Abstract:
ABSTRACT
A PERSONAL TALE OF SELF-REFLECTION BY A HMONG
ENGLISH TEACHER FORMING A HIGH SCHOOL
LEADERSHIP CLUB TO ENHANCE HMONG
ADOLESCENTS IN THEIR SEARCH FOR
PERSONAL IDENTITY
by
© Ellen Moua Hamilton 2010
Master of Arts in Education
Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Learners Option
California State University, Chico
Spring 2010
The purpose of this project is to create a handbook by creating a high school
leadership club for Hmong students, to enhance their search for personal identity as they
relate it to my own personal tale of self-reflection. In order to create my own personal
tale and a leadership club to enhance Hmong adolescents, a background knowledge base
had to be established in the review of literature. This background knowledge base consisted
of adolescent identity, Hmong adolescents, Hmong culture, after-school programs
and clubs, and leadership with a focus on self-reflection. Each section in
x
Chapter II of this project amplifies the need for understanding oneself through family involvement,
relationships, cultural loss, language loss, etc, for the search of personal identity.
Through the background knowledge base established in the review of literature,
the creation of my self-reflection was able to take form. The reflection is about
growing up in two worlds; the Hmong world and the American world. The book is the
self-reflection of my search for personal identity and is used to help enhance Hmong adolescents
in understanding their search for personal identity. The book is titled, Washed
Away Story of a First Generation Hmong Woman in America, and is recommended by
the author to use in secondary levels to understand what it is to be Hmong living in two
worlds, revolving around the themes of language loss, biculturalism, acculturation, assimilation,
and simply finding out who we truly are.
