Migration in Europe and multiculturalism in Britain

Europe is struggling to cope with a growing migrants flow. More and more migrants and asylum seekers are coming to Europe from Africa and the Middle East.

First of all, we are going to try to understand what migration is and what it means today. Then, we are going to talk about multiculturalism and, of course, about multicultural society in Britain.

Read the following articles, watch the video and answer the questions.

READING

HISTORY OF MIGRATION

History of migration:




http://www.historyworld.net/wrldhis/PlainTextHistories.asp?ParagraphID=bbv

Migration from the colonies to Western Europe since 1800:




http://ieg-ego.eu/en/threads/europe-on-the-road/economic-migration/pieter-c-emmer-leo-lucassen-migration-from-the-colonies-to-western-europe-since-1800

Migration to Britain:




http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/familyhistory/next_steps/int_05_europe_01.shtml

MIGRATION TODAY

Some articles explain what is happening in Europe today 

Migration in Europe today: 
The following article try to answer these questions:

Why is EU struggling with migrants and asylum seekers? 

What has caused migrant numbers to rise?

What is the EU doing about it? 

Are all the EU countries sharing the burden?

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-24583286

These 5 Facts Explain Europe’s Deadly Migrants Crisis:

http://time.com/3833333/ian-bremmer-europe-migrants-deaths/

Multicultural societies in an historic perspective:

http://ndla.no/en/node/89615

LISTENING

MULTICULTURALISM

Multicultural Britain

WRITING
Answer the following questions

Unfortunately, because of the migrants crisis, xenophobia and anti-immigrant attitudes have recently risen across the continent. 

• What do you think about that?
• Do you live in a multicultural place? 
• Is there migration from or immigration to your country? 
• What is your opinion about multiculturalism? What are the pros and cons of a multicultural society?
• Watch the video above about multicultural Britain and write a summary.

SPEAKING

Role-play

If we are travelling to a foreign country, we are all immigrants although we are going to stay there for short periods. In fact, as soon as we set foot in a foreign airport, we have to pass trough the Customs Office, show our documents and answer some questions.

Watch the following video.  Imagine you are in a British airport, you and your class mate are respectively a customs officer and and a traveller. Invent dialogues like the one in the video, ask and answer questions like: 

• What is your final destination?
• How long will you be staying in the UK?
• What is the purpose of your visit?
• Where will you be staying?
• Do you have anything to declare?

English communication - Airport Immigration and Customs

World Day for Cultural Diversity - May, 21

May, 21 is World Day for Cultural Diversity. 

Let' s see some activities we can do to celebrate this day.

First of all, you can surf the following sites to get more information about this celebration.

UN website:

http://www.un.org/en/events/culturaldiversityday/index.shtml

UNESCO site:

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/events/prizes-and-celebrations/celebrations/international-days/world-day-for-cultural-diversity-for-dialogue-and-development/

Do one thing for Diversity and Inclusion:
http://www.unaoc.org/what-we-do/campaigns/do-one-thing-for-diversity-and-inclusion/

A video from Unesco 

1) Let's start talking about multicultural Britain

While studying English language, we study British culture, as well. 

We know that Britain is a multicultural society. Let's see why.

Have a look at this interesting short immigration timeline by BBC:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/uk/2002/race/short_history_of_immigration.stm#1800s

Multicultural Britain by Loescher

Multicultural London by Jonsie Reid

After watching the above videos, answer the questions:

1. What's the famous market near the London Bridge station? Why is it one of the most popular London markets? What can you find there?
2. Where is Brick Lane? What is it locally known as? Why?
3. Is there a "Chinatown" in London as in New York?
4. At the end of the first video some Londoners are interviewed. What do they say about living in a multicultural city?
5. Take a look at the above immigration timeline by BBC. The text ends with these words

"Fifty years after the start of mass immigration to the UK, questions are still being asked about whether or not the UK can become a multi-ethnic society at ease with itself - or whether there is still a long road to be travelled."

         What does it mean? Which are the pros and cons of a multicultural society in your opinion?

2) And now let's talk about a great man who fought for the rights of black people

 M. L. King's speech "I have a dream" 

For the whole speech (with audio, hyperlinks and notes):

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm

Watch the video and read the above speech text, then answer the following questions:

1. When and where was this famous speech held?
2. Who is the "great American" who signed the Emancipation Proclamation? What do you know about  him?
3. What is the Declaration of Independence?
4. What does M. L. King mean when he says: "Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred."?
5. What does M. L. King dream?

M. L. King biography:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/people/martin_luther_king.shtml

Read the above biography and answer the questions:

1. What is Rosa Parks famous for?
2. After her death King became a leading figure in organizing an event. What did he do?
3. What did M. L. King establish in 1957?
4. How many people attended the Lincoln Memorial during the famous "I have a dream" speech?
5. Which prize was King awarded in 1964?

3) Let's try to define stereotypes

... with some humour!

Answer these questions, first:

1. What are stereotypes? 
2. Do you think you stereotype people?
3. Have you ever been victim of  prejudice?
4. Which are some typical stereotypes about your country?
5. Do these stereotypes annoy you or do you laugh at them?

Now click on this post (from The Travelling Teachers) about some typical British and Italian stereotypes ... and have fun!

http://thetravellingteachers.blogspot.it/2013/09/stereotypes-and-prejudice-travelteaches.html

4) And now some videos and songs 

for young learners

A song for young learners to encourage friendship and inclusion

What does it mean to be global?

Intercultural Communication Adventure

An interesting website about multicultural music. A lot of songs (music and lyrics) about diversity and differences:

http://www.songsforteaching.com/diversitymulticulturalism.htm