Identity Development and Culture Instruction in Chinese as a Heritage Language Education: Examining Immigrant Identity in Chinese-American Cross-Cultural Films

Under the burgeoning social climate of anti-Asian violence catalyzed by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is of paramount importance for Chinese language instructors to address the identity needs of Chinese as a heritage language (CHL) learners. Despite increasing scholarly interest in the study of the identity issues facing CHL learners, pedagogically-orientated discussions on how to incorporate college-level CHL learners’ identity development into the curriculum are almost nonexistent. This study argues that Chinese-American cross-cultural films provide valuable instructional materials that address CHL learners’ identity and cultural needs. This study analyzes four major types of challenges and struggles experienced by Chinese immigrants depicted in ten Chinese-American cross-cultural films (i.e., obligation to parents, a tendency toward “invisibility,” the paradox of Chinese-American assimilation, and intergenerational struggles) and demonstrates how such challenges and struggles can be utilized to facilitate CHL learners’ identity development through intergenerational communication, peer interaction, community involvement, and intercultural learning.

Title	Identity Development and Culture Instruction in Chinese as a Heritage Language Education: Examining Immigrant Identity in Chinese-American Cross-Cultural Films
Creator	Luo, Han
Creator	Salvatore, G.
Publisher	Journal of the National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages
Academic Department	Languages and Literary Studies
Division	Social Sciences
Organization	Lafayette College
Date Issued	2022
Date Available	2022-06-16
Type	Article
Language	English
Keyword	Cross-cultural films
	identity development
	culture instruction
	heritage language education
	Chinese
Bibliographic Citation	Luo, H. and G. Salvatore (2022) "Identity Development and Culture Instruction in Chinese as a Heritage Language Education: Examining Immigrant Identity in Chinese-American Cross-Cultural Films." Journal of the National Council of Less Commonly Taught Languages 32: 46-103.
Standard Identifier	Handle 10385/1j92g901w
Permalink	http://hdl.handle.net/10385/1j92g901w
Rights Statement	In Copyright