Hmong college students also face hardships in comprehending lessons. Since parents tend to have limited English language skills, the communication between school and parent is limited. (Huffcut 34). Hmong parents who do not speak English insist that their children communicate in their native language and keep up Hmong traditions (Vang, F. 4). First generation Hmong American college students do not perform as well as other students because of language barrier too. Students whose parents are illiterate in English or their primary language are more likely to be underachievers in school (Vang, C. 10). In that case many first generation Hmong college students are expected to use their native language at

Census. Figure 3 obtain the information of only English at Home, Non-English at home, spoken “very well”, and non-English at home, English spoken less than very well in the year 2006-2010. Hmong household with only English at home raised from 4.6% in 2000 to 7.9%, 2006-2016(figure 3). Figure 4 provides the educational attachment among population 25 years and older in 2010. Compare to figure 2, figure 4 shows that the percentage of Hmong in the United States with a bachelor’s degree or higher is 14.5% (figure 4). Therefore, the percentage of Hmong in the United States with a bachelors’ degree or higher from 2000-2010 raised by