Asian Population in America is Increasing

Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

1. outnumber (v.) [out-nuhm-ber] – to be greater in number

Example: The people who agreed with the new law outnumbered those who disagreed with it.

2. yearn (v.) [yurn] – to have a strong desire for something

Example: The musician yearns to join a graduate music program in an American university.

3. stability (n.) [stuh-bil-i-tee] – the quality or ability to stay unchanged for a long time

Example:  The country is experiencing economicstability because of strong exports and tourism.

4. emigration (n.) [em-i-grey-shuhn] – the act of leaving a country to stay in another, usually permanently

Example: Emigration has increased the population of Asians in America.

5. well-to-do (adj.) [wel-tuh-doo] – rich or having much money

Example: Many Chinese students from well-to-do families want to study in the US.

Article
Read the text below.

A recent study suggests that more and more Asians are moving to the US, despite the good economy in many Asian countries. The Pew Center, a US research organization, revealed in a report that Asians in the United States have outnumbered Latinos, who had previously been the largest population of immigrants in the US. The Center further said that most of these immigrants get to stay in the US by enrolling in American universities. Fifty percent of Asian immigrants are university graduates, surpassing the 13% of Latinos. Many of these Asian students choose to stay in the US after their studies. Yeung Yue-Man, former professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong says that for the past twenty years, thousands of Chinese students have been going to America for education. In fact, the Council of Graduate Schools reported that most of the overseas application for graduate programs in American universities comes from China, followed by India and South Korea. Aside from moving to the US for education, many Asians yearn to live in the US for the political stability and business potential the country has to offer. Some Chinese prefer to live in the US because the country offers more freedom from government control and equal chances for everyone. Additionally, with the weak US economy, many US properties are up for sale. Yeung said many well-to-do Chinese immigrants are moving to the US in order to invest in buying properties. A study by Hurun Research Institute and Bank of China shows that 50% of Chinese millionaires involved in the study are thinking of emigration, mostly to North America.

Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor. 

Discussion A 

·         Do you think that living in another country will improve a person’s life? Why or why not?

·         Given a chance, would you want to live in the US or in another country? Why or why not?

Discussion B

·         What factors should be considered when choosing a place to live?

·         Do you think your country is also a good place to live in? What makes you say so?