Psychosocial Experience of Immigration



Me with one of my favorite teachers from high school



An immigrant faces many challenges when they try to assimilate into a whole new culture. This transition can be especially difficult for immigrant children in school. The may face many developmental challenges as they try to become accustomed to new ways of thinking and learning. in The Inner World of the Immigrant Child, Igoa presents a story from a child who had difficulty becoming accustomed to American schooling. This particular child was having a difficult time in school because she did not understand English that well. This caused her to become discouraged because she thought she was not smart enough, when really, it was just going to take some time to learn the language. Other excerpts from the reading describe children who were having a hard time in school because they were not sure what grade level  they belonged to. Since other countries have educational systems that are very different, it was hard to pinpoint where that child belonged. In cases like this, it is extremely important to have teachers that are connected to what immigrant children need. I know that even for me, having teachers who were understanding was very important. Teachers, especially teachers of younger students, help the children get through developmental stages as they grow. The teachers at AMIS are especially effective in this regard because not only do the teachers have to help the students get through their developmental stages, but they must also help the students become comfortable in an unfamiliar culture.

I think that being immersed in a culture helps to socialize people. This is especially true when it come to immigrants. Finding people who have similar interests as you is what helps people to connect. Although I am not am immigrant, I have still experiences culture as a way to socialize people. Coming to college is a great example of this. College is a whole new environment, and most people start off in a similar kind of place, looking for a fresh start and a new group of friends. This environment is very conducive to meeting new people who may or may not have had similar experiences as you so far. I have met people who are very different from me, however we get along extremely well. Being in a similar environment helped us to connect and come together as great friends.