A study of Hmong refugees settling in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania) focused on the social resources (e.g., kinship, literacy) available for adapting to life in the United States and the refugees' use of those resources. The study also resulted in profiles of several Hmong adults, documenting language and literacy use in daily life and patterns of…

This article argues that the traditional classroom may provide little opportunity for English-as-a-Second-Language teachers to learn about the lives of their students. Drawing on ethnographic research in Philadelphia's Hmong community, an attempt is made to demonstrate how teachers can get a distorted picture of their students and how their…

As the large immigrant/refugee population in the United States ages, mainstream institutions, such as schools, workplaces, and social services, are increasingly challenged to meet the needs of elders. Certain themes and difficulties in acculturation emerge repeatedly, including financial insecurities, health issues, loneliness and isolation,…

A collection of essays on cross-cultural aspects of literacy education includes: "Conceptions and Uses of Literacy in a Papua New Guinea Village" (Don Kulick, Christopher Stroud); "Literacy and Feelings: The Encoding of Affect in Nukulaelae Letters" (Niko Besnier); "The Uses of Schooling and Literacy in a Zamfimaniry…