Tibetan parent interview 1

Interviewee: "Drolma" (Pseudonym), a Tibetan parent from the Tibetan area of Sichuan. Parent of a student at Rangtang County Middle School.

问：您觉得孩子在学校里面变化最大的一点是什么？

答：在学习和生活上都有变化。以前生活习惯比较差，现在行为习惯好了，学习也进步了。

问：您会担心孩子在学校里藏语使用比较少吗？

答：有一点担心。

问：孩子去学校后，藏语水平是否有明显变化？

答：藏语他本来小学就开始学了，现在水平可以。学校每周都有藏文课。

问：一般家长在家里怎么帮助孩子学习藏语？和学校学习有什么区别？

答：家里和学校学习方式不同。学校用普通话教学，平时在家和同学交流全部用藏语。书面藏

语和生活藏语有所区别。

问：藏语一般什么时候使用？

答：藏语生活上都需要使用，家里和同学之间都会用。

问：那如果和小时候自己学藏语的情况相比，现在的学校有什么区别？

答：我们小时候没机会读书，现在孩子都在读。小时候没条件。

问：请问孩子几岁开始去寄宿学校？

答：幼儿园阶段。

问：幼儿园阶段是住校吗？

答：幼儿园阶段放在亲戚家里，小学一年级才住校。

问：当初为什么选择把孩子送来寄宿学校？有没有其他选择？

答：上学是必须的，每个十八岁以下孩子都必须上学，这是强制规定。

问：只有寄宿学校吗？还是也有走读学校？

答：有走读学校，比如城关小学。寄宿学校也有走读生。

问： 走读生每天都回家吗？

答： 有的是每天回家，有的是一个星期回一次。大概百分之二十是回家一周一次，其他时间因为交通不方便，距离县城远，所以通常不回。步行三四公里，或者骑摩托。

问：把孩子送到寄宿学校，您最大的顾虑和好处是什么？

答：顾虑不多，主要是为了孩子未来生活好，其他都放心。好处是孩子能学知识。

问：如果家附近有学校，会考虑去吗？

答：其他学校也会考虑，但我们学校成绩好，所以选择来这里。

问：您觉得学校成绩好的原因是什么？

答：学生努力，老师认真，家长配合。

问：孩子上基础学校后，在餐食、身心健康上有没有变化？

答：有变化。比如藏族孩子喜欢吃斩斑，但学校主要是米、面等食物，他们也都喜欢。

问：家长平常能随意探望孩子吗？

答：条件有限，但学校可以允许。

问：会担心孩子失去藏语文化吗？

答：学校有藏文课，藏语老师要求学生必须说藏语，穿藏装。学校藏文班成绩也很好，获得双

冠（藏文和汉文）。

问： 一个年级有多少个藏文班？

答：每个年级至少有四个藏文班，一共十二个班级。

问： 藏文班和普通话班如何区分？

答： 寄宿小学过来的孩子进入藏文班，汉文较好的进入汉文班。

问： 高考用什么语言考试？

答：高考有藏文加试，藏文班有加分机会，汉文班不考藏文。

问： 学习普通话对未来有什么影响？

答： 很好，最好能说多种语言，包括汉文、普通话和藏文，我们都很高兴。

English Transcript:

Q: What do you think is the biggest change in your child since they started school?

A: There have been changes in both academics and life habits. Their habits used to be quite poor, but now their behavior is better, and their schoolwork has also improved.

Q: Do you worry that your child doesn't use enough Tibetan at school?

A: I am a little worried.

Q: Has their Tibetan proficiency changed significantly since they started school?

A: He started learning Tibetan in primary school already, and his level is fine now. The school offers Tibetan language class every week.

Q: How do parents usually help their children learn Tibetan at home? And what's the

difference between learning at home and at school?

A: The teaching methods at home and school are different. The school teaches in Mandarin, but at home and when communicating with friends, they speak entirely in Tibetan. There's a difference between written Tibetan and the Tibetan used in daily life.

Q: When is the Tibetan language generally used?

A: Tibetan is necessary for daily life; it's used at home and among classmates.

Q: Compared to when you learned Tibetan as a child, what are the differences now with the schools?

A: We didn't have the opportunity to go to school when we were young, but now the children all go. We didn't have the resources back then.

Q: At what age did your child start attending a boarding school?

A: During the kindergarten stage.

Q: Did they stay at school during the kindergarten stage?

A: During kindergarten, they stayed at a relative's house. They only started boarding in the first grade of primary school.

Q: Why did you choose to send your child to a boarding school? Were there other options?

A: Going to school is mandatory; every child under the age of eighteen must attend school. It’s a compulsory regulation.

Q: Are there only boarding schools, or are there day schools as well?

A: There are day schools, like Chengguan Primary School. Boarding schools also have some day students.

Q: Do day students go home every day?

A: Some go home every day, while others go home once a week. About 20% go home once a week; the rest usually don't because transportation is inconvenient and they live far from the county seat. They might walk three or four kilometers or ride a motorcycle.

Q: What are your biggest concerns and the biggest benefits of sending your child to a boarding school?

A: I don't have many concerns. My main purpose is for my child to have a good life in the future, and I am reassured about everything else. The benefit is that my child can gain knowledge.

Q: If there were a school closer to home, would you consider sending them there?

A: I would consider other schools, but our school has better academic results, which is why we chose to come here.

Q: What do you think is the reason for the school's good performance?

A: The students are hardworking, the teachers are dedicated, and the parents cooperate.

Q: Since your child started boarding school, have there been any changes in their diet,

or physical and mental health?

A: Yes, there have been changes. For example, Tibetan children like to eat tsampa (roasted barley flour), but the school mainly serves rice, noodles, and other foods, and they've come to like those too.

Q: Can parents visit their children freely during the week?

A: There are limitations, but the school does allow it.

Q: Are you worried about your child losing touch with the Tibetan culture?

A: The school has Tibetan language classes, and the Tibetan teachers require students

to speak Tibetan and wear traditional Tibetan clothes. The Tibetan class has excellent results, having won both the Tibetan and Mandarin championships.

Q: How many Tibetan language classes are there per grade?

A: There are at least four Tibetan language classes in each grade, totaling twelve classes.

Q: What language is used for the Gaokao (National College Entrance Exam)?

A: There is an optional Tibetan language component for the Gaokao. Students in the Tibetan classes have an opportunity for bonus points, while students in the Mandarin classes do not take the Tibetan exam.

Q: What is the impact of learning Mandarin on their future?

A: It's very good. It's best if they can speak multiple languages, including Mandarin, Putonghua, and Tibetan. We would be very happy about that.