The Educational Experience of Students of Chinese Origin in a French-Speaking Context : the role of school, family, and community
This study seeks to document the educational experience of students of Chinese origin in Quebec French high schools and to examine the dynamics influencing their academic achievement. More specifically, it explores the impact of school context, Chinese immigrant families, and the ethnic community on the socioeducational integration of these youth in a French-speaking context. Data were collected mainly through semi-structured in-depth interviews with students of Chinese origin as well as different actors holding educational roles (immigrant parents as well as school and community practitioners). Other instruments, such as document review and media content analysis, were also adopted to provide background information and to enrich the interview data. Data were analysed according to an open and inclusive framework evaluating the academic achievement of immigrant students with a main focus on the influence of the proficiency in the language of instruction, cultural and social capital of the immigrant family and community, and systemic factors at the school level. The research findings show that students of Chinese origin in the three target schools generally have positive school experience, especially in terms of their performance in mathematics and sciences. However, some of them, new arrivals in particular, seem to encounter some difficulties in learning French and social integration. Indeed, the process of socioeducational integration of Chinese youth is influenced by diverse milieus that they occupy. Regarding the influence of school dynamics, the results of this study indicate that positive teacher-student relationships play an important role in the educational success of Chinese origin students. Nonetheless, the insufficient learning support services diminish the linguistic and social integration of newly arrived Chinese immigrant students. The research data highlight in particular the role of immigrant family and the ethnic community in shaping the school experience of Chinese youth. On the one hand, with the impact of family dynamics, including migration project, Chinese culture, as well as pre-and post-migration experiences, Chinese parents are involved actively in their children’s schooling, in spite of their language and cultural barriers. On the other hand, to overcome the negative effects of loose connections with mainstream French schools, Chinese parents rely largely on ethnic community-based resources, such as Chinese language media, ethnospecific immigrant service organizations, Chinese supplementary schools, and ethnic religious institutions. These ethnic social institutions contribute to support cultural values, exchange information, establish role-modes for the youth, and provide culturally as well as linguistically appropriate services.
Educational success Socioeducational integration Chinese community Immigrant students French high school