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

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Stereotypes and prejudice

"Travel teaches toleration"

Benjamin Disraeli

"Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry, but by demonstrating that all peoples cry, laugh, eat, worry, and die, it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends."

Maya Angelou

"To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries."

Aldous Huxley

 "All travel has its advantages. If the passenger visits better countries, he may learn to improve his own. And if fortune carries him to worse, he may learn to enjoy it."

Samuel Johnson

"When overseas you learn more about your own country, than you do the place you're visiting." 

Clint Borgen

"The more I traveled the more I realized that fear makes strangers of people who should be friends."

Shirley MacLaine

Typical Italian and British stereotypes:

The following is a PowerPoint slides show to talk about stereotypes in a simple and funny way with our students.

(from a PowerPoint presentation by Roberta Martino)

 

 

  

 

  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And you? Have you ever been victim of prejudice? Tell us something about the typical stereotypes of your country.

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