In the story "My Favorite Chaperone," you read about Maya, a teenager from Kazakhstan, who must adjust to life in high school while balancing her family responsibilities and adhering to her parents' values. Young immigrants often face many difficulties as they adjust to their new environment. What are some of these difficulties? What should they do to adjust? What are some important things they should keep in mind that might make it easier for them? Include a detailed response with examples. You can share anecdotes from people you know, things you have read about, or personal experience.
Visit the link below to view a Prezi presentation about young immigrant stories:
https://prezi.com/6qylk5y1qrnw/book-review-the-first-crossing-stories-about-teen-immigrants-by-david-gallo-book-review-project/
Being an immigrant can be very difficult. Everything around you is strange, foreign, and you don’t know anyone. Immigrants are complete strangers to their new homes and have to navigate their new lives alone.
ReplyDeleteNow being a teenage immigrant is even more problematic. You must be able to fit in at your school with your peers, while still maintaining your culture at home with your parents. Also making friends with others can be very challenging due to culture barriers. For example a teenage immigrant may not be able to pick up English very quickly and communicate with his classmates. They also may not have enough money to go out with friends and join new clubs.
Being exposed to a completely different lifestyle can throw one off guard and can be quite baffling. Teenage immigrants have to familiarize with the rush and commotion of a school and the fast pace of their teachers. Society’s norms may be very confusing and frustrating to someone who has never seen skinny jeans or drank Starbucks.
One way to adjust to a new environment is to find someone who is in your position or was and try to bond and connect with them. They may introduce you to their friends and inform you about your new teachers and classmates. If one can afford a club, joining an after school curricular can help you meet others with the same interest and hobbies as you. It is also important to stay positive and to keep in mind that this is your new home. You will have better opportunities and a brighter future. You may even call this place home one day while living happily with familiarity towards the culture and customs.
Great Job Salma! I really liked your piece! It included many examples of being an immigrant, and the challenges they face while living in a completely different setting. :D
DeleteI agree with Omar. You have included some interesting points of discussion here.
DeleteAwesome piece. It's great that you feel so strongly about this topic, and hopefully things will get better for immigrants.
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ReplyDeleteMost challenges immigrants face while coming to ‘The Nation of Immigrants’, a cliché, is really based on their age groups, because each age group is at a different stage of their life. If you’re a young child in elementary, you can adapt easier, but you still will be bullied that you’re not a true American, as Nurzhan was bullied, but because you start learning English at an earlier age and will fit in perfectly by the time you’re in middle school. But if immigrants around the age of 10-19 really have it hard, especially the teenagers, because they are trying to build an identity in their home country, and then they get thrown into a totally new environment, clueless and forced to adapt. It’s like throwing a cat into a jungle .If you’re a young adult or adult, it’s equally as hard as to adapt, but in a different way, because you have to make money and bring food on the table for your family, which isn’t easy sometimes, as immigrants don’t have proper degrees, which the main way to get a job here in the USA. Often times, immigrants get minimum wage jobs, so they have to work at multiple places, Adults that immigrate also have to understand cultural differences in the USA, because some of them will do anything to keep their culture alive. Usually adults have their foundation and stick to their old ways, but the teenagers are confused, because they are being taught to keep their culture, yet in this society, the culture is totally different.Things teenagers should to adjust is to find friends who have gone through it and relate to them, and slowly, you'll get used to the environment.
ReplyDeleteSafwan, your piece was really detailed. I really like that you included about Nurzhan, and why he got bullied because i know for a fact, that this is a huge issue with MANY immigrants. :D
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ReplyDeleteBeing an immigrant is actually a very hard situation. Every immigrant has certain difficulties, for example, Maya was dying to go to the Spring Fling, but she was worried about what her parents would think, or if no one would go with her. This is a major difficulty because it gives Maya a thought that she was from a different country, so people would bully her, or they would make fun of what she might wear to the Spring Fling, if she wore traditional clothing. Another example from the story was when Nurzhan was bullied. Nurzhan didn't really understand, or pronounce English very well. This is a major difficulty for many immigrants because some people would might make fun of their culture, and language. Mostly every immigrant also isn't used to the new environment around them. Immigrants also have difficulties finding jobs because the manager or boss doesn't think they can handle this amount of work, or the might not understand what to do if they are given complex directions. I think some things immigrants should do to adjust is to try and take classes on the language of the country they now live in, or to go to the library and find a book about that language, the pronunciation, and the meaning of the vocabulary. I also think that immigrants should learn about the culture and tradition of the country they live in, but they don't have to give up their old tradition just because of that. Outside of home, they can have for example the American tradition, and at home they can have their old traditions. Immigrants should also keep in mind about what people think about them. If people think of them in a bad way, they can have a bad reputation, and they wouldn't be able to even get jobs because of that. They should also keep in mind on how to get along with people, and how to communicate with them.
ReplyDeleteOmar, I didn't really like your response. Just Kidding, LOVED IT! Great Job, really love the details you used. Very meaningful :D
DeleteVery funny, Omar. But seriously, keep up the good work!
DeleteThank you for adding thoughtful, detailed responses, Salma, Safwan, and Omar. There are thorough and quick responses!
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ReplyDeleteBeing a new immigrant to a totally different country can be difficult because of the life styles and culture in that new country. It is hard to fit in with many people because you are new. Some difficulties may be having trouble speaking the language. You may tend to pronounce the word wrong or have an accent. Accent should not be a big complication because depending on the new place you live, you will not be the only one with an accent. Having different cultures can be a difficulty. You and your family will have different ways of solving a situation or getting things done. Also through culture, you may have different ideas than other people. Its not bad to have different ideas. It just means your looking at things in a new perspective. To adjust to the new country, you should learn about the culture in where you live. Having knowledge about other beliefs help you learn about others.You should try to make friends and stay on the good side of most people. That way more people will treat you as a friend and you won’t be so left out. If you are getting bullied for being different, let a caring adult know. No one has the right to bully you for being different. However, don’t bully them back because that will solve nothing. Just let an adult know and let them take care of it. Try to ignore the bully. If the bully does or attempts to do physical damage to you, don’t just stand their and let them hurt you. Defend yourself and don’t do serious damage back to them. For example, the they try to punch you, just dodge the punch and not hit them back. Always stand up for what seems right. You should never abandon your own culture and beliefs because its what make you who you are. Never change your whole entire personality to fit in. Being different is not bad. It can be difficult to be a immigrant to a new country because of the life styles and culture.
ReplyDeleteThis is great advice, Dania!
DeleteNice work Batata! :D
DeleteBATATA
DeleteTo seek a better life, escape war, run from prosecution, put food on the table, and not be dead, immigrants travelled to America. Some were refugees and others were escaping torture, but they all had one reason, a new life. As always, a new life in a new place, always have people with different customs and require immigrants to accept change.
ReplyDeletePeople had to adjust their customs to the ones of the Americans, but as always, it's not easy at all. In other countries men don’t do housework and women don’t work outside. In contrast, in America everyone works both in the house and outside. Children grow up in a different way than the way the adults childhoods were. But most of all children were afraid of sticking out in the middle of the “Great American Sea.” Children had to deal with two different customs, the one of their nationality and the one of America's. It was not simple, the parents would not budge from their customs (which most of the time were totally opposite from America’s) and would not accept change. Young Immigrants would have no choice but to blend in.
They would have to accept the new way of life and start to become a true American. They would attend activities, do sports, work with opposite genders, and many others. But it was not always better to accept change. People could not live a new life and forget the old. It didn't matter if you stood out, because it made you special and different. Something some people couldn’t do. A person I know came to America to escape war and had to accept the new change but he never left his old customs behind, he actually made sure that people know that he is different and not just the same. No matter which American you ask he or she will have a different story with a special background and a will always tell you the way he or she came to America.
These are very helpful insights!
DeleteI really like your response Yousef. You used great examples about being an immigrant, and moving to the U.S.
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ReplyDeleteBeing an immigrant is very difficult. Imagine you were a person that just came from a different country were you only new how to speak Spanish and only new a little bit of English. Only you and your family were living in America no one from your cosines or uncle's, aunts, or grandparents and you go to a public school were you know no one. How would you feel?
ReplyDeleteIf I was an immigrant and I had to go threw learning a new language and go to a new school because what ever reason it would be really hard specially making and meting new friends/people. I think if you were to go threw this you should always be positive about yourself and don't bother what people are saying and I am shore that there will be one person that can be your friend.
The best way to adjust is probably is not to be shy and hide all the time and do not get discouraged to your old culture and fully change to fit in being different is awesome.
My cosine when he came from Palestine he knew English but not to much and had a thick Arab accent and use to get made fun of a lot but he did no care what they said about him and he ended up making seven new friends.
So no matter what you do you are still able to do what you want to but in a different way like keep your culture and don't listen to what people say to you.
I really, really, REALLY liked your response Mohamad! So meaningful. Great Job! :D
Delete*Mohammad
DeleteVery detailed. People can easily relate to this and you!
DeleteThank you for sharing this helpful advice, Muhammad!
ReplyDeleteWhen you're coming to a new country as an immigrant, there are many difficulties you have to face. Learning a completely new language and starting a new school where you know nobody. The surroundings here in America would be very foreign to someone who came from another country. The language, the people, the customs, basically everything, is so different. Immigrants are basically dropping everything they had and leaving their homes to come to America to hoping for a better life.
ReplyDeleteYoung immigrants starting school might especially find it difficult to make friends. People may seem mean at first, but there will always be someone willing to be your friend. It might be hard to find someone who's actually nice to you, and maybe some of your friends actually hate you and are just hanging out with you because you're new and they feel bad for you, or maybe they're just using you, or maybe they're saying bad things about you behind your back, or maybe .... okay never mind the point is if you're new, try to fit in and make friends with the right people, accept who you are, and be yourself.
You might have difficulty understanding the language and customs, and even though you should try to fit in, you should never give up the culture of your home country.
If you are dealing with these problems, my advice to you is to just be nice to everyone and don't be afraid to be yourself. If people don't like you, its their loss, just push them out of your life.
It can be very different for young immigrants, and life might get hard, with the English difficulties and the struggles of making friends and fitting in with the Americans. But despite all these things, you should try your best to fit in at school, while maintaining your culture at home with your family. Just because you're in America doesn't mean you leave your culture. Never forget who you are or where you come from. After all, America is a country made up of immigrants.
Being new to a country, school, or community can be very difficult. Not knowing how to speak English or having an accent in it will make it hard for immigrants to make new friends. Immigrants may not like it at first. They even might not like their new home, city, or school.
ReplyDeleteI think that the school part may be the hardest because you might not be used to the way the teachers teach, you might not understand them, or you even just might not have a great time in school. People will bully and make fun of you. Immigrants should always be themselves, even if no one likes them. They should always remember who they are and where they came from, their culture, and their religion. There will always be someone that will be interested in your culture and will be nice to you. They will become your friend if you stay the way you are.
Another problem with immigrants is not having enough money to buy whatever they need to live. They also might not have enough money to buy what they want like they might have done back home. Sometimes their parents might have a simple job that they barely get paid from. My advice is to be patient and to save the money. Then later, when the parents get better paid jobs, they could buy what they want.
One of the last problems that I also think is a big problem is not knowing anyone. For example, refuges from Syria and other Muslim or Arab countries might not know anyone. So it will be hard for them to get help, know where to go to get groceries, or how to get all their paperwork done, and how to start sending their kids to school. Another difficulty for being a refuge or immigrant is being able to accept that you had to leave your friends, family, and important stuff all behind, and then learn a new language, live in a new house, and make new friends.
My advice is to accept, be thank full, be yourself, be patient, and make friends with kind people that you know will always be there for you. Try to always remember where you come from such as your culture, and still make friends even if they don’t come from the same place that you come from. Thus, you could get to learn about different cultures in where you will be living.
Najm Masri
8A LA
9/12/15
Many people choose to move to the United States because of better job opportunities, their Family, healthcare, or to escape war in their nation. Many people use the term “The land of opportunities” to describe the United States because it allows people to peruse their dreams in a land that most likely has more freedom than their country of origin. Most immigrants tend to move to these states: California, New York, Illinois, New Jersey and Florida. If one were to also look at the statistics, these countries also offer more jobs and have the largest percentage of immigrants than any other states in the U.S, which means that new immigrants will most likely find people of the same ethnicity in these states.
ReplyDeleteDifferent age groups react differently to different situations. It is probably easier for younger children in elementary school to make friends than it is to make friends in middle school or high school. You also have to keep in mind the language barrier as well. Some countries have English as their second language in school, but others don’t so their level of English will never be as strong and high as the average American their age. For example, when my parents moved to the states, they only knew Arabic and French. My dad could communicate with his co-workers and boss because the majority knew French but my mother couldn’t do her normal routine without learning the English language. She applied for adult school and spent a couple months learning basic English and she slowly adapted to using English in her daily life, but she probably didn’t learn it as fast as my father because he used it every day while communicating with his colleagues.
It isn’t easy to adapt to American culture, ideas and the norms in society. We have to have an open mind and know that what might be disrespectful, rude or frowned upon in some countries might be completely and utterly normal here. We must learn to adapt to American culture but still hold our cultures closer because that is what distinguishes us from the 318 million other people who live in the United Sates.
Tasnim Saada 8A
LA September 13, 2015
Immigrating is not an easy thing to do, you usually have to leave your family, friends and the life you had all behind you. There are a lot of reasons why people immigrate to a new land. Whether it is for a better business offer or to get better/ higher education, it is always a stressful and exciting time.
ReplyDeleteOne challenge most immigrants face is the language barrier. As America has a lot of people all from different countries, they all speak different languages. So in order to understand one another we need a common language, and so we need to learn English. Most immigrants take ESL classes, but with daily jobs and children it can be hard to find the time. Another hard factor immigrant’s face is school. Nowadays in order to get a good job you need to go to school and study. But with the language barrier it is sometimes hard to keep up with the studying and understanding the lessons, so the children have an even harder time catching up.
Making new friends can also be hard. You left all the friends and family that you knew from before and came to a totally different land. It can be very hard, especially for the teenagers. Most of the time when people move, they still want to keep their culture and identity intact. So adjusting to the American lifestyle can seem strange and foreign for them. For example the food is different and our customs. For example as a sign of respect we look people in the eye, but in other cultures this is considered rude and disrespectful. So people need to get used to our customs and learn to differentiate between all the different cultures we have.
The most important thing in my opinion is to always be yourself, even if you move you don’t want to change just for the sake of fitting in, you should stand out. But also learn to add on American culture into your own culture and embrace it.
Maram Saada
September 13, 2015
8A/LA
Immigrants have come to America for so many reasons. To escape war, for a job, to escape torture, all these have left a scar on them and with it they have to live a better life, the life they hoped for, in America. It’s not easy, coming from all these situations has really changed their lives but as Maya (in My Favorite Chaperone) said, there is always hope in America. This is just for immigrants themselves, but what about the youth? Their lives have been changed at such a young age. They are stuck in a point where they have their traditional culture, the one they have been brought up in, and the American culture which they are forced to grow up in. These young immigrants have to maintain balance between these two cultures.
ReplyDeleteMany young immigrants come to America knowing very little or no English. They might face people who tease them about their accent or poor English, like done to Nurzhan in My Favorite Chaperone. They have also grown up in very different cultures, some of which parents are very strict in keeping. We have to understand that these young immigrants have come from very different backgrounds and are facing many struggles. We should help them in any way we can. For an example if we know any young immigrant, we should help them in English (if necessary) and help them in figuring out what to do every day here in America. To help themselves the young immigrants should just learn what others do and make good friends that will help them through these hard times. However they should still maintain their traditional backgrounds and simultaneously fit in with the American culture.
Overall young immigrants face a struggle between their traditional culture and American culture. They have come to America for a better life but some do not think so, however America brings hope. An article in FYI on the hrw website called “How one observant Muslim girl persuades her parents to let let her go to Princeton” tells us how Maria and a lot of her friends persuaded their overprotective parents to allow them to go to college. Young immigrants may face a lot of problems but with a lot of hard work and help from friends, they will gain a better life in America, the life they hoped for.
The United States of America is known as "the Melting Pot", referring to the immense variety of cultures and religions of people that immigrated to America, all "melting" into the country to create an American culture. In 2013, approximately 41.3 million immigrants lived in the United States, and 20 percent of the world's immigrants come to the US every year. Though one might perceive that after there being this many immigrants in the States, there must not be any issue fitting in, but this is false.
ReplyDeleteImmigrants face many challenges in America, but they differ from those of other countries. While in other countries, people may have to look for jobs, adjust to the language and find a home to live in, in the US it is harder. Along with the language barrier and finding a job and home, they have to adapt to the culture differences as the West has a more modern and, as some might think, eccentric, way of living. The way people communicate, the amount of respect kids give their elders, and traditions (ex. turkey for Thanksgiving, candy and dressing up on Halloween...etc) are all things newcomers have to adapt to. It is especially hard on the teens because they aren't used to the clothes, common terms/slang such as "dunno", "rip off", and "hang" that might not be taugh in ESL classes, and most of all, getting use to the school and the way it works here.These are just some of the many challenges immigrants face while coming to the USA.
My parents, also being immigrants from India, endured many obstacles when moving to America. For example, they hadn't adapted to the idea of having 3 different bis for putting their waste in; trash, recycling and yard waste, so they dumped everything (including weeks plastic bottles and all) into the blue trash bin. Another culture change they adapted to (my mother especially) was the concept of calling people before visiting their home whereas back home it was customary for them to just drop by and wasn't considered rude.
Many immigrants some to the US and don't known anyone here and have no one to who advises them on what to do and what not to do. A piece of advise I would give the migrants would be to change your ways of doing things only when needed, and if it is required to fit in, but not to the extent that you forget your home countries traditions and doings. Don't sacrifice your religion, food and traditional clothing and values for the sake of being more "American", because the true american culture itself is a mixture of traditions from immigrants. Unlike Africans who celebrate festivals that honor gods of their ancestors and the Chinese that have a unique, original language that has words with roots that trace back to China itself, English traces back to the Europeans, the Arabs, the Indians and Spanish and so many other cultures. Overall, you should try to learn the language of the people, English, and get accustomed to the way things work in the US, but you shouldn't completely let go of the rich background of your home country.
Sameeha Salman
9/14/15
8A LA
Change is difficult, yet everyone experiences it. Americans experience changes every day, as this country is a home to many diverse culture’s immigrants. There are immigrants settling in the United States who face many privations; some people may find a language barrier set between themselves and the natives, and others might discover trouble fitting in with society and adapting to certain norms. In the story My Favorite Chaperone, the protagonist Maya was placed in an ESL course when she started school because she was not acquainted with the language. Her parents weren’t fluent English speakers and had Maya talk to people and translate for them, as they had trouble conversing in their second language. Most people want to be acclimated, but find that it is not always simple as they haven’t found their feet in doing basic things, such standing in line. At the end of the day, change is one of life’s building blocks that evolves you into a more mature, independent individual and pushes you towards grasping that nothing is more important than valuing your roots.
ReplyDeleteMariam Mustafa
8ALA
9/14/15
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSome problems a immigrant can encounter at a new school is bulling, learning a completely new language, trying to fit in, and getting used to the American tradition.For example Myas only problem was trying to fit in for example at the beginning of the story she got a invite to the school dance from one of the most popular girls at school. She was doubting the thought that she should go because she thought she wouldn't be asked out or her parents wouldn't let her go. She also got caught getting lifted by a boy at school by her father who sticks to his tradition very well. He got really mad after he saw is daughter in a American boys arm. For her brother it was much harder for example he got bullied for being an immigrant and speaking with an accent.
ReplyDeleteA great way to solve your problems are to make a loyal friend that will defend you and help you out for example Mya made a friend at her gymnastics class which helped her in fitting in with other's. you should also never care about what people say about you, but if you get bullied you should report it to a teacher or ask a friend to help you solve the problem.
Often having to face with a sort of struggle of forsaking all that belonged to them, foreigners whom find themselves in America have yet to overcome another challenge. Dissimilar values, language, and conduct add to their fret of losing their ancestral and cultural practices thus allowing many immigrants to feel secluded. Whilst facing a sort of double negation of having been compelled to leave their native land, to a place where they may encounter rejection, adroit newcomers are forced to take on menial labor for their training and degrees may not be recognized in the United States.
ReplyDeleteDaughter of parents whom were immigrants themselves, my mother and, particularly, my father can relate. As a refugee in Jordan, my father found it most difficult to acquire an occupation despite his college degrees. Shortly after meeting my mother, my father moved to America and worked with only a green card for a year. Aside from the low pay and different work ethic, my father kept his spirit high and worked immensely towards learning the ways of conduct in the U.S. Contrary to my father’s experience, my mother considered the thought of returning to her family over seas more than once. However, it was not long before they both adjusted and were more than content with their new life.
Having a certain determination and effort to adapt to a new environment will indeed benefit newcomers. Partaking in organizations and literary programs to improve their English and meet new people will lessen their fear of speaking in public (revealing their accent) and help them form connections and bonds. Acclimating to a new life does not require forgetting the old one. Foreigners must learn to understand that familiarizing themselves with the society in which they have moved to is the only way they will learn to appreciate their new life without the fear of losing their identity.
Young immigrants can have many difficulties when they come to new places to have a better and easier life, but they still face many difficulties. One difficulty that young immigrants probably have is trying to fit in with your peers and the environment around he/she. An example for this would be when Maya wants to go to the school dance , but she knows that she won't be able to because of how her parents won't like this tradition. Another problem that many young immigrants face are being bullied because of their ethnicity, accent and how they look. An example of that would be Nurzhan and when he got bullied because of his accent . One difficult that many young immigrants might face is getting new friend without knowing anyone. This can make many people feel very isolated and just make young immigrants feel worse.
ReplyDeleteYoung immigrants and their parents must adapt to the environment because if they don't it could get harder to live as a family. A few ways they can adapt is by adapting and changing yourself so you can fit in a bit better, but you shouldn't change in a way that you forget about previous customs and culture. One example would be when Maya's parents finally accepts that things are different in America and lets her go to the dance with a few conditions. Young immigrants should also keep in their mind is that not everyone is the same and everyone is what makes themselves special an that what really matters and not what the general people think of he/she.
There are many different problems immigrant children face. They have to fit in with social groups, and battle with the language barrier in school. And getting minimal support from their families. Poverty is one of the main problems faced by immigrants, which means young immigrants don’t have an access to health care and educational resources. Leading to bad health and non fulfillment in school. Studies show that academic success of immigrants lessen when exposed to American culture.
ReplyDeleteThe lack of support from parents are also a major struggle. Youth are caught between their old ways, the ways their parents did it, and the mainstream American culture surrounding them in school. Many may try to test the waters with their parents, some may succeed but other parents don’t understand why they should change tradition just because they are in a new country. Many students don’t receive much support from home, and teachers are found to have lower expectation of immigrant children. Though many children have a positive attitude toward academics, lack of positive attitude from teachers and students can turn change students perspective of learning from positive to negative.
Most immigrant children may feel very alone and shy at school, but they may not notice that there may be someone out there like them. A student who also might have trouble fitting in for whatever reason. If your parents are fine with it, then a good way to get involved is to join after school activities and clubs. Finding friends who share the same interest and will support you through getting use to your new surrounding is key to feeling accepted. Though you may not be everyone’s favorite, you still have your own group of loyal friends.
There are many, many things that immigrants ,especially young ones have to face and conquer. Things like having a hard time to transition into American cultures and fitting in with other social groups and speaking the English language and also not being with the same ethnicity and religion as other people are all struggles that young immigrants have to face all at once!
ReplyDeleteOne issue that immigrants face especially young immigrants is being proud of your identity whether it was your religion or your home culture Immigrants thinks it necessary to hide or even forget their culture just so they can feel included.Just like Mayas Really good friend, she completely changed her life style from he native life to the American life style.This is good and bad . , its good because now she can easily fit into a group so she can be like everyone else. Two its Bad because you've just lost a really nice, native culture that would have made you unique and shape you as a person.
Another main reason immigrants especially young have a hard time with is learning the english language. for example, my friend who moved from Ethiopia three years ago had a hard time to have a conversation without using Amaharic words.Thats why she was always so clingy to me because I was the only one who she was able to comfortably have a conversation with each other other than her family. Mashallah she has improved tremendously and can talk to anyone freely and is quite popular but still as her unique touch like informing her peers on Ethiopian culture etc.And people like her more because she is not a "try harder", or a person who tries to hard to fit in.But not all immagrants have a Happy ending.
Immigrants that come to America face many difficulties. The main thing they face is learning the english language. For example in the story My Favorite Chaperone Maya's parents had trouble speaking the english language. Maya had to translate everything for them in russian.
ReplyDeleteAnother problem they encounter is fitting in at school. Making new friends is hard. They also face money problems. Immigrants come to America with very little money. Immigrants have a very rich tradition. The parents respect that very much. The kids however let go of this tradition to fit in. In the story My Favorite Chaperone Shannon Lui gave up all her traditions to live the American way. Maya's parents were really stuck to their old traditions. Immigrants are often bullied because of their accent or poor english. In My Favorite Chaperone Nurzhan was bullied because of his accent.
They should keep in mind to be confident. If somebody is bullying you tell a teacher. Never resort to violence. Don't give up your old traditions because that may keep you connected to your family. At the same time you should adjust because it make things easier to live. Try to make friends that are true to you. Don't change yourself for them. Main thing of all be yourself.
As several people have stated this before, immigrants do have a hard time fitting into the American society. Some of the problems that they face are: learning the English language, fitting in at school or work, or simply 'surviving' and maintaining their household. All of these difficulties are exemplified in the short story "My Favorite Chaperone".
ReplyDeleteOne thing immigrants should do is persevere. It is not easy to leave everyone/everything you loved for such a long time and come to such a big country, not having a clue about anything. In the story, Maya describes her family's experience in how they felt like a small, isolated island in the middle of the ocean. She also talked about how her little brother, Nurzhan, was bullied for not being fluent in English and having a slight accent. Throughout the story, they are explaining how hard it was for Maya and her family to adjust to everything all at once.
Some things they should keep in mind is to react to each challenge in a good way. For example, when Nurzhan got bullied, he reacted by getting in a fight. Even though he is young, he could have found a better way to deal with this situation. Another thing is to be determined and positive. Having a decisive mind will help help you many ways by not giving up and encountering every challenge that comes your way.
Life as an immigrant can be very difficult. That includes adults and children. Although they both have many troubles, their problems may be quite different. For example, a child from another country has trouble fitting in at a school in America. They could have trouble fitting in for a number of reasons. Other students wouldn’t like the way they speak, how they act, or how they look.
ReplyDeleteAlso, their parents would not be familiar to the customs of America, and they’d want to stick with their own culture. That would make it hard for the child, having to follow their ways of their country, while having to be at a school in America. This was the same situation Maya had been in, in the story, “My Favorite Chaperone”.
Things they should do to adjust to the new environment they are in is to ask for help with something they don’t understand so they know what to do in the real situation. They shouldn’t be shy in asking, for it’ll help them a lot in the future. Also, they should stay with someone whom they are comfortable with, and is able to help them in the new country. That person should be someone who has lived in America for a long time and has already adapted to it.
Young immigrants coming to the United States would face some problems. They would have trouble fitting in and they would also face their parents who would always stick their old customs. Fitting in can be separated into different difficulties like language, bullying, and making new friends. To face these difficulties young immigrants should start learning English, face other people and tell there parents bravely that it is not the same in the US, they don't follow the same customs and that they cant maintain there old customs here like how Nurzhan said to his mom in the story "My Favorite Chaperon". To make it easier I would recommend that they not look at themselves as different here but see that being here is another chance for a good life
ReplyDeleteI have really enjoyed reading everyone's comments on this topic. You all have added some very interesting examples and points to consider. Keep up the great work, eighth graders!
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ReplyDeleteYoung immigrants face many problems when moving to another country. Some of there problems are language and trying to make friends. It would be hard for someone to make friends when coming from another country and speaking another language. It would be hard for them to fit in. Another difficulty would be their parents not adjusting to the customs of a new country.The things they should adjust would be their customs since in different countries have different customs.They could also adjust by asking teachers and other people to help them adjust to a new country. Some important things they should keep in mind is to try to be good in english so they could speak with other people. Another thing to keep in mind is try to make friends.
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