Issues with son's assignment (4th grade)

[CharityLynn]

Ok last week my son came home with the assignment of interviewing an immigrant. The problem is we don't know anyone who has traveled here to live from another country. I told my son to tell the teacher this and to see if there was another assignment he could do. Well he came home today and was told he had to complete this assigment. I have no idea what to do. Should everyone know an immigrant is it strange that we don't?

Any advice would be helpful.

Charity Lynn

 

[Jen414]

I think you should email the teacher and ask him/her what a good time is that you could have a conversation with them. I would then explain (in the phone conversation) that you do not know anyone who meets the assignment's criteria and what could your child do instead. If that gets you nowhere, then go to the prinicipal. I live in an area where there's lots of immigrants--each of my daughters are in classes with many bilingual children. However, if they were given that assignment, I don't think they could complete it either.

Here's another idea--does it have to be an in-person interview? If not, why not see if someone here would be willing to be interviewed. Your child could type up the questions and email to a really nice DISer.

 

[CharityLynn]

We don't have email for our teachers at least i don't think we do. I was thinking about finding someone online for him to ask. I don't think its forbidden but my son doesn't know..its like talking to a wall with him sometimes lol

 

[Mrs.Toad]

I can think of quite a few immigrants among neighbors and coworkers, but I don't think it's strange that you don't.

If I were you, I think I'd ask around among people I know, send out an e-mail to everyone you are in contact with in your area and ask them if they know anyone.

My dad was an immigrant and belonged to an Italian-American society in our area, it was full of immigrants. Maybe you could see if there are any such societies in your area, contact one and see if they can put you in touch with someone.

My parents used to love to talk about the old country and how they came to the US. If they were alive, I'd give you their phone number to do a phone interview.

Good luck.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Do you know anyone who has done an international adoption or anyone who is married to someone from another country?

I get the geographical significance if that is the purpose--learning about another culture, but it seems to be an assignment that depending on your area presumes that a 9 yo will know someone who fits that criteria.

Depending on where you live, it could be about as difficult as interviewing someone who is an astronaut.

(I had that assignment in college--almost. I was taking an interviewing class and we first were assigned to write about someone who we were most unlike. I picked Shannon Lucid. The teacher purposefully did not tell us what we would be doing. Some people picked Heroin Addict, Prostitute--they had to do their assignment. Those of us who picked unavailable people were permitted to pick something else. So I didn't have to hunt down an astronaut.)

 

[Cindy B]

There are tons of people you can go to-- family friends, older people, or even neighbors. My son had a similar assignment and he found out that his own grandfather came over on the boat!

If you don't have that option look online. Google up interview topics-- I knew I saw resources on what to do-- they may even have complete interviews.

You can also check your local senior center or town hall- they may have some information for you.

 

[mamacatnv]

Heck, there is a whole community here - you can probably find someone your son could interview.

 

[love2disney]

I volunteer. I am an immigrant from India. Tell your son to PM me questions and I will answer the best I can.

 

[esbrick]

love2disney You're lovely! I hope that OP's son takes you up on it!

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

Do you know anyone who has done an international adoption or anyone who is married to someone from another country?

I get the geographical significance if that is the purpose--learning about another culture, but it seems to be an assignment that depending on your area presumes that a 9 yo will know someone who fits that criteria.

Depending on where you live, it could be about as difficult as interviewing someone who is an astronaut.

(I had that assignment in college--almost. I was taking an interviewing class and we first were assigned to write about someone who we were most unlike. I picked Shannon Lucid. The teacher purposefully did not tell us what we would be doing. Some people picked Heroin Addict, Prostitute--they had to do their assignment. Those of us who picked unavailable people were permitted to pick something else. So I didn't have to hunt down an astronaut.)

They had to find a heroin addict or prostitute to interview? How bizarre.

 

[onelilspark]

They had to find a heroin addict or prostitute to interview? How bizarre.

"I swear officer, I was just interviewing her!"

Sorry OP, I don't really have any advice, I know one person. One.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

They had to find a heroin addict or prostitute to interview? How bizarre.

Yep--but it was a college level class in interviewing and the intent was to put aside biases and do a real honest interview.

People who took this class were journalism and psychology majors and at some point you might have the job to speak with/interview someone like that with your personal prejudices aside.

I won't say what I picked as it is questionable of appropriateness here...but it was very eye opening and challenging to do just that, but a lesson well learned in how to interview someone fairly even if you cannot comprehend why they do what they do and even if you thought it to be morally wrong.

I just remembered those b/c that was what the instructor cited as examples for those of us who picked too specific or inaccesible topics.

No idea how those students found their subjects, but I was thrilled for the second chance. I would have had to have selected something like a murderer or crack dealer or something.

 

[CharityLynn]

Thanks everyone I did find someone for him to interview. You guys are awesome.

 

[Micca]

I volunteer. I am an immigrant from India. Tell your son to PM me questions and I will answer the best I can.

You are too cool!

 

[Becky2005]

Should everyone know an immigrant is it strange that we don't?

Any advice would be helpful.

Charity Lynn

I feel for you! I *really* don't like these kind of assignments because we are in the same boat you are. It always wants to know "when did your family come to America" -- ummm...so far back that I have no clue & I'm a mutt basically. It wants to know what traditions you have from the home country, what foods you prepare special from there, etc... I don't HAVE any nationality foods that our family prepares that has been handed down.

I'm glad you found someone!

 

[disneycruising]

I feel for you! I *really* don't like these kind of assignments because we are in the same boat you are. It always wants to know "when did your family come to America" -- ummm...so far back that I have no clue & I'm a mutt basically. It wants to know what traditions you have from the home country, what foods you prepare special from there, etc... I don't HAVE any nationality foods that our family prepares that has been handed down.

I'm glad you found someone!

I so agree. We have gone through this with 4 children now and it drives me crazy!

Most of the children my kids go to school with... do have some very cool stories to share about being the first or maybe second generation to be in the US. My poor kids have nothing! The only thing I could come up with was one great-great-great-grandfather that came from Ireland for the Homestead Act.

 

[Cindy B]

I feel for you! I *really* don't like these kind of assignments because we are in the same boat you are. It always wants to know "when did your family come to America" -- ummm...so far back that I have no clue & I'm a mutt basically. It wants to know what traditions you have from the home country, what foods you prepare special from there, etc... I don't HAVE any nationality foods that our family prepares that has been handed down.

I'm glad you found someone!

I know what you mean. My grandparent never spoke about and my husbands family was from America a long way back. I usually just told the kids to bring something that they liked and we'd "create a history".

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

OP - a great resource is to call the old folks home - they may have an immigrant there with a great story to tell.

 

[krcit]

I hate when assignments are for the parents and not the kids like this one. My kids have had similar assignment but luckily my SIL is from another country so we were able to do it.

 

[ZephyrHawk]

Wow...wondering how I would go about finding a heroin addict if I needed to. Hmmm....

In my 4th grade class there were a number of immigrant children. Let alone members of my own family...friends of my parents...my pediatrician....our next door neighbors. I don't think it was intended to be a difficult task. Mind you, this may be because I lived near a border, but then I didn't actually meet any immigrant Canadians until I was in middle school.