Why is it important for second-generation Nepalis to learn their mother tongue?

In this podcast series, we are looking if the children of Nepali heritage understand the importance of learning more than one language.

Source: SBS Nepali/Rajish Aryal

Welcome to this four parts podcast series about the importance of teaching the Nepali language to 2nd generation Nepali children growing up in Australia.

We also look at if the children of Nepali heritage understand the importance of learning more than one language.

Furthermore, we explore the idea of whether learning languages from the homeland is creating unnecessary pressure for the school going children and are parents exerting unnecessary pressure?

To answer these and other related questions, we are chatting with few children from "Shabdamala" - a Nepali language school located in the western Sydney suburb of Granville.

1: "Generation Gap"

Source: SBS Nepali/Rajish Aryal

In this first episode, the children are participating in an audio drama "Generation Gap" which begins with Jessica's parents preparing her lunch in the kitchen while she is busy watching TV.

null

2: Chat with drama artist children

Source: SBS Nepali/Rajish Aryal

In this second episode, we chat with the participating children and ask them about their experience of learning the Nepali language in Australia.

LISTEN TO

Shabdamala - Nepali Podcast Series - Part 2 - Chat with drama artist children

SBS Nepali

11:29Nepali

3: Views of the parents

Source: SBS Nepali

In this episode, we chat with the parents of the children who performed in the radio drama - "Generation Gap". We ask them why they want their children to learn Nepali.

The participants are:

• Bikram Sharma Kharel
• Archana Ghale Gurung
• Anup Ghale
• Roshan Karmacharya
• Puja Karmacharya
• Ashok Rai

LISTEN TO

Shabdamala - Nepali Podcast Series - Part 3 - Views of the parents

SBS Nepali

12:41Nepali

4: Mental health issues associated with language and identity

Language learning Source: Wikimedia

In this last episode, we chat with more parents and guardians about the challenges of delicately blending different cultures into the children. We also talk with Consultant Psychiatrist - Dr. Anupam Pokharel on the issue and challenges faced by children on mixed messages from their parents and their peers.

LISTEN TO

Shabdamala - Nepali Podcast Series - Part 4/4 (Mental health issues associated with language and identity)

SBS Nepali

15:36Nepali