2026 Hall of Fame Nominee
‘Iolani School
Honolulu, HI
Growing up as a child of Vietnamese refugees in Garden Grove, California, I navigated through the complexities of balancing Vietnamese traditions with mainstream American culture. Initially, I resented the Sunday Vietnamese classes my parents insisted on. Yet, those hours of instruction became invaluable, gifting me the ability to read, write, and speak Vietnamese fluently. This skill proved crucial last winter break when I conducted an oral history interview with my parents who only spoke Vietnamese. Using Vietnamese, I delved into their lives in Vietnam, the impact of the war, their decision to escape by boat followed by their capture and forced labor in camps, their experiences in Indonesia refugee camps, and their arduous journey of settling into life in the U.S. This intimate communication in our native language allowed me to truly connect with and understand their experiences and perspectives.
My linguistic journey continued in college where I studied Chinese and studied abroad in Taiwan and China. Initially, the language barrier was daunting. I vividly remember getting lost in Taiwan, unable to comprehend directions from locals, which left me in tears. However, this challenge only fueled my determination. Embracing resilience, I persisted in honing my Chinese language skills. This perseverance paid off when, five years later, I graduated from a Taiwanese university, proudly presenting my master’s thesis written entirely in Chinese. This journey was not just about acquiring a new language; it was about building confidence and resilience.
Learning a language is more than mastering grammar and vocabulary; it is a gateway to understanding diverse worldviews and cultures. It fosters empathy by allowing us to view the world through others’ eyes. For instance, my studies of Chinese culture taught me that their customary compliments about appearance are not superficial but a means of forging connections. Similarly, comprehending the pressure immigrant families often place on their children, as my parents did to me and my siblings, revealed to me a strong desire for their children to have better opportunities than they did. My experience studying Spanish in Spain and listening to Duolingo Spanish podcasts helped me understand the cultural significance of their meal schedules. Spaniards adapt their eating times to the hot afternoons, so it’s not that they are lazy to have 1-2 hour lunches followed by an afternoon siesta; rather, it’s a practical adaptation to the hot weather. Building cultural competence, we learn to open our hearts, connect with those different from us, and explore the world through the lens of another language.
Language learning is not just an academic endeavor; it is a transformative journey that equips us to take informed actions toward creating a better world. It enables us to bridge cultural divides, foster understanding, and build relationships grounded on mutual respect and empathy. As a language educator, I am committed to guiding my students on this journey, helping them discover the proud impact language and cultural competence can have on their lives and the lives of others they will inevitably touch.