Tibetan student interview 4

Interviewee: "Yangjin" (Pseudonym), 13 years old, Tibetan from the Tibetan area of Sichuan. A student in the eighth grade at Rangtang County Middle School.

问： 您认为你的藏语和汉语哪一个更流利？

答： 两个都流利。

问： 一般在什么样的场合会讲藏语？

答： 在跟家里面的人沟通，和私底下跟要好的朋友交流时。

问： 你的父母一辈/爷爷奶奶一辈普通话流利吗？

答： 不是那么流利。

问： 他们是从什么时候开始学的普通话？

答： 有些是他上学的时候，他教他们的。

问： 父母不会说普通话，和你之间会有语言隔阂或沟通障碍吗？

答： 不会。

问： 学校一般都是使用什么语言授课？

答： 主要以汉语为主。

问： 学校允许你们课下讲藏语吗？有没有因为讲藏语被劝阻的情况？

答： 可以。没有被劝阻的情况。

问： 你为什么会选择汉语学校？

答： 因为觉得对她来说学汉语也是非常需要的（利于以后工作）。

问： 在学校你喜欢上藏语课吗？

答： 喜欢。因为藏文老师非常有趣，给我带来了很多快乐。

问： 你觉得你自己长大后会教孩子学藏语吗？

答： 会。

问： 你是从几岁开始上寄宿学校的？你身边的同龄朋友情况？

答： 6 岁开始。身边的同龄朋友都在这个年纪上寄宿学校了。

问： 你们选择学校的标准是什么？

答： 离家近一点。

问： 上寄宿学校是自愿的还是家里安排的？

答： 自愿的。

问： 每天的课程表是什么样子的？

答： 上午四节，下午四节，然后晚自习就是自习，向老师提问之类的。

问： 一共有哪些科目？

答： 语、数、英、政、史、地、物、化、生，还有藏文。

问： 感觉压力大吗？

答： 还可以（适中）。

问： 在学校的饮食、身体健康和课余活动怎么样？

答： 都挺好的。

问： 学校的管理是什么样子的？可以随时离开校园吗？

答： 不可以。

问： 班上同学最流利的语言一般都是什么？私下里面一般都用什么语言交流？

答： 汉语和藏语都是最流利的语言。私下里面有些时候是汉语，有些时候是藏语交流。

问： 上寄宿学校有没有让你感到难过或者不习惯的地方？周中会想家吗？

答： 没有难过或不习惯的地方。周中会想家。

问： 一般的话跟父母大概是一周可以见几次？

答： 一周见一次（每周回家）。

问： 有人说寄宿学校会让孩子和家乡文化疏远，你会怎么看？

答： 觉得还好，因为每周都可以回家。

问： 在寄宿学校有没有遇到你觉得可以信任的老师或者朋友？

答： 老师和朋友都有。

问： 感觉你们老师怎么样？

答： 老师都非常的好，对我们友好，私底下可以成为朋友。

English Transcript:

Q: Which do you think you are more fluent in, Tibetan or Mandarin?

A: Both are fluent.

Q: In what settings do you generally speak Tibetan?

A: When communicating with family members and privately when talking with close friends.

Q: Are your parents, grandparents, and that generation fluent in Mandarin?

A: Not very fluent.

Q: When did they start learning Mandarin?

A: Some of it was when I went to school; I taught them.

Q: Do you feel there is a language barrier or communication gap between you and your parents since they don't speak Mandarin fluently?

A: No.

Q: What language is generally used for instruction at school?

A: Mainly Mandarin is used.

Q: Does the school allow you to speak Tibetan outside of class? Has there been any instance of being discouraged from speaking Tibetan?

A: Yes, it is allowed. There has been no instance of being discouraged.

Q: Why did you choose a Mandarin-focused school?

A: Because I feel that learning Mandarin is very necessary for me (it helps with future employment).

Q: Do you like taking Tibetan class at school?

A: Yes, I like it. Because the Tibetan teacher is very interesting and brings me a lot of happiness.

Q: Will you teach your own children Tibetan when you grow up?

A: Yes, I will.

Q: At what age did you start attending boarding school? What about your peers?

A: I started at age 6. All my peers started attending boarding school around that age.

Q: What are your criteria for choosing a school?

A: Being closer to home.

Q: Was attending boarding school your own choice or arranged by your family?

A: It was my own choice.

Q: What is your daily class schedule like?

A: Four classes in the morning, four in the afternoon, and the evening self-study is for independent study and asking teachers questions.

Q: What subjects do you have in total?

A: Chinese (Mandarin), Math, English, Politics, History, Geography, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Tibetan.

Q: Do you feel a lot of pressure?

A: It's alright (moderate).

Q: What is your experience with the school's diet, health, and extracurricular activities?

A: They are all quite good.

Q: What is the management like at your school? Can you leave the campus anytime?

A: No, I can't.

Q: What are the most fluent languages among your classmates? What languages do you communicate in privately?

A: Both Mandarin and Tibetan are the most fluent languages. Privately, we communicate in Mandarin sometimes and Tibetan sometimes.

Q: Is there anything about attending boarding school that has made you feel sad or unaccustomed to? Do you get homesick during the week?

A: There's nothing I feel sad or unaccustomed to. I do get homesick during the week.

Q: Generally, how often can you see your parents in a week?

A: Once a week (I go home every week).

Q: Some people say that boarding schools cause children to become disconnected from their hometown culture. What do you think?

A: I think it's fine, because I can go home every week.

Q: Have you met any trustworthy teachers or friends at the boarding school?

A: I have both teachers and friends I can trust.

Q: What do you think of your teachers?

A: The teachers are very good, they are friendly to us, and we can be friends with them privately.