Supporting the language development and service needs of young children from Chinese immigrant families: Utilizing best practices from international education.

Abstract

As many more families emigrate to the United States (US) and other countries from China, it becomes vital that families, service providers, and professionals understand the basic demographic characteristics of these families. Early detection followed by culturally competent intervention services is more likely to provide the best chance of longterm beneficial outcomes for children with varying educational needs. This research investigation aims to provide more detailed information and cultural support for evidenced based interventions to school providers so that they will know how to better serve students from Chinese immigrant families. The research investigators used three approaches in this exploratory study: a survey instrument, a follow-up interview, and a case study. The results of this study demonstrate that these immigrant families, especially those from Chinese cultures, possess unique characteristics and strengths. The usefulness of this information to practitioners is two-fold: a more comprehensive summary of the demographic characteristics of Chinese immigrant families and the self-reported concerns and challenges of these families with unmet educational needs.