What immigrant generation label applies to Ye-jun, who came to the United States at age 6 with his parents and is fluent in English in elementary school?

What immigrant generation label applies to Ye-jun, who came to the United States at age 6 with his parents and is fluent in English in elementary school?

• A. First generation
• B. 1.5 generation
• C. Second generation
• D. Third generation

Answer: (B)

When we think about immigrant generation labels, the key idea is where a person was born and when they immigrated relative to their schooling and language use. The 1.5 generation describes those who are foreign-born but arrive as children, so they grow up partly in their country of origin and partly in the new country, often becoming fluent in the host language and attending local schools. Ye-jun was born outside the United States, came to the U.S. at age six, and by elementary school was fluent in English. That combination—immigrating as a child and adopting the host country’s language and schooling early—fits the 1.5 generation best. He’s not considered native-born in the U.S., and his immigrant experience occurred during childhood rather than adulthood, which places him in this in-between category.

When we think about immigrant generation labels, the key idea is where a person was born and when they immigrated relative to their schooling and language use. The 1.5 generation describes those who are foreign-born but arrive as children, so they grow up partly in their country of origin and partly in the new country, often becoming fluent in the host language and attending local schools.

Ye-jun was born outside the United States, came to the U.S. at age six, and by elementary school was fluent in English. That combination—immigrating as a child and adopting the host country’s language and schooling early—fits the 1.5 generation best. He’s not considered native-born in the U.S., and his immigrant experience occurred during childhood rather than adulthood, which places him in this in-between category.