A free and public digital resource domain for Hmong language educators and community partners
 
 
 

Our Hmong Language
Standard Journey
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In the fall of 2019, seventeen Hmong parents, community members, cultural practitioners, artists, community activists, educators, and speakers of the Hmong language across the United States collaborated virtually to create our community driven Hmong Language Standards. We want to support the preservation and revitalization of the Hmong language. We recognize there are several existing Hmong scripts and each has its own value.  However, for the purpose of our work, we are using the Romanized Popular Alphabet (RPA) because it is a widely shared and commonly used writing system for many Hmong communities across the United States and throughout the world.  

Our teams have worked alongside Dr. Jenna Cushing-Leubner, who has been instrumental in helping lead facilitators understand the different frameworks that exists in other native heritage languages and to think outside the box to innovate Hmong language standards that will help guide us to be better practitioners in the classroom, in our homes, and in our communities.

PLEASE NOTE: Because the community driven Hmong Language standards are in phase two, this means the standards you will have access to in the next section are all in draft format. We ask that if you give us feedback to ensure the next phases of the Hmong Language Standards will be more complete. Here is the Google Form for feedback:

 
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MEET OUR LEAD STANDARD FACILITATORS

 
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May Lee Xiong,
Literacy Standards Facilitator

May Lee Xiong
B.A. University of MN, Morris; M.Ed. Hamline University; Educational Leadership Specialist Degree - Mankato University is a passionate educator in St Paul Public Schools who believes that students learn better when they can be their authentic selves in the classroom. She is the Assistant Principal of Phalen Lake Hmong Studies Magnet, a school with a Hmong Dual Immersion program in St. Paul Public Schools. Prior to that, she was the Hmong Dual Immersion Curriculum Coordinator and coach for the past 8 years, supporting the teachers and students in the first Hmong Immersion program in the nation, established at Jackson Elementary and Phalen Lake Hmong Studies Magnet. In her role, she was also instrumental in developing the Hmong Studies Program at Phalen Lake Hmong Studies Magnet, a program designed to honor and teach the history, culture, art, and values of the Hmong community at the elementary level.

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Ya Po Cha,
Culture Standards Facilitator

Ya Po Cha (Npe laus yog Chav Kuam Tsab) was born in Laos. He came to the United States as an adolescent. He has been involved in the Hmong community working with various non-profit organizations, taking lead roles (ua mej koob kav xwm) in cultural events, such as weddings and funerals. He graduated from California State University, Fresno with a BA in biochemistry. He received a single subject teaching credential in physical science with Hmong language authorization and an MA in Bilingual-Multicultural Education from California State University, Sacramento. He taught high school science for over 10 years. For the last 15 years, he has been teaching Hmong as a world language at Luther Burbank High School. He is the author of the book An Introduction to Hmong Culture.

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Bee Vang-Moua,
Language Standards Facilitator

Director of Hmong Language Program in the Asian Languages and Literature Department of the University of MN Twin Cities, Bee Vang-Moua currently teaches 1st, 2nd and 3rd year students of Beginners and Accelerated background. She is also the president of Key Publishing, specializing in Hmong language and culture texts for learning and special interest. Her books and collaboration of published work can be found on hmongtext.com.

 
 
 

Hmong Language Standards

 
 
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We believe the Literacy Standards, in addition to the Language and Culture Standards, can be used to support Hmong language learners in the areas of:

  • Developing a positive self-identity and a sense of cultural pride through a historical, cultural, and linguistic context

  • Developing an appreciation of Hmong culture, language, and literacy practices

  • Developing a deeper understanding of how cultures are interconnected and a broader interest in learning about other histories and cultures

  • Valuing and using the oral practices as creative methods to express culture, stories and richness of language

  • Valuing cultural arts and linguistic knowledge from elders to incorporate into their learning of culture, language, and literacy

  • Critically thinking and actively engaging around social issues both in the Hmong community and the larger community

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The culture standard is a root component to building a strong robust learning environment that fosters intergenerational values, contributions, identities, and assets.  The culture standards injunction with literacy and language standards provide a dynamic cultivating learning space for learning Hmong.  These three components of culture, literacy, and language standards provide balance and centers the teaching of Hmong to the Hmong community, to other communities, and to the world.



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COMING SOON…

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