This is a “The Best…” list I should have done long ago.

Since so many of the English Language Learners at our school are Hmong, these resources are high-interest opportunities for English language development. I’ve often written in this blog how I’ve used many of these sites individually for class lessons, but I’ve never put all of them together in one place on my blog.

You might also be interested in The Best Resources To Learn About The Forced Return Of 4,000 Hmong Refugees By Thailand.

Here are my choices for The Best Websites To Learn About Hmong Culture & History (and are accessible to English Language Learners). They are not listed in order of preference:

The Oregonian newspaper in Portland has a great article and slideshow about the first cookbook that has been published on Hmong food.

The New York Times  recently published an article  titled A Doctor for Disease, a Shaman for the Soul. It’s accompanied by a slideshow. It’s about a new policy by Mercy Medical Center in Merced, CA, recognizing the role of traditional healers. The hospital is inviting Hmong shamans to perform nine approved ceremonies. The policy is the first of its kind in the country.

Al Jazeera, the Arabic TV network, has a feature on Hmong refugees in Thailand.

Minnesota Public Radio has a report on the history of Hmong migration (it was done in 1999, so doesn’t include the most recent influx, but it’s still good).  Audio support is provided for the text.

The Split Horn is the PBS webpage for the film of the same name. It’s about a Hmong Shaman and his new life in the United States.

“Gran Torino” is the Clint Eastwood movie that tells about his character’s relationship with his new Hmong neighbors:

Here’s a short presentation on the Hmong language.

Minnesota NPR has an article, with photos, on an artistic rendering of Hmong migration.

The Simple English Wikipedia has a very short, and accessible, description of the Hmong people.

“The Hmong and Laos: Old wars never die — The unhappy fate of the Hmong” is the title of a short article published by The Economist. It would be a challenging for English Language Learners, but my Hmong students would certainly be motivated to try to get through it. The issue seldom gets this kind of coverage from such a prominent periodical.

The Jungle Hmong: A Forgotten Ally On The Run is a slideshow from TIME Magazine.

“Among The Hmong” is a half-hour episode from the PBS children’s show “Postcards From Buster.” There’s not a direct link to it, but if you go to the PBS Kids video site and type in “Hmong” in the search box, you’ll see it and be able to watch it.

Hmong leader General Vang Pao recently died. You can read about him in The New York Times

The BBC also has a good article and additional resources on his death — Laos general and Hmong leader Vang Pao dies in exile.

The Los Angeles Times also has an obituary.

Thousands Gather To Mourn Hmong Leader Vang Pao is the title of the NPR story on the six day funeral in Fresno for Hmong leader General Vang Pao.

The Los Angeles Times has both an impressive slideshow and useful article on the General’s funeral.

The New York Times also has both a slideshow and article about the General’s funeral.

For the Hmong, an enduring sense of exile is an op ed from The Washington Post.

Hmong Facts is from The Minnesota Historical Society.

Family History: The General, His Sisters And Me is from NPR.

Outsiders Unable to Investigate Vietnam Protest Reports comes from Voice of America.

Taking advantage of Hmong storytelling culture to teach conservation is an interesting article about a U.S. Forest Service-financed Hmong film (with English subtitles) about conservation. You can read more about it here and here. Here’s an excerpt:

A Hmong Generation Finds Its Voice in Writing is from The New York Times.

Lia Lee Dies; Life Went On Around Her, Redefining Care is from The New York Times.

Quote Of The Day: “Does it take more strength to restrain yourself or does it take more strength to fight back?”

Being Hmong in America is from The Atlantic.

War Wounds Resurfaced in ‘Operation Popcorn,’ Documentary on Hmong Arrests is from NBC News.

Mai Der Vang Wins 2016 Walt Whitman Award for ‘Afterland,’ Poetry Collection on Hmong Experience is from NBC News.

Heirs of the ‘Secret War’ in Laos is from The New York Times.

In St. Paul, Great Deals and Ethnic Diversity is from The New York Times.


YOU’LL WANT TO READ THIS WASH. POST ARTICLE FEATURING HMONG STUDENTS FROM OUR SCHOOL

“THERE IS A LOT WE CAN LEARN” FROM THE STORY OF HMONG-AMERICANS

A Closer Look at Fresno’s Hmong Community is from The NY Times.

Thousands of Hmong and Lao Americans face deportation under Trump proposal is from Minnesota Public Radio.

HMONG COMMUNITY COMMEMORATES 45TH ANNIVERSARY OF RESETTLEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES

IMPORTANT ARTICLE ABOUT THE HMONG COMMUNITY

SUNISA LEE, HMONG-AMERICAN GYMNAST, GOING TO THE OLYMPICS!

HMONG-AMERICAN SUNISA LEE WINS THE GOLD!

Hmong Ethnic Studies Curriculum looks useful.

In face of pandemic, Hmong Americans press forward to maintain New Year traditions is from The PBS NewsHour.

After racist vandalism, Hmong museum reopens stronger than before is from NBC News.

Video: “The Harvest,” A New Movie About Hmong Immigrants, Premieres Next Week

Here’s an interesting Guardian article on Birdsong of the Hmong.

Additional suggestions are welcome.

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