That's exactly what my Grandfather said in the 1970s. He was born in 1888 and came over here from Poland around 1910. Had 11 kids (2 died in infancy and 9 lived to between 83 and 98). He raised all those kds while working as a tinsmith at 8uffalo Forge. Lived to the age of 95).
He said there were no ESL classes. He knew only a few words in English when he came. Talked to people and read papers to learn. There was no radio, taking movies or TV. in fact my mother was born the year before talkies. My aunt who was 10 years older (born in 1916) remembered when they were introduced.