DISCLAIMER: Dr. Megan-Brette Hamilton produced this podcast in her own personal capacity. The views expressed are her own and do not necessarily represent the views of any organization with which she is affiliated.
In this episode of HBC Podcast by MB, I speak with another friend of my brother's, Phong Banh. Phong shared such an interesting story with me about his childhood of growing up in Vietnam with his Chinese family, his experiences with immigration and assimilation, and his new puppy he got during COVID times - I promise it all will make sense. Our conversation led me to highlight the similarities I find between international cultural assimilation and cultural assimilation that takes place right here in our own communities, how language can be used to create barriers, and the connection between language and thought/culture. While lots of the topics I address on this podcast may be deemed controversial, please remember, there is no controversy in one's own experiences.
Phong Banh
Phong Banh is the Director of IT at Montgomery College in Maryland and also serves as an adjunct faculty member teaching computer science. Before he was born, his parents fled China in and settled in Vietnam where they had 10 children. Banh, the youngest, recalls leaving Vietnam to go to a refugee holding center in the Philippines before arriving to the United States at the age of 10, speaking minimal English. He provides an interesting perspective on language acquisition based on his personal experience with immigration and growing up in a cross-cultural and multi-generational Chinese family in the US.
Music for this episode is Like Honey by Dr. Delight provided by soundstripe.com.
Cover artwork and design by Katrina Langland and Eloise Stewart.
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Here are some interesting resources to check out that highlight cultural assimilation at home:
Language, Culture and Assimilation
Assimilation and Language
Finally, an article on how much does our language determine behavior
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...when you work with people... Language matters. Culture counts.
Thank you for listening!
~MB