"Moving From Behind the Curtain": What It Means to Be an Immigrant Chinese Parent Navigating Kindergarten Transition for Their Children

• In Event: Stories of Struggle and Success in Education

Abstract

The goal of the study was to understand Chinese immigrant parents’ educational involvement during their children’s transition to kindergarten in the United States. To understand the perspective of immigrant Chinese families, in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 Chinese immigrant. Three main themes emerged. First, barriers of being an immigrant were associated with limited English proficiency. Linguistic competency served as a barrier between Chinese immigrant parents and local parents and teachers. Teachers failed to accommodate children’s language needs, which created parents’ and children’s feelings of isolation. Second, Chinese immigrant parents lacked familiarity with American culture and the educational system. However, Chinese immigrant parents adapted and learned so that they could better prepare their children for schooling.

Authors

• Peggy A. Kong, Drexel University

• Xinwei Zhang, Lehigh University

• Xiaoran Yu

• Anuradha Sachdev, Lehigh University