watching documentaries about their countries gives you
a better cultural understanding about them.
have been in the U.S. for over 30 years and could barely
speak English. They used a few English words and a lot
of gestures to communicate their needs. New immi-
grants who first arrive and reside in their ethnic commu-
nities often have difficulty learning English and adjust-
ing to the American culture. However, those who come
as international students or live in predominantly
American communities get adjusted faster and have less
difficulty finding jobs. Inviting them to your home and
church, or taking them to sporting events and other
performances will help open-minded immigrants adjust
quickly to their new culture and become better equipped
to find jobs.
me to refer a female client from Nigeria whom he found
deceitful. My initial interview with her took about an
hour, because she was vague in telling me what her
problem was. I later found out that her brother-in-law
had raped her while her older sister traveled to Nigeria.
This shameful situation forced my client to leave her
sister's home in search of her own place, even though she
could not afford it.
thought the young woman was deceitful. His reasons
for making such an assessment were the following:
1. She did not look him straight in the eye while telling
her story. 2. She spent his precious time stalling instead
of being straightforward.
his Nigerian client's culture. First, this woman came
from a culture where she would be considered impolite
for looking at older people straight in the eye while
addressing them. Secondly, while sex talk is not consid-
ered a taboo in the United States, it is shameful in her
culture to describe a sexual encounter or rape to an older
when describing a shameful experience, a delicate or
embarrassing situation, or trying not to hurt someone's
feelings, many Africans would "beat around the bush"
or speak indirectly.
immigrants' trend of thought.
according to our own cultural norms
and values, we must endeavor to
invest time in understanding why
they communicate through certain
facial expressions or gestures that
may appear strange to us.
constitutes about 70% to 90% of
communication. According to
Kramer on the TV show
Seinfeld, "94% of our communi-
cation is nonverbal, Jerry."
Kramer's estimate resembles
those of anthropologist Ray
Birdwhistell (65%) and of
psychologist Albert Mehrabian
(93%). Though these statistics
may appear exaggerated, it is
obvious that a great percentage of
human communication is nonverbal.
Therefore, observing an immigrant's
facial expressions, tones of voice, gaze,
gestures, hand motions, and general
postures helps disclose information
that one may not be able to obtain
via verbal communication.
bia and embrace individuals from
around the world, there needs to be
ongoing discussions and tutelage on the
importance of multicultural understanding and the
vanguard role we play in this historical integration. The
United States remains the most attractive nation for
immigrants. More people continue to seek refuge and
safe haven in America than anywhere else. This country