Chinese Immigrant Parents’ Attitudes, Expectations and Practices regarding Their Children’s Chinese Language Maintenance

Abstract

Abstract This study investigates the attitudes, expectations and reported practices of Chinese immigrant parents with respect to their children’s Chinese language maintenance in Brisbane, Australia. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews with 30 parents. The study found that these parents unanimously agreed on the benefits of maintaining the Chinese language for their children. However, their positive attitudes were neither fully reflected in their expectations nor enacted in their practices. Parental expectations of their children’s Chinese proficiency were not very high, with only four parents hoping that their children would acquire both oracy and literacy in Chinese. Home practices of cultivating Chinese literacy were largely lacking. Our findings suggest that future improvement of Chinese LOTE programs in Australian schools would induce Chinese parents to make more effort in promoting heritage language practices among their children, particularly literacy-related language practices at home.