Tibetan parent interview 2

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

问: 请问您觉得孩子在学校里面变化最大的一点是什么？

答: 孩子慢慢懂事了。

问: 您会不会担心孩子在基础学校使用藏语的时间变少？

答: 有一点点担心。

问: 那么孩子去寄宿学校后，您感觉他的藏语水平是否有变化？

答: 没有，就是原本的水平。老师在教，一点一点学，没有下降。

问: 好的，那么一般在家怎么帮助孩子学习藏语？是日常生活对话，还是一般都是使用藏语，

还是用四川话或普通话？

答: 全部用藏语。

问: 那觉得在现在学校藏语也没有什么区别吗？

答: 跟家里没有区别。

问: 您觉得跟您小时候学习藏语相比，孩子现在的学校跟您之前上学的学校有什么区别吗？

答: 我没上过学。家长好多都没有，所以让孩子在学校读书挺好，地形、架构、思想都挺好。

问: 好的，那孩子几岁就来到了寄宿学校呢？

答: 七岁。

问: 七岁直接读小学吗？

答: 直接读小学。幼儿园没有读，直接上小学。

问: 好的。来到寄宿学校后，除了把孩子送来学校，还有其他选择吗？比如家附近的学校？

答: 没有条件，只能来这个学校。

问: 好的，那么把孩子送到学校，最大的顾虑和好处分别是什么？

答: 生活上有一点担心，比如洗澡条件不好，十多个人挤一个房间，孩子有些拥挤。其他都好。

问: 好的，下一个问题，孩子来上技术学校后，餐食和身心健康是否有变化？

答: 有变化，卫生和各方面都好。

问: 平常您会想来学校探望孩子吗？

答: 想来，但是有时间就来，没有时间就不来。

问: 身边有没有家长担心技术学校会让孩子失去原本的藏族或藏语文化？

答: 不会，学校里也有藏文老师。

问: 好的，那么孩子学习普通话对未来的影响是什么？

答: 挺好的呀。这里基本都是藏语、四川话和普通话，都还不错。

问: 好的，谢谢，采访问题完毕。

答: 好的，谢谢。

English Transcript:

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

A: The child has slowly become more sensible.

Q: Do you worry that your child uses less Tibetan while at the boarding school?

A: I am slightly worried.

Q: Has your child's Tibetan proficiency changed since they went to the boarding school?

A: No, it is at the original level. The teacher is instructing, and he is learning bit by bit; it hasn't declined.

Q: Great. So, how do you usually help your child learn Tibetan at home? Is it through daily conversation, or do you use only Tibetan, or do you use Sichuanese or Mandarin?

A: We use only Tibetan.

Q: Do you feel there is any difference between the Tibetan used in school now and the Tibetan used at home?

A: There is no difference from home.

Q: Compared to when you learned Tibetan as a child, what are the differences between your child's current school and the school you attended?

A: I didn't go to school. Many parents didn't, so it’s good that the children are reading and studying at school. The physical environment, the system, and the overall mindset are all very good.

Q: I see. At what age did your child come to the boarding school?

A: Seven years old.

Q: Did they go directly into primary school at seven?

A: Directly into primary school. No kindergarten, straight to primary school.

Q: Okay. When you sent your child to the boarding school, did you have other options, like schools closer to home?

A: We had no other choice; we could only come to this school.

Q: Alright. So, what are the biggest concerns and the biggest benefits of sending your child to school?

A: I worry a little about living conditions, such as poor bathing facilities. Over ten people squeeze into one room, so it's a bit crowded for the children. Everything else is fine.

Q: Okay, next question. Since your child started at the school, have there been any changes in their diet or physical and mental health?

A: Yes, there have been changes. The hygiene and all aspects are good.

Q: Do you usually want to visit your child at school?

A: I want to come. If I have time, I come; if I don't, I don't.

Q: Are there any parents around you who worry that the school will cause their children to lose their original Tibetan or Tibetan culture?

A: No, the school also has Tibetan teachers.

Q: Okay, what is the impact of your child learning Mandarin on their future?

A: It's very good. Here, mostly Tibetan, Sichuanese, and Mandarin are spoken, and that's quite good.