Multiculturalism

In class we have been talking about the topic multiculturalism. Below you have some questions I asked and some answers I got from my students.

Multicultural societies

Definition of multiculturalism (among many definitions) : The doctrine that several different cultures (rather than one national culture) can coexist peacefully and equitably in a single country.

1.Can you name some of the most multicultural countries in the world?

Australia, the USA, Canada,  Argentina,  the UK, France, Luxembourg,  Switzerland, etc.


2. Why do people emigrate?
People emigrate to escape from:  unemployment, poverty, hunger, war, religious and political persecutions, natural disasters, drought, etc.
They are looking for:   better working and living conditions; better wages; a better education; political or religious freedom, family reunification, etc.

3. What sort of difficulties do these people face?

Discrimination, loneliness and distance from family and friends, difficulties in adapting to: a new language, new customs, rules, weather;  etc.

4.Should these people adopt the customs of the new country or should they keep their own traditions?

They can adapt to the customs of the new country but at the same time they should keep their own traditions.

5.  Let’s consider now the second and third generations. How different are they from their predecessors?

They are much more integrated in the new society but they often continue to be in contact with the culture of their parents/grandparents.

Reading comprehension exercises: “The British speak out – yes or no to multiculturalism”.

After reading
1.What are labels ? They’re sterotypes.  

   Stereotypes are standardized and simplified conceptions of groups based on some prior assumptions.


2.What does this mean?    Labels are for cans not people- Anthony  Rapp

    3. Why do people label each other? They want to feel superior to others. Many times this attitude hides a feeling of inferiority.

    4.  Why are people discriminated against? People are discriminated because of their: sex, age, race, colour, social status, religious or political beliefs, nationality, etc. In short, they are different from the dominant group.

    5. How does one person discriminate against another?

By excluding that person, by making fun of him/ her, by creating caricatures; by ignoring him/ her, by humiliating him/her, etc.

See the label multiculturalism (on the right) and find many more posts about this topic