Continued from page 1 Ethnic Language Schools
Parents and educators have set up ethnic language schools in local
communities, some at religious centers and others at secular sites.
These schools are operated mainly by volunteers, sometimes with a
limited paid staff, and they usually charge a minimal fee for classes.
Most students are in the elementary age group, since it is more
difficult to persuade teenagers to attend. While the children may learn
how to speak the heritage language at home, they are sent to the
language schools to improve their vocabulary and to learn how to read
and write. At first appropriate texts were limited, but a cottage
industry now produces appropriate language books. In some areas ethnic
language courses are being taught at the high school level. Heritage
languages also are taught in a limited number of universities and
colleges, either because Southeast Asian Studies programs exist in
these institutions or because ethnic students have pushed for such
courses to be taught.
Maintaining Ethnic Languages 
Southeast Asian American parents have tried to maintain use of their ethnic language in conversing with their children. Parents feel this will help them communicate effectively with their children and to pass along cultural traditions. In many cases, however, heritage language loss is occurring rapidly, since only a few individuals from hill tribe groups such as the Hmong and Iu-Mien from Laos, principally the male leaders, are literate in their native language. As a result, they are making concerted efforts to pass on oral language traditions to the younger generation.
It is easier for those living in large ethnic communities to maintain the ethnic language, whereas those living in areas with a small number of co-ethnics have fewer incentives to do so. In families where the parents speak fluent English, it is less likely that the children will retain the ethnic language, especially if the parents feel that English fluency will help their children succeed educationally. Like other immigrant groups, regardless of where one is raised, with each successive generation it will be an ever greater challenge to retain the ethnic language as time passes.
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