The Cultural Keepers: Tracing the Historical Footsteps of Vietnamese Dual Language Bilingual Education Programs in the U.S.

Khnh L and Alisha Nguyen will present on their research exploring the history, development, and impact of Vietnamese dual language bilingual education (DLBE) programs in five U.S. states with significant Vietnamese populations. Using a multiple-case study approach, this project examined how these programs support heritage language preservation and the raciolinguistic identity development of Vietnamese students, particularly in the context of refugee resettlement after the Vietnam War. The study also addresses the gap in scholarship on Vietnamese American education, language, and cultural integration in the U.S. education system.