Understanding Recently Arrived African Americans

• Language: There are over 1000 languages spoken in Africa. Some widely spoken languages are Arabic, French, Swahili, Hausa, English, Kirundi, Kinyarwanda, Dinka, etc. • In African culture, children are encouraged to run around. Active children are seen as being in good health. A misunderstanding might be that an active child may be diagnosed with ADD or mental illness when the problem is only frustration. • Some children never had a formal classroom setting/structure. • In Africa, children do their homework at school, not at home. The after- school program in the U.S. is a also a new concept. • Touching is common in African culture. Children play touching each other. Relationships are more important than anything else. • The school structure in Africa goes from elementary school 1-6 grade and then high school 7-12. • In Africa, the grading system is based on percentage. • African children need role models from their own community. Contributed by Honore Murenzi, Director, New American Africans, Concord, NH

The NH Parents Make the Difference website is a collaboration between the Parent Information Center of NH and the NH Department of Education. This website is supported with funding from the US Department of Education through the NH State PIRC grant of the Natonal PIRC program.