The education of immigrant children newly immigrated to America can be drastically different from their previous educational experiences. Sometimes we forget that things are different in other places because we are so accustomed to thinking that everyone is like us...in all daily aspect (including school). In reality there are many different ways to get to the same ending, in regards to education, schooling is different in other countries but for the most part we all learn to read and write in our native countries after our formal schooling but the way in which the classroom is set up or the teaching styles of our teachers may be different. The problem is that for immigrant children leaving one way of schooling/education and coming to America, where teaching and education may be totally different will create a sense of panic, terror and anxiety because the experience maybe very overwhelming for them.
Not everyone can adapt to change as easily others, as Dr. Igoa (1995) found out when she contacted and interviewed her former students. Rosario was an example of an immigrant child that fell through the cracks of the educational system as result of her not being able to lay solid roots in America. She suffered tremendous pain and depression, while trying to accustom herself the American schooling/education. Her failure in school can also be attributed to lack of family support, academic support and limited friendship relationships. Rosario’s reflection on her childhood as a newly immigrant was painful to read because she was scared, lost and terrified all at the same time but she was unable to express her frustration and pain because she hadn’t formed any solid trusting bonds in her new world.
In all honesty, if I was to immigrant to another country and have to enroll in college in Japan or China, I would be terrified that I wouldn’t be able to adapt my learning style to their teaching style. In all reality, I would struggle and my academics would suffer because I would not only struggle with learning the language but also with making new friends (a common problem many immigrants suffer from also).
Communication and body language express so much of whom we are as individuals but they also, reflect the culture in which we were raised. According to Vaughn (2010) communication plays a critical role in passing on cultural values form one generation to the next (p. 162). Vaugn clearly believes that all of the verbal and non verbal cues given by parents, teacher’s, adults, peers and friends have a substantial impact in all of our lives and shape us. The interaction between and around all of these groups of people whether we know or not, help us to be able to thrive in our American culture.
Everyone knows that body language plays a huge role in communication. Vaugn (2010) discusses the importance of facial gestures, body space and eye contact, in regards to how they are perceived in different cultures. The reality is, one culture may prefer to stand closer but Americans may perceive such closeness as “space invading”. A newly immigrant child does not know these unseen cultural expectations and because of that may be ridiculed or teased for not “behaving or acting right” if they stand to close or stand up when the teacher enters the room.
For immigrant children in particular, keeping culture alive at home, may give them the security that they lack in their new environment. Igoa (1995) found that many of her former students missed the closeness they once had to their native cultures. Igoa’s student like other immigrant children, want to assimilate in the dominant culture so bad that, they deny their past selves and fully adapt their America culture. It’s not fair that they have to turn their backs on their culture. Hopefully, their families are able to continue cultural celebrations and maintain speaking their language at home, so the children can remain close to their native cultural heritage.
My cultural practices include celebrating birthdays with almost all of my family. Every August, my family (aunts, cousins, grandparents, and family friends) get together to celebrate my eldest daughters birthday. We eat, laugh and play a competitive game of kick ball. We talk about this event all year long and it causes many of us to burst out in laughter when we all reminisce about the good times we have every year. Family is so important to me and I was raised to love my family and enjoy spending time with my family.
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