Survey: Understanding home language use in Chinese families who are living in the United States
Introduction: For this study, I would like to ask you (father or mother) about the use of home language in your family, including you and your child living in the United States. Home language, which is also called mother tongue or native language, is the first language a person has learned from birth. In this study, home language can be Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese Chinese, or other Chinese language dialects. The survey asks for general information about your family and your child. I would like you to answer questions about your youngest child if you have more than one child (a child who is either born in the U.S. or immigrated to U.S. as a young age is preferred). You will be answering 25 questions in this survey. Please complete only ONE survey per family.
The first section asks information about you and your child. Please check the answer that best answers each question.
1. What’s this child’s Gender? Female
Male
2. What’s this child’s age? ________
3. What’s your relationship to this child? Mother
Father
Other___________________________
4. U.S. State where you are living [note: this will be a pull down menu with all 50 states & District of Columbia]?
5. What’s this child’s mother’s highest education level? Elementary
High school
Some college or Associates’ degree Bachelor’s degree
Some graduate school Graduate: master’s/doctorate
6. What’s this child’s father’s highest education level? Elementary
High school
Some college or Associates’ degree Bachelor’s degree
Some graduate school Graduate: master’s/doctorate
7. Please indicate the number of years you have been living in the U.S. ___________
8. What was the age of this child when you moved to U.S. _____
9. What is your long-term plan about staying in the U.S? Will stay in the U.S. for less than 5 years
Will stay in the U.S. for 5-10 years
Will stay in the U.S for more than 10 years. Not sure
10. Please select the range of your family annual income. Under $15,000 $15,000-$35,000 $35,000-$55,000 $55,000-75,000 75,000-95,000 Above $95,000
11. What is the primary language you speak with your child at home? Mandarin Chinese
Cantonese Chinese English
Other _______________________________
The section is about the use of home language by you and your child. Please check the answer(s) that best answers each question.
12. How much time each day do you communicate with your child in your home language? All the time
Most of the time Sometimes Very little time None
13. How much time each day does your child speak your home language with you? All the time
Most of the time Sometimes Very little time None
14. Please check the places your child uses his or her home language. Home
School
Child care/after school program
Religious center (e.g., church, temple, connection group) Community and recreation programs
With friends and family outside of home Other ________________________
Answer in my home language Answer in English
Answer in either language
Remind my child to use home language
16. Of the programs (videos, TV shows) your child watches at home, how many of them are in your home language?
All of them Most of them Some of them None
17. How many children’s books in your home language do you have at home in the U.S? None
1-5 5-10
More than 10
18. Check all the items your child has learned or is learning about your home language (either in a home language class or through family):
Listening Speaking Reading Writing
Understanding of our culture Not applicable (none of the above)
The third section is about your opinion and attitude toward home language use. Please rate your opinion about the following statements:
19. I believe that it is important to teach my child our home language. Strongly agree
Agree
Neither agree or disagree Disagree
Strongly disagree
20. I believe that my child can maintain our home culture without knowing our home language.
Strongly agree Agree
Neither agree or disagree Disagree
Strongly disagree
21. I believe that my child must learn our home language in order to have an advantage in the future job market.
Strongly agree Agree
Neither agree or disagree Disagree
Strongly disagree
The fourth section asks the strategies and resources you use to maintain your child’s home language.
22. What kind of strategies have you been using for maintaining your child’s home language, check all that apply:
Watch media (TV or radio programs, internet) Visit with other Chinese speaking relatives or friends Visit home country
Read Chinese books, newspapers, magazines Attend weekend Chinese school
Teach child about home culture Attend Chinese cultural groups Others _______________
23. Where do you seek support/resources that help you maintain your child’s home language, check all that apply:
Family members (living in U.S. and outside of U.S.) Friends
Chinese community or cultural groups Chinese church
Child’s school
Other places: __________________________
24. How satisfied are you with the support/resources that help maintain your child’s home language?
Strongly satisfied Satisfied
Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied Dissatisfied
Strongly dissatisfied
25. What is the biggest challenge for you to help your child maintain home language? Lack of chance to use home language
No community support or programs available Child is not interested
No time for tutoring my child
If you would like a report of the study result, please provide your email address________________
Please also pass on this link to other Chinese people you know who are living in the U.S. Thank you very much!