Families with Emergent Bilinguals of English and Chinese: A Case Study of Family Language Policy in China

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dc.contributor.advisorDressler, Roswita
dc.contributor.authorMa, Yue
dc.contributor.committeememberLenters, Kimberly
dc.contributor.committeememberChua, Catherine
dc.date2023-06
dc.date.accessioned2023-05-02T17:06:09Z
dc.date.available2023-05-02T17:06:09Z
dc.date.issued2023-04-28
dc.description.abstractParents and grandparents in China are implementing family language policies (FLPs) to promote their children’s bilingualism, which needs a detailed study focusing on them. This study investigated the FLPs of families of young children who are non-native speakers of English living in China. Using a case study methodology (Merriam, 1998), I examined the FLPs of five Chinese families who are raising their children bilingually. This study described, compared, and contrasted the language ideologies, language management, and language practices among the families by using semi-structured interviews with parents and grandparents, parent-child audio recordings, weekly literacy activities, and children’s artefacts. The study draws from Spolsky’s (2004) language policy model as its conceptual framework. The findings revealed that almost all mothers believe that English and Chinese were equally important, while all fathers believed Mandarin was more important, and different beliefs about English were found among grandparents. Although most of the fathers had good English abilities, it was the mothers who conducted most of the English language management and practice at home, revealing a gendered division of labour in FLP. The study also found that grandparents played vital roles in children’s Mandarin language development. These families faced similar challenges and obstacles in raising a bilingual child in China: lack of English environment and time; occasional demotivation; financial burdens; and, misunderstanding from others. The findings from this study reveal the importance of participation by all family members in supporting each other in raising bilingual children, including the grandparents. Finally, contrary to some parents’ beliefs, the mothers’ English abilities and educational background should not be a constraint to English FLP and the children’s English development.
dc.identifier.citationMa, Y. (2023). Families with emergent bilinguals of English and Chinese: a case study of family language policy in China (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1880/116144
dc.identifier.urihttps://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/dspace/40989
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisher.facultyWerklund School of Education
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Calgary
dc.rightsUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subjectfamily language policy
dc.subjectchild bilingualism
dc.subjectEnglish learning
dc.subjectparents and grandparents
dc.subjectemergent bilinguals
dc.subject.classificationEducation--Bilingual and Multicultural
dc.subject.classificationLanguage
dc.subject.classificationLiterature--English
dc.titleFamilies with Emergent Bilinguals of English and Chinese: A Case Study of Family Language Policy in China
dc.typedoctoral thesis
thesis.degree.disciplineEducation Graduate Program – Educational Research
thesis.degree.grantorUniversity of Calgary
thesis.degree.nameDoctor of Philosophy (PhD)
ucalgary.thesis.accesssetbystudentI require a thesis withhold – I need to delay the release of my thesis due to a patent application, and other reasons outlined in the link above. I have/will need to submit a thesis withhold application.
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