The impact of language brokering on Hmong college students’ parent-child relationship and academic persistence

Abstract

Using children as language brokers is a common practice in many migrant families. However, the particular contexts for language brokering and cultural impacts vary depending on migrant groups. Much of the literature on the impact of children’s language brokering on migrant families has focused on Latinx families and some Asian (predominantly Chinese) immigrant families.This study is the first,to our knowledge, that focuses on the impact of language brokering among Hmong refugee families in the United States. Using multi-method studies, we administered an online survey and conducted focus group interviews to understand Hmong college students’ language brokering practices in one Midwestern university and the impact this practice had on the relationships with their parents. Our results showed the diverse situations in which the students provided translations for their parent(s). Students also felt that language brokering helped them become bicultural and bilingual and that it brought them closer to their parents and Hmong culture.Student perspectives on the impact of language brokering on family relations and academic persistence are further discussed

Keywords

• hmong
• language brokering
• parent-childrelationship
• acculturation gaps