1. Working with Immigrant Students
Dr. DEBORAH HARDY

2. History of Immigration
Europeans
Germans: highest group – religious reasons
Irish: work – sought to build canals in the US
Italy: escape low wages and high taxes
Russians: escaping the Jewish persecution
Reasons for Immigration:
Religion
“American Dream”

3. 2007 Trends in Immigration
The nation’s immigrant population (legal and illegal) reached a record of 37.9 million in 2007
The largest increases in immigrants were in California, Florida, Texas, New Jersey, Illinois, Arizona, Virginia, Maryland, Washington, Georgia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania
In 2007, there were 10.8 million school-age children from immigrant families in the United States
Immigrants: Mexico, Central/South America, Caribbean, Asia are the newest groups
Center for Immigration Studies:

4. Future of Immigration 2060 population will increase by 30.1 million
Activity: Identify “What reasons are given to describe why immigrants come to the US?”

5. The Terminal

6. Counseling Immigrant Children
Acculturation: process of adaptation to the new ways of life.
Clothes used
Food
Sense of belonging
Assimilation: process in which the customs and attitudes of the prevailing groups are adopted
Peer pressure
Self image – weight

7. Checklist on how to become American
Stages of adaptation:
Silent stage -1-2 years – fear and loneliness
Uprooting stage: time of instinct - curiosity
Culture shock: loss of familiar signs, depression, confusion
Acculturation/Assimilation: should personal culture be given up?
Mainstream stage: break with own culture
Checklist on how to become American
Activity: You are an immigrant student:
Identify three items you find are important to define you as becoming American.

8. Counseling Immigrant Students
Family Backgrounds
Who were they residing with?
What were the professions adults had
Family roles and expectations
Education
Role of school:
Teachers and administrators are masters
Show respect
Luxury and not an opportunity
What about college in native country
Only the strong survive and attend
Entrance exams in their native country – competition
Strikes are inevitable

9. Please list 3 characteristics that describe Shrek

10. Counselor’s role Personal Bias Teaching tolerance
Respect Culture
Believe that all students are capable of learning
Building network of support for communication

11. Counseling Counseling concerns: Flexibility – no time concept
Communication – translation of materials
Meeting with counselor may be perceived as threatening
Use friends and ministers
Knowing my business
Concerned about treatment

12. Family Backgrounds Who were they residing with?
What were the professions adults had
Family roles and expectations

13. The New School Learning English or Diploma? What works in schools?
Special Education and ESL:
When is it learning vs. language barriers
Cultural perception of Special Education
Motivation of students who are our learners?
Engage cultural differences in class discussions
Utilize background of students in context
Tasks are relevant and meaningful – cultural context

14. Social Concerns Utilizing students for translation
Social interaction: dating is looked down upon
Americanization means that person has acquired all bad habits
Babysitting phenomena & Cinderella syndrome
American adolescent image
Immigrants and mental health
Undocumented
Can’t obtain a driver’s license
Future in this country
Anger towards parents who brought them here against their will
Can’t get into college
Can’t get a good job

15. New Family Who are they living with? Are there any other siblings?
What jobs did the families have in their native country vs. US?
Living conditions
Roles assigned in families
What other problems are they facing?
ACTIVITY – with your neighbor identify a problem an immigrant family will be faced with – as a counselor, what would you do?

16. Building Network Go to the community Presentations at local church
Presentations at local cultural community centers
Agencies in the community
Latino centers
Hospitals and mental health agencies
Parent Center

17. Resources INS: Immigration ASCA and ACA
National Association for Bilingual Education