Interview Chinese – American Family Project

Becoming American
The Chinese Experience
Objective: The students will understand the history of Chinese-American immigration
Rational: The students will be able to make a connection to the Chinese American community by interviewing Chinese families.
Activity: Interview a Chinese-American immigrant
Products: Student will post a narrative or dialogue to the course blog.
This project will be 10 % of the quarter grade.
Assessment: Introduction of the family should be in Chinese. (20 points)Image: (10 points)
English narrative or dialogue of the interview: (20 points)
Questions for Chinese-American interview:
When did the family arrive in the United States? Occupation?
Family stories: funny ones? Successful ones? Difficult ones?
Where were you from? Talk about how you got to America.
Describe discrimination you have faced as a new immigrant.
Did you feel caught between two worlds?
In what ways did or do you feel like an outsider?
Can you talk about the differences in the culture inside the Chinese and the American home?
Question for someone growing up in America:
What were your parents' expectations of you?
Question for someone growing up in China, then coming to America: What were your spouses’ or families’ expectations of you?
How do you view the importance of education?
How is American individualism different from Chinese culture?
How do you view marriage "outside the Chinese-American community"?
Do you think being accepted as an American is an issue for you?
Critical thinking questions for students doing interviews
More immigrants have come here in the last ten years than in the last 100 years. Based on what you already know about immigration, do you think it is more difficult now for immigrants to invent a new identity?
What does it mean to be an American today?
Think about social, cultural, educational, class, economic aspects.What did you learn through this interview?
Think about the impact this experience has had on you. Compare with your family immigration or ethnic history with the experience of the person(s) you interviewed.