Integrating and assimilating into life in the U.S.

[AKSinghSingh79 143]

Integration is defined as "to combine into one unified system; desegregate." It is synonymous with combination, blending, and fusion.

What is the benefit to having new immigrants make an attempt to immerse themselves in American culture and begin adopting it as their own? Conversely, is it necessarily negative if immigrants do not choose to integrate? What are the consequences of a society that does not choose to blend? Should integration to a certain degree be a de facto requirement in an immigrant's pursuit of U.S. citizenship? Or is society developing fine naturally? Is multiculturalism an inevitable future that will come naturally from a changing society? Is it the fault of the society itself for not educating youth more thoroughly on the world's cultures and requiring the study and mastery of a second and third language?

Please discuss.

Here are some interesting articles/journal publications relating to the topic:

http://www.americanp...ntegration.html

http://www.migration...ion-Jimenez.pdf

http://faculty.kutzt...ssimilation.PDF

I kindly request that those who wish to reply to this thread do not turn into a negative discussion on race. I am in no way, shape, or form arguing that American culture is superior to others and would like it to remain as such.

Edited May 3, 2012 by AKSinghSingh79

[together4evr 360]

As a professional nurse I am amazed at how many patients do not speak the english language. Many have been here for 30 years. It makes it so difficult for them (and healthcare workers) when they are sick. I wish everyone that was planning on living in the USA would learn English. I cannot educate the patients on their disease process or medications or prevention of exacerbations. I do know how hard it is to learn another language. I have tried to learn Arabic and I have failed and given up for now. But, I know if I decided to live in another country, I would learn the language in order to protect myself and help myself.

Learning the culture is a whole different story. Embracing the american way is not for everyone. And I accept people as they are. As a nurse I am educated on certain cultural difference in medical care and beliefs so I respect other cultures and the way they want their diseases treated, with herbs, with prayers, with medicine... I respect the way families want to grieve and whatever they believe. I am here to support them and educate them. Many foreigners have educated me as much as I was educating them.

So, I believe they need to learn English for their own safety. And america is a melting pot so they can jump in and melt or stay away from the heat and live their life anyway they choose cause we are in America and that is their choice.

[adiiann 163]

I will just talked about my own experience.

As for me....

The benefit of integration with the new environment (I don't regard it as new society as we all living same society, just different environment amd culture), is that you live comfortably since allowing oneself to integrate to new culture and environment would give you awareness and better understanding around you. You connect with human being that you may or may not share same things in your life.

I don't agree on isolation of immigrants will works because its human nature to integrate no matter how long it takes.

At this point, I don't consider culture or society as my criteria for citizenship rather than what advantage it can offer to my family and their future.

[Peter_Pan 661]

I think ntergation is good and possible, wheras assimilation can only work on a superficial level.

[kate&javi 26]

Well, I think that those who want to live in the US for a long amount of time should at least try to integrate themselves in some way. Honestly, living overseas, I've had a little bit of a hard time due to my absolute fear of speaking Spanish. (I had a really bad experience when I was first learning the language, and although I can read and write relatively well, my speaking ability is almost non-existent.) So I can totally understand how someone would feel learning English for the first time, knowing that they have to rely on using that language. Maybe they have a lot of fear, maybe they feel embarrassed speaking in English; there are a lot of factors that happen when people are learning another language. It isn't just about mastering the language, a lot more goes into it -- are they confident? Do they have a safe and comfortable place to practice? Do people laugh at them? Do they have any fear? Bad experiences? Anything like that.

Luckily for me, my fiance speaks fluent English so I depend on him to help me. Of course, after living here over one year, I can understand the majority of what people say. I know that when he goes to the US, he might have a little bit of trouble adjusting to other people's English but overall, it will be no problem for him.

It's hard to tell people that they MUST learn the language, you know? I know people who have lived almost all their lives in the States and they still only speak their native language. Yes, it is probably harder for them, but maybe they just come to depend on others. But seriously, after a while, being subjected to listening to English ALL of the time, they most likely will pick up the language - just like a child does.

[M&Pooh 12]

The question ( to be exact, the bunch of questions ) is very interesting. United States is one of the few countries in the world where society does not really expect new immigrants to quickly assimilate themselves ( that's not the case, for example, in Western European countries with significant immigrant population ). Still, the country does not experience those issues with immigrant communities as France or Germany do, and the xenophobia level toward immigrants is low. That still supports my belief that US might not be the best country in the world but it's definitely the best country to be an immigrant in.

[CyberSamurai013 69]

I am looking for any general, or Russian specific, guides or classes to assimilating into American culture. Specifically in the Detroit, MI area.

[X Factor 1,112]

You might one to try purchasing the book "Culture Shock USA" I thing you can get it on Amazon.com for $7.00

[CyberSamurai013 69]

Cool, thank you!

You might one to try purchasing the book "Culture Shock USA" I thing you can get it on Amazon.com for $7.00

[X Factor 1,112]

Cool, thank you!

You are welcome. The book has been very helpful to my fiancee and others.

[Udella&Wiz 325]

Well - let me answer from both sides of this argument. I myself am an immigrant to the US. I came from Canada and thus speak english well with some cultural differences. Back in Canada I was a 3rd generation immigrant from Europe (Transylvania to be exact). I would say it is very important for any immigrant to try to immerse themselves in the culture and language of the new country. Why else have you moved there then? If not to adopt that country and it's language and customs as your own. You of course will bring a unique flavour (note my Canadian spelling ) to that American culture and will put your stamp on it.

My grandparents (the immigrants from Transylvania) did not make an effort to learn much english, they could easily get by speaking their own language amongst friends and neighbours and could generally do business in town without speaking much english. Until the day they both died, they both sounded like they'd just got off the boat and yet they had lived in Canada 60+ years! THey did however insist that each of their children learn english, and well. They insisted that a good Canadian education was what would get their children through life and it has benefited my dad and his siblings often. My dad and his siblings longed for nothing more then to 'regular canadians' and not have those silly parents with accents which were enbarassing!

I really do think it's harmful for immigrants to come and assume they can take up the same life they had, same customs and same language without making a concerted effort to adopt their new country's language/ customs etc.... It cuases them to be segregated because they are not trying to blend. It causes distrust with people from that country as they wonder why these people came to the US and don't want to assimilate...I myself would never assume I could move to say France without learning French, right?

So tehre you have it - I am an immigrant and a grandchild of immigrants so I have seen both sides of it

[CyberSamurai013 69]

An amazing resource for immigrants and new arrivals to the USA

http://www.welcometousa.gov/

Found a few more:

http://www.justice.gov/crt/legalinfo/natlorg-eng.php

http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments/M-618.pdf

http://www.aclu-nj.org/theissues/immigrantrights/

Edited August 2, 2012 by CyberKnight13

[ThailandToIndiana 11]

Why would someone go through the incredible hassle that comes with (legally) moving to America and not want to assimilate? If I understood the answer to that, perhaps I can then give an answer as to why they should or should not.

[akihon 129]

English is my first language, much to the surprise of many people here because I come from a country whose national language isn't English. I thoroughly believe that people who want to live in the US should assimilate into the American way of living and that includes learning to speak English. You wouldn't think much of someone who moved to Vietnam and never learned the language, right?

Learning English doesn't mean you lose your culture and traditions.