Fighting for Linguistic Reparations: Asian American Bilingual Educators’ Racialized Struggles in Urban Dual Language Programs

• In Event: Bridging Languages: Innovative Approaches to Bilingualism and Biliteracy in Diverse Contexts

Abstract

In Massachusetts, the wave of Asian American studies coincides with the launch of Asian dual language bilingual education (DLBE) programs such as Mandarin Chinese and Vietnamese. These programs, which include many Asian American educators and serve mainly Asian American children, are fertile grounds for Asian American studies to flourish. However, the structure of Asian DLBE programs as strands within urban schools often puts these programs in silos, exacerbating racial segregation and tensions. Therefore, this exploratory case study critically examines the racialized experiences of Asian American educators and their challenges in sustaining Asian cultures and languages in urban DLBE programs, highlighting issues such as navigating racism and linguicism, resisting anti-Asian narratives, and addressing the complex positioning of these programs as elitist.

Authors

• Alisha Nguyen, Lesley University

• Zhongfeng Tian, Rutgers University - Newark