Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Past studies suggest that family may play an important role in language assimilation among children of immigrants. However, the mechanisms of its influence remain unclear. Using data from the Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study, this paper explores the impact of family characteristics (household composition, family socioeconomic background and family climate) on self-reported English and non-English language proficiency among adolescent children of immigrants in Florida and California. The analysis focuses on two kinds of proficiency: basic proficiency, measured by listening comprehension and speaking abilities, and literacy, measured by reading and writing abilities. Based on the results of the analysis, the author suggests that family characteristics influence English language proficiency mainly through literacy-oriented activities. On the other hand, family characteristics affect non-English language proficiency mainly through opportunities to use a non-English language in a safe home environment. When this environment is challenged by a child-parent conflict or sibling’s preference for English, then the disruption may not only influence opportunities to practice the non-English language at home but also affect motivation to advance one’s literacy in that language.