You are on page 1of 3

Megumi Fukuzawa

I/M Pd 6

10/4/18

Integration Experiences of Immigrant Children

Research Question:

What issues do young immigrants face in the US during their integration process and what can

be done to improve their integration experience?

Hypothesis:

The majority of their stresses and issues will be related to social and academic aspects of their

lifestyle as they spend most of their day in school. Free or affordable education resources and

additional ESOL resources will help these children integrate into American society and lead

them to success.

Background/History of the Issue:

Migrating to another country with a completely different language and culture is

extremely difficult for children, especially due to factors such as school and academics.

According to a study conducted by the ​OECD, or the ​Organization for Economic Co-operation

and Development, three to six year old immigrant children in the US tend to have a lower

attendance rate in early childhood education programs such as preschool, since it is not a free

service in the country. However, in countries where these education programs are free, there is
less of a gap in attendance rates between immigrant and native children. It has been proven that

these education programs in their host country are beneficial to the integration experience of

foreign born children. Clearly, a family’s socioeconomic situation is a huge factor in the child’s

academic success. These children and their parents usually do not have a strong education

background and are often victims of discrimination in the workforce, and therefore are less likely

to be employed than those who are native to the country, which makes it difficult to break the

cycle of poverty in the host country. However, higher education for immigrant children opens up

employment opportunities.

Rationale:

According to the Washington Post, immigrant children are the future of the U.S.. ​The

main focus of this article is the importance of helping immigrant children integrate into our

society. These children assimilate into American cultural norms and become strong in the

English language through school, which ultimately improves the overall education and income

levels of the immigrant community. In addition, the article claims that they are “​more motivated

to achieve in school than their non-immigrant peers”. Taking this idea into consideration, it is

critical to provide these children with the same opportunities and any additional resources they

may need to perform at the same level as their native peers academically.

Basis of Hypothesis:

I focused my hypothesis on education because I was able to understand from my

background research that school could be a powerful resource to the integration experience of a
child if it is used in an effective manner. Through school, children can develop their English

skills by interacting with native children, which would also introduce them into the American

culture and society. In addition to building upon these social skills, these children can further

their education which can ultimately lead to career opportunities in the future. Finally, for

children with families that cannot afford social and health services, oftentimes, the school system

can guide them to or provide resources.

Operational Definitions:

● Affordable education resources: Some educational resources that would help these

students include tutoring, extra ESOL help, standardized testing help/workshops

(SAT/ACT prep), and others.

● Success: Though success may have different and unique meanings to everyone, in this

context, this means that the immigrant child is able to continue onto college to further

their education and obtain a stable career.

Descriptors Used for Literature Research:

● Immigrant youth integration

● Immigrant youth education

● Immigration and school systems

● US school system and immigrant students

You might also like