How I Honor AAPI Heritage Month in 2021
Why do I think it important to honor AAPI Heritage in my Chinese classes?
五月是美国亚裔和太平洋诸岛后裔传统月 (měi guó yà yì hé tài píng yáng zhū dǎo hòu yì chuán tǒng yuè)。我今年计划聚光身边和历史上重要的华裔和太平洋诸岛后裔，跟学生们一起了解他们的故事、传统以及对美国文化的影响。
学习中国语言离不开学习和语言紧密相连的中国文化。我希望通过庆祝亚太裔传统月，学生能够站在美籍亚裔的角度了解到更多的中国文化及传统。同时，他们会探索亚裔尤其是华裔对美国历史和社会带来的影响，也对自己身份认知进行反思。这是我从未尝试过的，所以特别期待，也觉得非常有意义！
Key words in Chinese that are good to know for AAPI Heritage Month
亚洲 yà zhōu Asia
亚裔 yà yì person of Asian descent
太平洋 tài píng yáng Pacific Ocean
太平洋诸岛 tài píng yáng Pacific Islands
传统 chuán tǒng heritage, tradition
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. This year I’ve planned to spotlight AAPIs in my own community and significant figures in US history in class. I want to learn more about AAPI’s stories including their heritage and how they have made an impact on the American culture and society with my students.
Chinese culture is such an integral part of teaching and learning the Chinese language. I’ve tried many pathways to incorporate culture into the curriculum. Through the celebration of AAPI Heritage Month, students will potentially learn about Chinese culture and traditions from a different angle, from the perspective of Chinese Americans. They could explore the impact of the AAPI community, in particular the Chinese American community, on American society and culture. What we do in class might also offer them an opportunity to reflect on their own identities. I feel really excited about trying this for the first time.
I’m sharing below how I honor AAPI Heritage Month in my classes this year. It’s an attempt and a start. Hopefully, you find it interesting and useful in your own practices or learning.
Are you doing special activities honoring AAPI this month? How are you doing it? I’d love to learn from you and please leave comments below!
What’s my format?
1. Modeling
I spotlighted Chloé Zhao (who also went to Mount Holyoke and grew up in China!) incorporating a few different contents. The supplemental content includes a quote from the Three Words Classic, a reading comprehension activity on Chloé Zhao’s biographical information, and her academy award acceptance speech (worth watching if you haven’t yet). I will elaborate on this activity in a separate post.
I used Jamboard to do the reading comprehension. Some students are watching a Chinese sitcom《家有儿女》Home with Kids in class, so I brought up 刘梅 and 后妈 which helped them connect Chloé Zhao with an actress they are familiar with.
I also spotlighted a friend of mine, Rayna Lo who is a courageous and talented calligrapher, illustrator and educator. Her well-designed website is easy to navigate and what I used to share her story.
2. Students choose an AAPI or anyone of Asian descent, learn about their stories, and share with the class
A student asked if they can research someone whom they’d like to share with the class when I told them that we’ll be spotlighting various AAPI throughout the month. I thought it so much more engaging than having them hear me talk about people who I deem important. This student-centered approach will channel their interest and create organic connections. Students will generate meaningful reflection themselves through the process. Some students are of Asian descent. I was so happy to see that they presented someone close to them such as their mother and grandmother!
3. Showing documentary The Search for General Tso
I’ve shown this film a few times in class when it first came out in 2015. Now it still feels ever so relevant. I resonate with many aspects of the film and appreciate how the stories were curated in the filmmakers’ journey in the search of General Tso.
Now I show the movie over the span of 2 to 3 class periods. I asked students to take notes in English. They can also write down Chinese words that they understood. Students take notes on: 3 new things they learned about the history of Chinese immigrants, 2 historical figures/people from the movie who are significant, and 1 takeaway or question after watching the movie. Today after finishing watching the movie with one class, we had the most in-depth and rewarding conversation. Though it was in English, I appreciated students’ thinking by connecting to their own identities and immigration experience. It was also an amazing opportunity to introduce them to authentic cultural images of people and places. The intertwined relationship of history, politics, culture and food discovered through one single dish was very impactful on so many levels.
Here is the trailer.
4. Resources I have used
I don’t share these resources with my students. I gave them one document as a starting guide if they aren’t familiar with any AAPI or don’t know where to start with their research.
Courageous Dialogues with Chinese Educators
Asian American K-12 Resources (Padlet)
AAPI Heritage Month MS/US - people and history
Let me know what you think and your ideas! Happy May! Happy AAPI Heritage Month!