How to help Immigrants to Integrate?

Question

What do you think are some good ways to help immigrants integrate more easy so they can be a part of the society and contribute to it faster and and feel more at home in their new country?

For example things like conversational ESL classes at the library?

Marco R for this question let's take it that we are talking about immigrants who do want to immigrate.
Do you have any ideas for helping? :)

I mean for this question let's take it that we are talking about immigrants who do want to integrate!

luisdeniz67 why do you say sneaking into our country to suck us dry?

Who are you talking about? Not your ancestors I'm sure..

Thank You!
I am talking about LEGAL immigrants and ways to help them a little!
Nothing bad you know? That way they can contribute more and it's a good thing anyway!

Answer 1

Leave them alone and let them start a new life. Also offering ESL Night school for the Parents and Bi lingual Bi Cultural
Education in the school Use their native language in the core courses while they are learning English. That way they won't be behind on the core courses, because they don't understand the course content.
You could help by being friendly and accompany them to doctor appointments and teachers meeting to facilitate for them. Guide them around till they are able to do things on their own.
Be A friend !

Answer 2

Yes, I think that while you are waiting for your green card immigrants could get an opportunity to take ESL classes. The fees are quite high and that will also show if they are motivated to actually live here. It would be good point at the adjudication interview.

I am a legal immigrant and I did work on my English before I came here. I would feel completely handicapped if I weren't able to communicate.

Also it would be important to teach them about credit scores and how you can build or ruin them. I never had anything like that in my country. I have no credit as an immigrant and it makes it hard to get anything done, while I try to be responsible and not use any credit cards, just my bank account as I used to, no surprises.

Answer 3

Well during the time of the early immigrants from Europe,there was no such thing as welfare or Government programs as there are today.The only way for the new immigrant to survive was first they would move into a neighborhood of immigrants whom spoke the same language.They could either then find menial work or become a gangster.Either one would involve learning English and assimilating into society.The faster this was done,the better the oppurtunities that would be bestowed upon them.Unlike now,where everything seems to be handed to the immigrant,but to answer your question,yes they integrated by assimilation faster,and though remembering there roots,enbraced the American ideaolgy,bidding allegiance to there new Country,something that is less prominent today

Answer 4

It takes time for an immigrant to integrate into a dominant culture. Even though they will be surrounded by the dominant culture they will not absorb as much. One reason I think this is, is because the older you get the less you learn or remember. Right now at my school their is an immigrated student and he happens to just get into High School without any other education. It seems he learns quite quick but I think it depends on the person and how dedicated that person is. If someone really wants something they will work for it.

Answer 5

If your talking about government, actio, it has to be with a stick. Either end their residency if they don't learn English with in a certain time period. I know England, and Germany made it into law, and I also France as well. Also There is a proposal in England to force them to do community service so they would meet people outside of their culture and to actually getting them to care for their new home. I think that is too much.

If your talking about individuals, I find the best way is through food. In my neighborhood, people don't have block parites, but when I went to San Marino, I notice people of various race all partying with each other. I try to help people when ever I can, but I found that some people respond with some hostilities. I eel that if you make an effort, it makes it easier for others to understand you. My feeling on classes at the library, is that volunteers should be the ones responsible and only a minimum of tax money should go into this. It is more of their responsibility to assimilate. Plus a volunteer would do more good then a paid government official. A real human who is friendly makes a better impression than a paid government employee.


You can ask me, but I don't think you would like the out come. I am emersing my immigrant assistant with American culture. I sing to him classic American songs, although I can't sing. My list so far is The Looney toons version of Ride of the Valkyrie (Kill the Wabbit), Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirate of Penzance, West side story's, I'm so Pretty, Good ship Lollipop, and Wierd AL's Pitiful. He had me banned from singing at work. I also made him listen to Rupaul's "I Saw DADDY kissing Santa Claus.". I reenacted the dance seen from Young Frankenstein. I told him a four hour Shaggy dog tale. I decide to talk to him for the entire day in an Elmer Fudd voice, but ended it , because I end up sounding British. I promise him, that I would speak to him for the entire day in a Marlon Brando's Godfather voice to make up for my failure. And last, but not least, try to convince him to go to a theater to see Rocky Horror Picture Show. I think my assistant hates me. I have lost 4 assistants, and he's the one that stayed.


edit:
Sorry, Marino valley, not san Marino.

PS he gotten me back several times.

Answer 6

.it is a good question a really good question.
but i think the answer to the problems between immigrants and u.s citizens is not to try to integrate cultures, the solution to this problems is only one , the golden rule treat others the way you want to be treated .

the constitution of the u.s says that every human ´´ every human not just the ones that were born across the river.

every human has the right to go on a quest for his or her own happiness and that is exactly what immigrants do, unable to find happiness in their own places they take on a quest for a better place. but many times they find hate, discrimination, in many cases death.

and they also find people that try to change the way they think the way they speak and their style in general, this becomes a form of cultural imperialism. when this happens you dont create harmony you create war. and this type of thing happened before in American history i guess people forgot already, those who forget their history are doomed to repeat it..
what we need to do is learn from one another, anglos need to learn from immigrants and immigrants need to learn from anglos,

the only way we gonna solve our problems is if we both learn from each other getting a clear understanding between us and mutual respect, a successful combination of both.

without this two elements clear understanding and mutual respect, no idea will work.

all of them will be paths that lead no where.

and for those who think immigrants who crossed illegaly disrespect the u.s , i have to disagree, the great mayority of them dont wanna be consider criminals the problem is that the government makes it imposible for this people to come llegaly, so the only thing to do is survive.

some people get it, and they make love not war.
others , their skull is just too thick.......

Answer 7

Here is a partial excerpt from an article in the American Life section at www.ptlia.com This section provides information to help immigrants assimilate into United States culture.

American Life

Over the past 200 years, immigrants from almost every country have brought their native cultures and customs with them to America. As each new immigrant group arrived, their cultures were slowly absorbed into existing American culture. No other country in the world has welcomed immigrants, their families and ideas like the United States of America. This mixture of nationalities, religions and customs, has made American culture unlike any other.

Every group of immigrants has experienced some degree of difficulty understanding what American culture is and how they can become a part of it. Many times immigrants mistakenly think that it is their language, skin color or clothing that makes them unable to become part of American culture. While this may be partially true, there are many other less noticeable habits and cultural behaviors that separate them. Behavior not language or skin color is one of the biggest reasons why immigrants are stereotyped and discriminated against. What is considered normal behavior in one culture may be completely unacceptable in another.

Behavior is often a learned cultural response to specific situations. These learned responses allow people to function in their native culture. A countries culture develops because of a long list of things including the availability of schools, conditions of the soil, the countries monetary wealth, water and food supplies, etcetera. How does this affect you and how will understanding cultural differences help you successfully adapt to American society?

The foundation of American culture and society is based on the beliefs of earlier groups of immigrants and developed over time into something uniquely American. Most Americans have certain expectations of how other people interact with them. Typically, American’s respect the immediate physical space around them as theirs and do not like people to stand to close to them or touch them without letting you know that it is acceptable. While it may be perfectly normal in your native country to greet a friend with a hug or kiss, this type of behavior is only acceptable if people are extremely familiar with you and almost never at work. Knowing this, never stand to close the person in front of you while waiting in line, you will almost certainly make them feel uncomfortable and probably get a dirty look. It’s not that one culture is right and another is wrong, it’s just the way Americans expect people to behave in America.

The complete article can be viewed at the website and appears in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese. Be patient with recent immigrants. It took our families years to assimilate.

Answer 8

In the town I grew up in they had night classes at the local highschool that is how my mother learned english. She went whenever she didnt have to work. I learned english in school never had to take esl classes. Just put the kids in regular classes and they will learn. It will not hurt anyone to help people to speak english, just like it wont hurt anyone to learn spanish or any other language.

Answer 9

If they want to integrate then they try to find a community where there are very few of their fellows. Then they try to learn English as quickly as possible and then they learn to dress and act like the other people where they live.

Buddy married a Georgian mail order bride she had two kids . Nice people the woman had some English so did the kids but they worked hard to learn the language and to dress like all the other kids in school. They are American citizens as of last month and proud of it and they hate those who break the law to come illegally. Elliana and the girls risks their lives to get through the legal system in the former USSR and those who made it harder for them to get to come, get no sympathy. I agree with them. The first thing a new child needs to know in English is "My name is *&)&^%)( will you play with me?" "Will you be my friend?"

Answer 10

Legal immigrants are integrating without complaining. They either already speak English or learn it without fuss. My daughter-in-law is French, speaks 6 languages, including English without an accent. No one knows her nationality unless she tells them. Soon she will be a naturalized citizen.
My stepson's wife is a naturalized citizen from Mexico City, also fully integrated. Immigrants prepare to live here, and integrate and contribute to our society.
It's illegal aliens who are not doing so.