20 Questions to Ask an Immigrant
Thoughtful questions to ask immigrants to learn about their journey, experiences, and perspectives on life in a new country.
1What motivated you to immigrate to this country?
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What motivated you to immigrate to this country?
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Why this works
Understanding their motivation helps you learn about the circumstances and aspirations that led them to make this major life change.
2What was the immigration process like for you?
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What was the immigration process like for you?
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Why this works
Learning about their process helps you understand the challenges and complexities of immigrating.
3What do you miss most about your home country?
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What do you miss most about your home country?
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Why this works
Understanding what they miss helps you appreciate the sacrifices and losses that come with immigration.
4What was the biggest culture shock when you arrived?
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What was the biggest culture shock when you arrived?
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Why this works
Learning about culture shock helps you understand the adjustment challenges of moving to a new culture.
5What surprised you most about this country?
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What surprised you most about this country?
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Why this works
Understanding their surprises helps you see your country through fresh eyes and appreciate different perspectives.
6What are the biggest challenges you've faced as an immigrant?
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What are the biggest challenges you've faced as an immigrant?
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Why this works
Learning about challenges helps you understand the difficulties immigrants face and build empathy.
7What do you love most about living here?
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What do you love most about living here?
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Why this works
Understanding what they appreciate helps you see the positive aspects of your country from a newcomer's perspective.
8How do you maintain connections to your home country?
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How do you maintain connections to your home country?
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Why this works
Learning about their connections helps you understand how immigrants balance their heritage with their new life.
9What traditions from your culture do you continue to practice?
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What traditions from your culture do you continue to practice?
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Why this works
Understanding their traditions helps you learn about their culture and how they preserve their heritage.
10What advice would you give to someone considering immigration?
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What advice would you give to someone considering immigration?
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Why this works
Learning their advice helps you understand what they've learned from their experience and what's important to know.
11How has immigration changed you as a person?
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How has immigration changed you as a person?
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Why this works
Understanding their personal growth helps you see how this experience has shaped their identity and perspective.
12What do you wish people understood about being an immigrant?
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What do you wish people understood about being an immigrant?
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Why this works
Learning their wishes helps you understand common misconceptions and what immigrants want others to know.
13How do you navigate between your home culture and your new culture?
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How do you navigate between your home culture and your new culture?
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Why this works
Understanding their navigation helps you appreciate the complexity of living between two cultures.
14What was your first impression of this country?
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What was your first impression of this country?
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Why this works
Learning about first impressions helps you see your country from a newcomer's initial perspective.
15What opportunities has immigration provided for you?
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What opportunities has immigration provided for you?
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Why this works
Understanding opportunities helps you appreciate the positive outcomes of their decision to immigrate.
16What do you hope for your future in this country?
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What do you hope for your future in this country?
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Why this works
Learning about their hopes helps you understand their dreams and aspirations for their new life.
17How has language learning been for you?
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How has language learning been for you?
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Why this works
Understanding language challenges helps you appreciate the difficulty of communicating in a non-native language.
18What aspects of your home culture do you want to share with others?
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What aspects of your home culture do you want to share with others?
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Why this works
Learning what they want to share helps you understand what they value most about their heritage.
19How has your family adjusted to life in this country?
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How has your family adjusted to life in this country?
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Why this works
Understanding family adjustment helps you see how immigration affects entire families, not just individuals.
20What would you tell your younger self before you immigrated?
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What would you tell your younger self before you immigrated?
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Why this works
Learning their reflection helps you understand what they've learned from their journey and what wisdom they've gained.
Connecting with Immigrants
Expert tips and techniques for getting the most out of these questions.
Respectful Engagement
Be Respectful and Open
Approach conversations with genuine curiosity and respect, avoiding assumptions or stereotypes.
Listen Without Judgment
Focus on understanding their experience rather than comparing it to your own or making judgments.
Ask Permission
Some topics may be sensitive, so ask if they're comfortable discussing their immigration story before diving in.