Recommendations of how to bring up the American-Thai children in two cultures. 

For the adults, it might not be too easy to live in a foreign land and a different society.  For the children, however, it seems easier with their adjustment to fit in any societies.  For parents, it becomes quite a challenge bringing up their children into this complex world.  For the American-Thai children who live in both cultures -- American & Thai, what can be a good solution and valid recommendations for their parents?

 

Thai parents overseas find no easy ways to make their children keep their mother tongue.  Many Thais living in America today are mostly there with their families.  Therefore, there are more and more Thai children growing up in the United States.  In addition, there is a significant increase in the number of parents who are American-Thai couples.

 

Now the question is, how do we keep these children fluent in Thai?

With such a constraint in the world and the U.S. economics, the first priority of many parents is yet to survive.  Thai Language for their children, therefore, somehow become the buttom priority.  Fortunately, with this technology advancement, it certainly helps facilitating the learning experience for the children, if their parents ever wish.

 

In raising intercultural children, several Thai mothers misunderstand the concept of teaching Thai to their children.  Some refuse to speak Thai to their kids because they think that it is not necessary.  Others are afraid that their children will be confused or have difficulty in learning English.  Some mothers even feel ashamed of speaking Thai to their children.  They feel that Thai language is inferior to English language.  They also mispercept that they will be considered of higher status if they can communicate in English.

Because of this misperception, some Thai kids sadly lose their command of Thai language just two or three years after moving to America.

Drs. Kamolluck Manokulanunta-Kooiman, a Holland-based psychologist who specializes in raising intercultural children, says that children who grow up in a bilingual environment are better able to learn new things.  She also says that Thai mothers actually find it easier to communicate with their kids in Thai.  "It is our mother tongue. We can express our feelings easily, and our children feel that.  It makes both the mother and the child happy." 

However, she says, this issue should always be discussed with the partner first.  Also, the mother should be patient.  "It can be discouraging when you speak Thai to your children and they reply in a foreign language, but you have to continue.  If you speak to them in a mixed language, they will be confused as to which language they should be using with you.  And eventually the children will not speak Thai because it is not necessary."

Among Thai communities, there possibly are temples to offer the Sunday Thai Language school.  However, because of the size of the United States as the 3rd largest country in the world, it becomes impossible for most parents and the children to travel just to learn Thai language for 1-2 hours, and only once a week.  For those who choose to do it, to make the learning really effective, the parents should pay attention to the homework and speak Thai with their kids at home.  Yet, the benefits go beyond just learning Thai as a second language.  The children also learn about their Thai heritage in both culture and tradition.

 

 

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