Note to the teacher: In order to build a credit history, it’s mandatory
to create a “paper trail.” The following three-part
activity describes how one teacher began that process with
her immigrant students.
M.J. Natalie, Bunker Hill Community
College, Chelsea, MA
Description of the Process
First, the entire class took a field trip
to the Boston Public Library so that students could get
a Boston Public Library card and begin to build an alternative
credit history. Also, students were asked to get a Bunker
Hill Community College identification card. Along with helping
students think about the importance of documenting and validating
themselves for further banking and credit approvals, I also
wanted to help instill a sense of community spirit, a feeling
of belonging in their new country.
Later, we spoke about the importance of
paying bills on time and creating a paper trail. One student
shared the story of how he had to collect his receipts from
a day care program to prove that he and his wife had paid
for a whole year of day care for their child. This led to
a further discussion about the possibility of establishing
a nontraditional credit history.
