The analysis also examined ways in which the length of these adolescent immigrants' stay in the U.S., age at which they immigrated, as well as the language they used and were exposed to related to their performance on vocabulary tests in Polish and English. It was found that age at which they immigrated had a negative impact on the subtest of the English vocabulary assessment which called for naming pictures in English but was not a significant predictor on the subtests assessing knowledge of English synonyms and antonyms. Time in the U.S. was positively related to student's scores on all English vocabulary subtests. Future research should explore ways in which sociolinguistic setting may affect adolescent immigrants' language learning across time and across domains of language. A better understanding of these settings could help educators think about how to address the unique sets of challenges and language learning opportunities experienced by adolescents living in ethnic enclaves and offset the disadvantages to second language attainment that such circumstances may present.

Chronicles the experiences of immigrants in two iconic South Side Polish neighborhoods in Chicago to demonstrate how Poles created new communities in an attempt to preserve the customs of their homeland.

Drawing on hundreds of richly textured interviews conducted from one end of the country to the other, veteran journalist Sanford J. Ungar documents the real-life struggles and triumphs of America's newest immigrants. He finds that the self-chosen who arrive every day, most of them legally, still enrich our national character and experience and make invaluable political, economic, social, cultural, and even gastronomic contributions. "First-class journalism, a book scholars will use decades from now to find out what it 'felt like' to be an immigrant in the 90s. I do not know of a better description and analysis of contemporary immigration." -- Roger Daniels, author of Coming to America: A History of Immigration and Ethnicity in American Life "An excellent overview of contemporary immigration issues set within the context of developments in the past fifty years. Ungar makes a strong case for the contributions of recent immigrants and for maintaining a relatively open door in the face of sometimes shrill opposition." -- Thomas Dublin, editor of Immigrant Voices: New Lives in America "Exactly the right book at the right time. [Ungar] looks at the national controversy over immigration policy with a clear eye, producing a history and a convincing argument why this is no time to reverse a liberal welcome to newcomers that has always--in good times and bad--made this a better and more prosperous democracy." -- Ben H. Bagdikian, author of Double Vision