Multiculturalism in the uk

Multiculturalism in the UKUCO: to consider the advantages and disadvantages of living in a multicultural society

“Multicultural” describes a society in which people of many different backgrounds live. Britain is therefore a multicultural country. “Multiculturalism” is also the name given to government policies that seek to give equal status to all the different social, ethnic, religious and cultural groups in the country. According to a BBC poll of 2005, 62% of people in Britain believe that multiculturalism makes Britain a better place. Unfortunately 58% thought that people who come to live here should adopt the values and traditions of British culture, which shows that there is confusion as to what multiculturalism is. Almost a third of people, 32%, believe that, “multiculturalism threatens the British way of life”, although it’s unclear what they mean by “the British way of life.”

Multiculturalism in the UKCO: to consider the advantages and disadvantages of living in a multicultural society

Multiculturalism in the UK

Division

Race

religion

ideology education

Social class

Economic status

beauty

culture


Discuss the meaning of the following words with a partner

Multicultural Describing a society in which people of many different backgrounds all live together.

Immigration The act of coming from other countries to live here.

Integration When people of different cultures all have the same rights and responsibilities in a society.

Segregation When people of different cultures are kept apart and often do not have the same rights in a society.

Prejudice The act of judging someone before you know them.

Discrimination The act of treating someone unfairly because of prejudice.

Racism The act of treating someone unfairly because of their race.

Race the defining of people according to a variety of factors such as language, culture and physical characteristics.

Class The defining of people according to a variety of factors including the kind of jobs they do, the money they earn, the neighbourhood they live in and their position in society.

Multiculturalism in the UKWhat are the advantages and disadvantages of immigration? Brainstorm in pairs.

Advantages Disadvantages

• New knowledge• Intercultural understanding• Benefits for the economy• Lower labour costs

• Unemployment• Loss of identity• Discrimination • Challenge to local traditions


We are going to watch a the video ‘Immigration Affects Us All’. While we watch, make notes on the three views expressed by each of the contributors: Danny from the BNP, Christian from the Conservative Party and David from the Labour Party.


Danny - BNP Christian – Conservative Party

David – Labour Party

Danny - BNP Christian – Conservative Party David – Labour Party

• I certainly would call my home town unrecognisable. You just feel uncomfortable

• When you’re sat on a bus, and all the people around you are talking in a foreign language, you feel like you’re in a foreign country

• Too much diversity does come at a loss of identity

• If you truly appreciate diversity, you’re going to want to keep cultures separate

• If I lived where they come from, I’d probably want to seek a better life

• We have to be responsible here, and we have to say no more

• Political correctness has been a huge problem. People feel they can’t express their opinions

• When, parts of the country are divided along ethnic lines, you start thinking why has this happened?

• Multiculturalism, I think, has failed (…) because you end up with distinctive pockets of communities that sometimes don’t interact, and that’s damaging

• The benefits are enormous. It is exciting to live in a multicultural society

• There are pressures that come with immigration. If it’s not controlled you don’t know who’s here

• It can have a negative effect on public services, on housing, policing and health care

• Political correctness is definitely an issue when it comes to discussing immigration, that’s often why the debate is closed down

• I do have sympathy for people who feel like they’re getting a rough deal• Make sure that everyone

plays by the rules and that we have a fair system which makes people feel included• Immigration plays a big part

in telling us who we are as British people. You can’t decide who you are sitting in a dark room on your own. You decide who you are when you meet people different to you• It can be useful to the

economy• Now, we can have a sensible

grown-up conversation about what people think

Political correctness:

‘the avoidance, often considered as taken to extremes, of forms of expression or action that are perceived to exclude, marginalize, or insult groups of people who are socially disadvantaged or discriminated against’

e.g. seniors old people vertically challenged short lacking a formal education uneducated follically challenged bald


We are going to play Turnabout: • I will give a student one of the statements made by

one of the British politicians• That student will begin a speech, without notes,

agreeing with the statement.• When I indicate (by sounding the buzzer)the student

must immediately change to disagreeing with the statement

The winner is the student who gives the best speech (I’ll be the judge)

Danny - BNP Christian – Conservative Party David – Labour Party

• I certainly would call my home town unrecognisable. You just feel uncomfortable

• When you’re sat on a bus, and all the people around you are talking in a foreign language, you feel like you’re in a foreign country

• Too much diversity does come at a loss of identity

• If you truly appreciate diversity, you’re going to want to keep cultures separate

• If I lived where they come from, I’d probably want to seek a better life

• We have to be responsible here, and we have to say no more

• Political correctness has been a huge problem. People feel they can’t express their opinions

• When, parts of the country are divided along ethnic lines, you start thinking why has this happened?

• Multiculturalism, I think, has failed (…) because you end up with distinctive pockets of communities that sometimes don’t interact, and that’s damaging

• The benefits are enormous. It is exciting to live in a multicultural society

• There are pressures that come with immigration. If it’s not controlled you don’t know who’s here

• It can have a negative effect on public services, on housing, policing and health care

• Political correctness is definitely an issue when it comes to discussing immigration, that’s often why the debate is closed down

• I do have sympathy for people who feel like they’re getting a rough deal• Make sure that everyone

plays by the rules and that we have a fair system which makes people feel included• Immigration plays a big part

in telling us who we are as British people. You can’t decide who you are sitting in a dark room on your own. You decide who you are when you meet people different to you• It can be useful to the

economy• Now, we can have a sensible

grown-up conversation about what people think

Individual Oral Assessment

ProcedureYou can make approximately 10 bullet points

Assessment

Criterion A: Productive skillsHow successfully does the student use the language in speech?• How fluent and clear is the student’s speech?• How accurate and varied is the language used?• How much does the student’s intonation aid communication?

Criterion B: Interactive and receptive skillsTo what extent does the student understand and demonstrate an ability to interact in a conversation?• How well can the student express simple and complex ideas?• How well can the student maintain a conversation?

“Why should I be proud to be British?”

“This is our home. We are proud to be British.”

Elements of the presentation 10 points related to the image

Describe the photograph (what story does it tell)?

Connection between photograph and caption

Connection to option (‘Cultural Diversity’ or ‘Customs and Traditions’)

Relation to English-speaking culture

Multiple interpretations (What are the different perspectives that you could take on this photograph?)

Interview questionsQuestions should be open, such as “why?” and “how?” and should not require a simple “yes” or “no” answer, enabling your partner to give detailed answers.

e.g.

1. What springs to mind when you hear the word ‘multiculturalism’?2. What are the good things about multiculturalism?3. How would the world be different if there was no multiculturalism in any

country?4. Why are many people afraid of multiculturalism?5. Where in the world do you think multiculturalism works best?6. What problems does multiculturalism bring to a country?

In the top left-hand corner…

In the center…

In the top right-hand corner…

On the right-hand side…

In the background…

In the foreground…

“Why should I be proud to be British?”

“This is our home. We are proud to be British.”

Education

Multiculturalism in the uk