Tibetan student interview 5

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

问： 您认为自己的藏语和汉语哪一个更流利？

答： 都流利。

问： 一般在什么样的场合会讲藏语？在学校会使用藏语吗？

答： 跟父母或家里人交流的时候。在学校有时候会使用藏语。

问： 您的父母/爷爷奶奶会普通话流利吗？

答： 不太流利。

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，因为私底下就是用藏语交流。

问： 学校一般都是用什么语言授课？

答： 以普通话为主，外加那种藏语。

问： 你们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： 因为学汉语有利于进步发展，可以更好地与人交流。

问： 在学校你喜欢上藏语课吗？为什么？

答： 喜欢。因为藏语老师是本地的，讲的内容很有趣，所以喜欢他。

问： 你们藏语课一般都是教什么内容？

答： 教的内容是一些著名的故事词。

问： 你觉得你自己长大以后会教自己的孩子学藏语吗？

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。身边的同龄朋友一般都是在这个年龄开始上学。

问： 你们选择学校的标准是什么？

答： 离家近。

问： 上汉语学校是自愿的还是家里安排的？

答： 是自愿的。

问： 你们每天课程表是什么样子的？

答： 上午四节，下午四节。晚自修是自己安排。

问： 感觉压力大吗？

答： 压力还好（适中）。

问： 在学校的饮食、身体健康和业余活动方面怎么样？

答： 都挺好的。

问： 校园管理是什么样子的？可以随时离开校园吗？

答： 不可以，需要跟老师请假才能出去。

问： 班上同学最流利的语言一般是什么？私下用什么语言交流？

答： 最流利的语言是普通话，或者是自己的藏语。私下大部分都是用普通话交流。

问： 上寄宿学校有没有让你感到难过或者不习惯的地方？你会想家吗？

答： 没有不习惯的地方。有时候会想家。

问： 有人说寄宿学校会让孩子跟家乡文化疏远，你会怎么看待？

答： 不存在，因为他们离家近，而且每个星期都会回去。

问： 在寄宿学校有没有遇到信任的朋友或者老师？

答： 有。

问： 感觉你们老师怎么样？

答： 老师很负责任，都很好。

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? Do you speak it at school?

A: When communicating with my parents or family members. I sometimes use Tibetan at school.

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

A: Not very fluent.

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, because we communicate using Tibetan privately.

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

A: Mainly Mandarin, supplemented by Tibetan.

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 learning Mandarin is beneficial for progress and development, and allows for better communication with others.

Q: Do you like taking Tibetan class at school? Why?

A: Yes, I like it. Because the Tibetan teacher is local, and the content they teach is very interesting, that's why I like them.

Q: What content is generally taught in your Tibetan class?

A: The content taught includes some famous stories and phrases.

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. My peers generally started school around that age as well.

Q: What are your criteria for choosing a school?

A: Being close to home.

Q: Was attending the Mandarin-focused 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 classes in the afternoon. Evening self-study is self-arranged.

Q: Do you feel a lot of pressure?

A: The pressure is alright (moderate).

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

A: Everything is quite good.

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

A: No, I can't. I need to ask the teacher for leave before going out.

Q: What is the most fluent language among your classmates? What language do you communicate in privately?

A: The most fluent languages are Mandarin or their own Tibetan. Privately, most communication is in Mandarin.

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

A: There's nothing I feel unaccustomed to. I sometimes get homesick.

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

A: That's not the case, because we live close to home and go back every week.

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

A: Yes, I have.

Q: What do you think of your teachers?

A: The teachers are very responsible and very good.