Liang lives with her husband and one son and her son's family. She speaks Taiwanese at home with her family.
In the classroom, Liang is very comfortable talking about her children. Of her five sons, four live in the U.S. and have taken American first names since coming to live in the U.S. In the following excerpt, she learns how to write her sons' American names. (Click to View) (Requires Internet Explorer)
Her family's needs have shaped her life in the U.S. including her social life and language learning. When she first came to this country (1987), Liang worked in her son's restaurant. Like many of the older students in community college ESL classes, it was only after she retired, she began coming to ESL classes. One of her reasons for learning English was to make friends. However, after a year and a half of learning English she was asked to start babysitting her grandchildren to help out her own children and had to stop taking English classes.
When asked if her family helped or hindered her language learning, Liang discussed her strong reluctance to teach her grandchildren anything that she knew in English because of own lack of proficiency. She responded in the following way to the question
| I: | Because for some people, if their families use mostly English, they have the chance [to learn]. But if the families use mostly their native tongue, they have no chance to make progress. So with children, we can use this opportunity to ask our children for help [with English]. But if they are busy and feel irritated, then we feel like giving up. | |
| Liang: | Yes, before, I asked when I didn't understand. After a couple of times, I forgot again, felt bad and gave up asking. | |
| I: | You felt that was your fault. | |
| Liang: | Yes, you feel like "no more asking", one time, two times they tell me, and I forget. I feel bad and give up, give up, no more. | |
| I: | How about your grandchildren? Do you speak with them? | |
| Liang: | Yes, sometimes. My grandchild is in first, second grade. I ask him when he speaks English. I ask him how to say something. | |
| I: | He tells you? | |
| Liang: | He tells me and more or less I learn some. | |
| I: | Is anyone in your house learning English? | |
| Liang: | Yes, my daughter-in-law. She has been learning for several months at PCC [Portland Community College. | |
| I: | Does she ask you questions? | |
| Liang: | Yes, but I was afraid to respond. I don't trust myself. | |
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