More than 100 students are enrolled in classes for a new minor at Fresno State this semester. That degree? A minor in Hmong Language studies.
The minor is the first of its kind on the West Coast and the fifth Hmong minor in the country. What sets it apart is that it focuses on actually speaking the language, not just culture. Fresno State Professor Dr. Kao-Ly Yang wrote all six textbooks for the program.
Yang says the minor is a chance to train young Hmong people to become the next leaders in the Hmong community in the region.
"For the Central Valley we need the Hmong minor to train leaders," Yang says. "Also to help these [new] young leaders to understand how to deal with the young population. I'm talking about reconnecting with a very long tradition of culture and good values."
FM89's Ezra David Romero sat down with Yang to chat about the minor and what she hopes to accomplish with it. Listen to the interview above.
