The Cultural Diversity Issue

What is Cultural Diversity?
Reading, conversation and vocabulary 

Country Stereotypes
Discussion and listening

Global Cuisine  Discussion and vocabulary

Local Color Discussion and writing

Human Family Poem, video, conversation 

What is Cultural Diversity?

Reading, conversation and vocabulary activity

 A)Reading

Nowadays cultural diversity is a fact. The World has some 6000 communities and as many distinct languages. Such difference naturally leads to diversity of vision, values, beliefs, practice and expression, which all deserve equal respect and dignity.                        Cultural diversity is our everyday reality. The international migration rate is growing fast every year. According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the number of migrants has doubled since the 1970s. The report also says that around 175 million persons are residing away from the country of their birth and one in every 10 persons in the developed regions is a migrant. Also, more migrants are coming from countries ever farther away. While the reasons for migration vary (economic, political, personal choice …) , one thing is sure: we live in an increasingly heterogeneous society. Culture is a set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features of society or a social group. Art, literature, lifestyles, ways of living together, values systems, traditions, beliefs... Respecting and safeguarding culture is a matter of Human Rights and respect of fundamental freedoms of thought, conscience and religion, of opinion and expression, and freedom to participate in the cultural life of one's choice. Cultural diversity is our collective strength. Indeed, it is not just a natural fact that we need simply recognize and respect. It is about plurality of knowledge, wisdom and energy which all contribute to improving and moving the World forward. UNESCO.org

1)Find the meaning of these figures in the first 2 paragraphs:  6000   -   175  - 1/10 

2) Why is respecting and safeguarding culture a matter of human rights?

3)Why is Cultural Diversity defined as a collective strength?

CONVERSATION Questions: discuss with a partner or in a small group.

• What are the good things about a multicultural society?
• Can it bring problems to a country?
• How would the world be different if there was no cultural diversity?
• Will the planet eventually have mixed race societies?
• What are the pros and cons of a country being multicultural or having just one culture?
• Can a country lose its identity?
• Should immigrants assimilate into the culture of their new country?

B) Cultural Diversity Key Terms:  Match the terms on the left to their definitions on the right.

1. Bias	A) The physical or mental characteristics of an individual that prevent or limit him other from performing specific tasks.
2. Culture	B) A microcultural group or collectivity that shares a common history and culture, com­mon values, behaviors, and other characteristics that cause members of the group to have a shared identity.
3. Cultural Assimilation	C) A classification of people based on physical and biological characteristics such as the color of skin, hair, and eyes.
4. Cultural Diversity	D) Preference tha prevents impartial or objective judgement.
5. Disability	E) Social, political, and economic structures that advantage one sex group over the other. Stereotypes and misconceptions about the biolog­ical characteristics of each sex group
6. Discrimination	F) A set of rigid and unfavorable attitudes toward a particular individual or group.
7. Ethnicity	G) Assuming that everyone in a particular group is the same.
8. Ethnic group	H) A set of beliefs and values, especially about explanations that concern the cause and nature of the universe, to which an individual or group has a strong loyalty and attachment.
9. Mainstream	I) The values, beliefs, attitudes, languages, symbols, rituals, behaviors and customs shared by a particular group of people and passed from one generation to the next.
10. Prejudice	J) A collectivity of people who have a sim­ilar socioeconomic status based on such criteria as income, occupation, education, values, behaviors, and life chances.
11. Race	K) The differential treatment of indi­viduals or groups based on categories such as race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, social class, or exceptionality.
12. Racism	L) Changes made by a group to adopt the ways of the dominant culture.
13. Religion	M) A classification of people based on national origin and/or culture.
14. Sexism	N) A belief that human groups can be validly grouped according to their biological traits and that these identifiable groups inherit certain men­tal, personality, and cultural characteristics that determine their behavior.
15. Social class	O) The characteristics of the dominant ethnic and cultural group in the nation.
16. Stereotyping	P) Individual differences based on cultural, ethnic, and racial fact

Answers here!

Country Stereotypes

Conversation and listening activity

 

Read this opinion of heaven and hell and discuss what it means to you. Do you agree / disagree with the description? Why (not)?

Heaven is where the police are British, the cooks are French, the mechanics are German, the lovers are Italian and it is all organized by the Swiss. Hell is where the police are German, the cooks are British, the mechanics are French, the lovers are Swiss and it is all organized by the Italians.

 

EXTENDED DISCUSSION

  How is your country stereotyped?   Does stereotyping help in some way?   Why do you think people stereotype?   How can stereotypes be damaging?    How are various nationalities stereotyped?   What is the difference between stereotypes and prejudices?   Are stereotypes offensive?  Funny?  Realistic?

Listening Segment

NPR - 3.30 minutes

“For Asians And Latinos, Stereotypes Persist In Sitcoms”

Listen to the radio segment and answer whether the statements below are TRUE or FALSE, based on the report.

PLAYER HERE BELOW:

1.For the critic Eric Deggans some stereotyped characters in shows on TV are insulting.

2.He regularly sees black actors playing maids, pimps or buffoons.

3.A chinese character on a comedy shows a collection of stereotypes and his heavy accent is the reason for laughs.

4.Asians and Latinos are usually unemployed, criminals or sell drugs.

5.It will take a long time to wean writers off the easy jokes provided by stereotypes of Latino and Asian characters.

6.For writers and producers, TV shows are better when the characters are not stereotyped.

Answers here!

Global Cuisine

Conversation and video activity

1)Can you match a few of the world's most popular foods to their country of origin?

Fish ‘n’ chips      Masala dosa       Chocolate      Marzipan      Lasagna     Croissant          Som tam Maple syrup      Sushi Paella   Buttered popcorn   Fajitas

India          Spain              Thailand     Mexico            Germany Canada    United States Britain           Japan           Italy France             Mexico

2)Discuss the following questions with a partner or in small groups.

What kinds of international cuisine do you like? What kinds are available in your city/town/country? How often do you eat food from other cultures? Has your taste changed over the years? What national dishes from your country would you recommend?

Answers here!

Local Color

Conversation & writing activity

Do you think it’s important to keep traditions? Why (not)? Should cultural identities be discarded or ignored when people move to another country? Why (not)? What are the big holidays in your country? How is a typical wedding ceremony?  What is a customary greeting where you come from? Do people kiss, shake hands, or other? What are some customs for eating in your country? Is there a national dish, dessert, drink, etc.? Which traditions would you definitely maintain if you moved abroad? Should people hold on to their language, religion, dressing habits and the like when they emigrate? Why (not)? Which of your traditions do you value most? Have you adopted traditions from another culture? Which ones?

Group Activity: Make a group list with all the traditions in your country that reflect your cultural identity.

 

Writing: Write and essay, reflecting your point of view on the topic of Cultural Diversity.

1.Create an original title to attract the reader. You can also do it at the end when you have finished. 2.Write an introduction that explains the topic and include information or examples that will transition the reader to the argument you are presenting. 3.Write the body and present your point of view with support information or examples.  4. Write the conclusion to reassert your argument and persuade the audience to support your view.

Human Family, Maya Angelou

Poem, video and conversation activity

Read the following poem, watch the clip, and answer the questions below.

HUMAN FAMILY  by Maya Angelou* I note the obvious differences in the human family. Some of us are serious, some thrive on comedy. Some declare their lives are lived as true profundity, and others claim they really live the real reality. The variety of our skin tones can confuse, bemuse, delight, brown and pink and beige and purple, tan and blue and white. I've sailed upon the seven seas and stopped in every land, I've seen the wonders of the world not yet one common man. I know ten thousand women called Jane and Mary Jane, but I've not seen any two who really were the same. Mirror twins are different although their features jibe, and lovers think quite different thoughts while lying side by side. We love and lose in China, we weep on England's moors, and laugh and moan in Guinea, and thrive on Spanish shores. We seek success in Finland, are born and die in Maine. In minor ways we differ, in major we're the same. I note the obvious differences between each sort and type, but we are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike. We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike. We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.

* Maya Angelou (1928-2014) was an American author and

poet born in Missouri.

She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays,

and several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays,

 movies, and television shows.

1.What is the best sumary of the poem? 

A)We are all humans.

B)Family members are similar in the way that they act.

C)Many people have the same smile or the same face gesture.

2.Which of these points are mentioned?

different races

concepts of beauty

names

customs

gestures

similar struggles

friendship

Features of Culture:

Think of one example common to most people around the world or particular of a specific culture.

• Styles of dress
• Importance of time
• Values
• Literature
• Attitudes about personal space/privacy
• Holiday customs
• Music
• Celebrations
• Concept of fairness
• Nature of friendship
• Foods
• Greetings
• Facial expressions and hand gestures
• Work
• Religious beliefs
• Concept of beauty
• Rules of polite behavior
• Attitude toward age
• The role of family

Adapted from PeaceCorps

Answers here!