Why?

(Try to find out what feelings and needs are alive in the other person: empathic resonance)

Do you feel tired/irritated/ unmotivated?
Do you want to see more contributions/ participation/action?
I guess what you’re saying is that you are tired/ irritated/ unmotivated because you think some immigrants aren’t as competent as you would like them to be and you wish more contribution/ participation/action?

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What if?

(‘Mirror questions’: how would it be if you were standing in the shoes of that person)

Do you know people in your neighbourhood who are immigrants and who are possibly educated in a different way than you are? How do you think they would feel when they were called ‘dumb’ because of this?

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Self-reflection

(Questions you can ask yourself in silence to support yourself in understanding the other person)

How important is contribution/ participation/action for me?
When do I need contribution/ participation/action?
How do I feel when this need is not fulfilled?

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Empowerment

(More information on the issue and tips how to explore the problem and continue the discussion)

The thought that migrants have a backlog with regard to knowledge and experience isn't exactly true. Most immigrants have had an education in their own countries or are eager to learn. They want to have the opportunity to go to school and be successful.
Most immigrants know what they want to do and why they fled or moved to another country. For that reason, they cannot continually be called dumb. They should get the chance to make something of their lives without hearing all these prejudices. Furthermore, all migrants must have the opportunity to learn the national language as a precondition to enter the local job market.
The problem is that the educational qualifications acquired abroad by many migrants are not accredited and therefore they often have to accept less qualified jobs.