No English: My Experiences As An Immigrant

Abstract

After living in Taiwan for the first nine years of my life, I moved to America with my family. I struggled with learning the language, adapting to the culture, and fitting in. Now that I have assimilated, I can see that some English speakers just didn’t understand how difficult life was for immigrants. My thesis, “No English,” is a series of creative non-fiction essays, attempting to help people understand what it’s like to be someone who struggles to learn a new culture. By recording my transition from being illiterate in English to an English major, I demonstrate the hurdles that immigrants must overcome as they adapt to the American way of living. Our schools and culture can impede an immigrant’s development. The adjustment process can be made easier and faster when immigrants receive the proper help and support. My thesis talks about the struggles I went through and suggests some ways to help immigrants, especially those who cannot speak English.