A Photovoice Study on Language and Culture Preservation in Vietnamese Dual Language Immersion

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Saturday 11:45 am
  In Roundtable Session: Community-Rooted Approaches and AANHPI Communities

Abstract

This study examines the Vietnamese Dual Language Immersion (VDLI) program in Westminster, California utilizing Photovoice methodology. With a focus on how the program’s goals of cultural connection and community involvement impacts students’ understanding of culture, this research explores the lived experiences of the first cohort of VDLI students as they navigate the intersections of language, culture, and identity. The students identified food and family as central to Vietnamese culture, but photographed their career aspirations and extracurriculars which highlighted cultural ties through collectivism and the broader Asian American Identity. These findings will inform the development of DLI programs that more effectively support diverse student populations and help VDLI teachers develop culturally sustaining curricula that reflect students’ lived experiences.

Author

• Evelyn Nha Khanh Nguyen, California State University - Long Beach