To explore the complexities of communication with Asian and Pacific Islander (API) children and their families, this digest describes the overt and covert dimensions of the various API cultures, and discusses API’s socioeconomic background and the life experiences that affect their communication behavior. The general ethnic groups in the API community are Pacific Islanders (mainly Hawaiians, Samoans, and Guamanians), Southeast Asians (mostly Indochinese from Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos, and including Burmese and Filipinos), and East Asians (Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans). It is important not to generalize an understanding of one group to another, and educators must identify differences in order to devise appropriate communication strategies. Overt culture includes belief systems and language, aspects of a culture that can be easily identified and studied. Covert culture is more subtle, and encompasses such aspects as the conception of time and communication. Suggestions are given for practitioners to enhance communication through the following: (1) personal reflection; (2) partnerships with community organizations; (3) information gathering; (4) parent involvement; (5) overcoming stereotypes of APIs; and (6) accurate evaluation of individual children. (Contains 18 references.) (SLD)
