Multiculturalism

Estudios Interculturales en Lengua Inglesa I -  ISFD 41 

LESSON # 3

Welcome to a new lesson !

During this lesson, we´re going to explore the topic of MULTICULTURALISM and we are also going to read and analyze a poem by the British writer Benjamin Zephaniah. Shall we get started?

 

Let´s begin by first exploring the concept of multiculturalism, two related theories and a few examples...

 Follow THIS LINK to learn about multiculturalism  

READ the information and find the answer to the questions below. 

01

How can MULTICULTURALISM be defined?

02

Explain the "Melting Pot" theory using your own words.

03

Explain the "Salad Bowl" theory using your own words.

04

Which of the two theories do you adhere to? Why?

05

Go through the examples provided on the web page and pick up, at least, one for each theory.

REMEMBER to take down notes of all your own anwers in your e-Portfolio!

DID YOU KNOW?

Britain has always been a multicultural society...

In the Bronze Age, Neolitic migrants travelled across Europe to Britain. They were followed by the Celts, the Goths, the Romans, the Saxons, the Vikings and the Normans. Many people came to Britain as slaves and servants. Others came in search of work or food, or because they were forced to leave their own country. 

Today many asylum seekers go to Britain in the hope of a better life for themselves and their families. If you trace back far enough, you will find that everyone in Britain has origins somewhere else.

(Source: World Around, by Maria Cleary)

 

This is Benjamin Zephaniah, one of the most popular contemporary British poets, novelists and playwrights. He was born in England on 15 April 1958, and grew up in Jamaica and in the Handsworth district of Birmingham, which he called the ¨Jamaican capital of Europe¨.

 Click here if you want to learn more about Benjamin´s life and work.

 

LITERATURE CORNER 1:

 ★·.·´¯`·.·★ ᴛʜᴇ ʙʀɪᴛɪsʜ ★·.·´¯`·.·★

(serves 60 million)

Take some Picts, Celts and Silures
And let them settle,
Then overrun them with Roman conquerors.
Remove the Romans after approximately 400 years
Add lots of Norman French to some
Angles, Saxons, Jutes and Vikings, then stir vigorously.

Mix some hot Chileans, cool Jamaicans, Dominicans,
Trinidadians and Bajans with some Ethiopians, Chinese,
Vietnamese and Sudanese.
Then take a blend of Somalians, Sri Lankans, Nigerians
And Pakistanis,
Combine with some Guyanese
And turn up the heat.
Sprinkle some fresh Indians, Malaysians, Bosnians,
Iraqis and Bangladeshis together with some
Afghans, Spanish, Turkish, Kurdish, Japanese
And Palestinians
Then add to the melting pot.
Leave the ingredients to simmer.
As they mix and blend allow their languages to flourish
Binding them together with English.
Allow time to be cool.
Add some unity, understanding, and respect for the future,
Serve with justice
And enjoy.  

Note: All the ingredients are equally important. Treating one ingredient better than another will leave a bitter unpleasant taste.

Warning: An unequal spread of justice will damage the people and cause pain. Give justice and equality to all.

 A)  Look at the statements below. Tick the ones which match your understanding of what the poet is saying in THE BRITISH. 

Try to find lines from the poem to support the statements.

1.            All people should be treated with respect.

2.            It takes time for people to live in harmony.

3.            We have to work at getting along with all kinds of people.

4.            Throughout history the population has changed.

5.            Everyone is equal.

6.            It's exciting to live in a multicultural society.

7.            Benjamin Zepaniah is passionate about justice and equality.

 B) The Romans, Angles, Saxons, Jutes and Normans all came to Britain hundred of years ago. What point do you think Benjamin Zephaniah is making by including them in the poem?

C)  The poem looks like a recipe:

1- What words/phrases and/or other features in The British make the poem look like a recipe?

2- Make up a list of those words/expressions and look them up in the dictionary.

3- Why do you think Zephaniah decide to write the poem in this way?

D)  And now,  watch a group of British teenagers (and Benjamin Zephaniah too) recite the poem! Pay special attention to how the different nationalities are pronounced and practice saying them out loud!

 

This is all for today!

Grace