Multicultural Society

The different European countries have welcomed newcomers for centuries. It is a mixture of diverse ethnic groups, each with their own distinct culture and sometimes their own language or religion.
Some migrants have come to your country for many years, looking for work. Many arrived in the hope of building a new life for their young families. The descendants of these immigrants are now the teachers, the footballers, the TV presenters, the musicians and the politicians that shape your society. There are numerous ethnic newspapers, magazines, TV programmes, radio stations and internet sites for each community. Inmany countries, the largest groups of migrants live in and around the capital and many other groups are concentrated in the industrial centres.
© British Refugee Council

Activity 1 -Questionnaire
Where do your family originally come from? Where were your grandparents born? Look around your own community. Do you recognise different cultures? Why do the surnames of some your friends differ?

Activity 2 -Discussion
Discuss which of the following factors might decide a person’s ethnic group?
religion / sex / skin colour / language /country of origin /political opinions

Activity 3 - Questions
Try to find out with the support of your teacher.
Where do black people in your country originate from?
Which country or countries do Asian in your country come from?
When was the main period of immigration into your country?
What is the largest ethnic minority in your country today?
Is the society you live in Multi cultural? What does it mean to be a multicultural society?