Hi. I’m Zoua. I am Hmong. I was born in the Ban Vanai refugee camp at the end of the Vietnam War, emigrated to America before my first birthday, and therefore, primarily raised in America. I call myself the 1.75 generation.

I’m so happy you found me. If you are here, you care about the Hmong language too.

This website was inspired 8 years ago when my daughter was born, although I didn’t know it then. My story started as a new mom with a baby searching everywhere for Hmong language resources for kids. At the time, I wanted to make sure that she had “Hmong children stuff” around in her environment. Although I peripherally knew that there weren’t as many Hmong materials for us, I was surprised to find that there were very few books, posters, or songs for Hmong children in Hmong. I started collecting everything that I could find. I found some but not nearly enough to keep my kids engaged. Consequently, I started creating my own rudimentary books, posters and songs. I spent many hours translating her favorite books into Hmong.

On this Hmong language journey, I found that what I was looking for was in me this whole time. I found a way to teach my kids and my partner the Hmong language in a way that works for our family. I would love to share it with others who also value learning Hmong. We have been using my method to learn Hmong for just 15 minutes a day, and I can say, “It really works.”

This website was brought to life by my kids, although the information I provide will be useful to anyone who wants to learn Hmong. The materials I share will be useful for parents, educators and solo language learners, because I have created Hmong educational materials in accordance with expert guidelines on how to teach language acquisition. I also write stories that are pertinent to the Hmong American experience. Every resource on this website will assist you and your kids in learning how to speak, read and write Hmong. More importantly, it also will give you relevant Hmong American stories in Hmong. I know that the best way to learn a language is speaking, reading and writing about what interests you and learning the language is just a byproduct of that fun.

Now that you know a little about me, I hope you will join me in this endeavor. In my own experience, it has been empowering and gratifying to use my native language again. It has filled my heart to see my family recognize and say Hmong words. Our family has had great fun saying wrong words with wrong tones; we also have had many conversations about being a Hmong family beget from these language lessons. Additionally, I also have had the joy of seeing my father read books to my kids—something many of us with parents who are not literate in English can only dream of seeing . I can attest to the true connection that materializes between a grandparent and grandchild when a good book is shared between them and one finally sees the other’s life experiences.

In the end, I hope you find a way to use these materials that will work for you.

Nyob zoo. Kuv yog Zuag. Zoo siab koj tuaj koom tes nrog kuv pab peb thiab peb cov me nyuam hais, nyeem thiab sau ntawv Hmoob.

Lub vas sab no pib thaum kuv muaj kuv tus ntxhais, yim xyoo los lawm. Thaum ntawm, kuv nrhiav cov phau ntawv, nkauj thiab dab neeg Hmoob los qhia nws los tsis muaj ntau cov khoom lis. Kuv thiaj paub hais tias peb cov Hmoob thiab peb cov me nyuam yeej yuav kawm tsis tau lus Hmoob yog peb tsis muaj tej khoom no. Teb chaws Mes Kas txoj kev kawm ntawv tsis yog hais tau cov lus xwb. Peb kawm hais lus thaum peb hnov, nyeem thiab sau ntawv. Kuv thiaj lis pib sau ntawv rau me nyuam thiab nkauj rau me nyuam. Kuv thiaj muas cov phau ntawm kuv tus ntxhais nyiam los txhais ua lus Hmoob kom kuv tus ntxhais hnov cov lus. Ua tag lis no tas los, kuv mam lis pom thiaj peb Hmoob tsis tau muaj ib qhov kab ke los qhia lus Hmoob rau me nyuam. Hnub no, kuv pib muaj peb cov lus Hmoob los rau hauv ib txoj kev qhia kawm lus rau me nyuam. Cov khoom koj nrhiav tau hauv kuv lub vas sab no, yog kuv ua xwb. Thov nej ua siab ntev thiab zam txim rau kuv yog kuv ua tsis raug los tsis zoo npaum nej lub siab xav. Tsis zoo npaum nej lub siab xav los, kuv paub hais tias yog peb tsis pib txoj kev no ces peb cov lus Hmoob yeej yuav ploj mus.

Yog muaj leej twg siv tau qhov kab ke no, qhia tau nws tus kheej los nws cov me nyuam los siv qhia me nyuam tom tsev kawm ntawv los, kuv yeej yuav zoo siab heev. Rau qhov kuv yeej xav tau hais tias yog ib hnub kuv cov me nyuam kawm tsis tau lus Hmoob ces tej zaum koj cov me nyuam kawm tau lawm. Ces lwm tiam, koj tus me nyuam mam los qhia kuv cov xeeb ntxwv kom peb cov lus Hmoob muaj txoj sia mus li no. Hmoob txoj kev kawm ntawv Hmoob yeej pib li no; ib tug Hmoob pab qhia ib tug Hmoob xwb. Peb txoj cai yeej yog mus lis no xwb. Hmoob yuav tsum los pab Hmoob.

Rau qhov kuv tseeg li no, kuv thiaj lis siv kuv lub zog thiab kuv peev xwm los ua tus Niam Tsev Qhia.