Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…

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 (though I have had some on my website under Hmong).

Here are my choices for The Best Websites To Learn About The Hmong (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.

In huge news for the Hmong community (and in Sacramento), the United States recently dropped its case against General Vang Pao for allegedly being part of a conspiracy planning an armed takeover of Laos.  You can read about it and watch a slideshow, videos, and an interactive timeline at the Sacramento Bee.  All these resources are not only informative, but many are accessible to Intermediate English Language Learners.

The Sacramento Bee has another extensive article on General Vang Pao, whom many call “King of the Hmong.”

Sacramento Bee  ran a guest column earlier this year about Hmong who are hiding in the jungles of Laos and those who are being mistreated in refugee camps in Thailand.  It’s titled U.S. Must Honor, Protect Hmong Veterans.

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.

Here’s a short passage about Hmong New Year, along with a few comprehension questions.

Last October, a Hmong man here in Sacramento was shot to death as the result of an affair he was having with another man’s wife.  It’s gotten a lot of media attention.  The Sacramento Bee published a lengthy article titled Hmong Leaders Ask: Could Old Ways Have Headed Off Slaying?. It gives a good overview, I think, of Hmong culture and the traditional use of clan elders to mediate disputes.

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. The Sacramento Bee newspaper took sixteen local Hmong residents to see it. They liked the movie — with some reservations. Read the article here You might also want to check-out the official Gran Torino website to see a clip from the movie.

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.

Here are examples of Hmong artwork.

Amber Garbe, Lee Vang and Kao Lee Lor-Her — all Wisconsin teachers — worked with their Hmong students and their families to create neat downloadable bilingual books.

The Sacramento Bee has a nice slideshow on local Hmong New Years celebrations.

Additional suggestions are welcome.

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