Capturing Stories of Child Language Brokering: An Arts-Based Engagement Ethnography with Newcomer Families

This study applies Arts-Based Engagement Ethnography (ABEE), a methodology co-developed by the principal investigator, Anusha Kassan. ABEE integrates artistic expression and ethnographic research to capture the emotional, social, and cultural dimensions of lived experiences. The Immigrant Education Society (TIES) and Portail de l'Immigrant Association (PIA) are collaborating with the University of British Columbia (UBC) to use ABEE in this study with ten newcomer families in Calgary, five of which will be French-speaking families.

Arts-based methods allow participants, particularly newcomer families navigating linguistic and cultural transitions, to express complex emotions and experiences creatively, offering insights that traditional research methods may not fully capture. Artistic activities such as drawing, photography, and storytelling provide an accessible and engaging way for participants to share their stories, fostering a sense of empowerment and self-expression.

Each family will create cultural artefacts illustrating their experiences with CLB. These artefacts may include a drawing representing the stress of translating at the hospital or a photograph of a child translating a letter from school to their parent. Individual interviews will explore the meaning behind each artefact, followed by a family group interview to allow participants to reflect on their collective experiences. The ABEE methodology ensures that participants' cultural backgrounds and lived experiences are centred in the research process.

Conducting interviews alongside the creation of cultural artefacts is essential for capturing the full depth of participants’ experiences with child language brokering (CLB). Artistic expression allows families to externalize complex emotions and experiences that may be difficult to articulate verbally, while individual interviews provide an opportunity to clarify and expand on the meaning behind each artefact. These one-on-one conversations create space for participants to share personal reflections, memories, and emotions tied to their roles as language brokers, ensuring that their narratives are fully understood in their own words.

Family group discussions further enrich the research process by encouraging collective reflection. These conversations offer insight into how different family members perceive and experience CLB, revealing shared struggles, moments of resilience, and the evolving nature of family dynamics. Dialogue between parents and children within these interviews fosters a deeper understanding of the emotional and social impact of CLB on the entire household.

Integrating interviews with artistic creation ensures that participants’ voices remain central to the research process. The ABEE methodology values both creative and spoken forms of storytelling, recognizing that different modes of expression capture different dimensions of lived experience. This approach creates a more comprehensive and meaningful exploration of how CLB shapes family life, cultural identity, and adaptation in a new country.

In addition to qualitative interviews and artistic exploration, the study will produce a documentary film and art exhibition to disseminate findings and amplify the voices of participating families. The documentary will feature interviews with researchers, community partners, and families who engage in CLB, providing a platform to share best practices and personal narratives. The art exhibition will showcase participant-created artefacts, offering a public space for dialogue, reflection, and awareness-raising about the complexities of CLB.

Research Aims

This study aims to:

• Examine how newcomer families experience CLB, both individually and collectively, and how it impacts their daily lives.
• Explore the role of CLB in social integration, particularly how it influences relationships, identity formation, and cultural adaptation.
• Broaden Canadian research on CLB by expanding beyond Toronto and Vancouver, focusing on Calgary-based newcomer families.
• Apply Arts-Based Engagement Ethnography (ABEE) to provide a more inclusive and accessible research approach.
• Disseminate findings through a documentary film and public art exhibition, raising awareness about CLB’s complexities.

Contact us to join or ask questions:

Newcomer.study@ubc.ca

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