Great points, Chris.  In the 1970s, former wife and I went back east to visit her parents.  Opened my 20-something eyes.  Although they immigrated to Canada 60-odd years before, as tiny kids, they barely spoke passable English...and never learned to read or write it.  

My wife's older sister lived thousands of kilometres away so I got a map of Canada and tried to explain to "Mama" where she was in relation to the old folks.  Then I tried to explain where my wife and I lived--2,000 kilometres west of what was left of the old farm.  Not sure she understood anything.  The old man's male friends came calling.  They all sat in the living room talking...In Ukrainian. Fascinating. 

Yet, they "contributed."  Ran a farm.  Raised three kids.