From Wars to Woes

This book examines the impact that the lack of English proficiency has on non-English-speaking refugees’ employment, access to social and healthcare services, and intercultural issues that hinder their assimilation to host cultures. The book assesses refugees’ accomplishments and resilience strategies used to cope. It also discusses that refugees do experience social isolation, anxiety, stress, and employment difficulties in host cultures due to the language barriers. The “anxiety/uncertainty management theory of strangers’ intercultural adjustment” by William B. Gudykunst is used to explain the intercultural adjustment issues about strangers’ entry and assimilation to host cultures. The literature indicates that strangers do experience uncertainty and anxiety and have self-concepts when they enter host cultures. However, strangers will be able to manage their uncertainty and anxiety if they are mindful to connect and interact with and mindful of social categorization of host nationals.