What are Chinese immigrant parents' concerns with their children's education?

This study investigated teachers’ experiences of communicating with Chinese immigrant parents. Twenty teachers were recruited for interviews from local schools that had a large enrollment of Chinese immigrant students. Participating teachers reported that Chinese immigrant parents often expect high marks from their children and want to know their child’s ranking in the class. These parents also place pressure on children to achieve parentally-established goals. Participating teachers view a well-rounded education as the purpose of schooling, rather than high marks. They were frustrated by parents’ concern over children’s class ranking, and the parental focus on children’s perceived weaknesses. Teachers also reported that Chinese parents should ease the pressure they place on children, suggesting that parents should encourage children to participate in extra-curricular activities. They also suggested that Chinese parents should be more sensitive to their children’s preferences. Key words: Chinese immigrant parents, teacher-parent communication, culture, parental involvement

What are Chinese immigrant parents' concerns with their children's education?

This study investigated teachers’ experiences of communicating with Chinese immigrant parents. Twenty teachers were recruited for interviews from local schools that had a large enrollment of Chinese immigrant students. Participating teachers reported that Chinese immigrant parents often expect high marks from their children and want to know their child’s ranking in the class. These parents also place pressure on children to achieve parentally-established goals. Participating teachers view a well-rounded education as the purpose of schooling, rather than high marks. They were frustrated by parents’ concern over children’s class ranking, and the parental focus on children’s perceived weaknesses. Teachers also reported that Chinese parents should ease the pressure they place on children, suggesting that parents should encourage children to participate in extra-curricular activities. They also suggested that Chinese parents should be more sensitive to their children’s preferences. Key words: Chinese immigrant parents, teacher-parent communication, culture, parental involvement

Attitudes of Chinese Immigrant Parents to the Heritage Language Maintenance Have Positively Affected Their Children’s Chinese Learning in the United States

This study explores the relationship between Chinese parents' language background and their children's performance of learning Chinese language in the United States. Since an increasing number of Chinese immigrant families brought their children to the Chinese language school, bilingual education in those kinds of families has raised specific notice recently. In this study, data collection included surveys, audio-taped interviews, observations, and students' Chinese language test scores. Those participants were divided into two groups, the students took the children's self-satisfaction questionnaire, and the parents took the demographic survey separately. Besides, the content of audio-taped interviews was transcribed as statistical variances to find and identify patterns of the results. Those three research questions need to be answered in this study: 1. What are the attitudes and actions of those Chinese immigrant parents who do have regard to their Children's Chinese language and literacy learning? 2. Why do some parents feel challenged to maintain Chinese in the home and face the intense pressure of English usage outside society? 3. Is there any connection between Chinese heritage language proficiency and self-efficacy in learning? After the study, the results showed a positive relationship between Chinese heritage language proficiency and students' self-esteem. Parents who were most insistent on using Chinese in the home were most successful in maintaining their children's Chinese, and they also got a better score on the Chinese language tests.

Chinese Immigrant Parents’ Involvement in Their Children’s After-school Education: Behaviors and Perspectives

Through listening to participants’ own words, this study provides a comprehensive description and analysis of Chinese immigrant parents’ perceptions and behaviours of involvement in their children’s after-school education. It reveals that Chinese immigrant parents were willing to become involved in their children’s after-school education. Although many Chinese immigrant parents faced challenges in the host culture, they sacrificed themselves to support their children’s development. They hold high education expectations for their children, view academics as the most important thing and provide help with their children’s academics. Yet they also want their children to receive a well-rounded education. This study indicates that the Chinese immigrant parents’ behaviours and perspectives of involvement in their children’s after-school education were shaped by Chinese traditional cultural values, parents’ personal experiences, and their understanding of Canadian culture.