Text a. Living in a Multicultural Society

Multiculturalism is the acceptance of many cultures in a society. Multiculturalism supports racial and ethnic harmony; promotes cross-cultural understanding; rejects hatred, discrimination, and violence.

Racial integration has been successful in many areas of Britain. Intermarriage between people of similar cultures is now very common. The popularity of Chinese and Indian food and support for multinational carnivals and festivals show that the country accepts cultural differences.

Everybody who has been to the USA was probably astonished to see so many ways of life and so many different colored people living next to each other. One could easily think that America is a very good example of a multicultural society. But is this really true?

New York is as cosmopolitan as London but is not as mixed. Nationalities stay in their own areas, for example: the Russians in the Russian section, the Polish in the Polish section. The area where many Chinese people live and where you can find many Chinese shops and restaurants is called Chinatown.

It’s very important to keep peace between mixed people so they can live and work together. But it is not so easy. Even when we live in the 21^st century there is still racism around the world. People fight against each other and even kill each other.

However, living in a multicultural society has also some advantages. People can get to know many cultures, their lifestyles, traditions, habits, cuisine and music. In big cities there are many different restaurants which offer their national food and drinks together with a new cultural atmosphere. Experiencing and understanding different cultures is the first part of acceptance. In a truly multicultural society you will find people of different backgrounds or religions living together and even getting married.

Some countries welcome foreign cultures more than other. In the UK you can find information written in many different languages, however, in Germany you will mainly find information in German and sometimes in English.

Different cultures are represented, for example, in Slovakia. Out of a total population of 5 million, they have over half a million Hungarians living in the south of Slovakia and some minority groups like Ukrainians in the East. The Gipsy minority groups are spread throughout the country. Minority groups get a lot of attention as they often say that they are treated unfairly. This often means that there is positive discrimination against Slovak people to keep the European Union happy. Unfortunately this causes tension between the Slovaks and minority groups.

Good examples of tolerance and respect for other cultures are the Netherlands in Europe, Botswana and Namibia in Africa, Singapore in Asia, Canada in America, Australia and New Zealand.

However, for some people multiculturalism is a bad idea. They say that some ethnic immigrant groups do not want to integrate for reasons of religious or cultural identity. Immigrants living in areas with poor housing and high unemployment often get aggressive (for example, in France).

Exercise 9.

• Look through Text A and find the sentences in which the Passive Voice and –ing forms are used. Translate and write them down.

• Say why it is correct to say:

Different national cultures are more welcome in some countries than in others.

Students missing a lot of classes can’t get high grades at their exams.

Exercise 10.

• Look through the text and find the English equivalents for:

cприймати культурні відмінності, підтримка багатонаціональних свят, познайомитися з багатьма культурами, повага до інших культур, з усього населення, що налічує 5 мільйонів, отримувати багато уваги

• Suggest the Ukrainian equivalents for:

to keep peace, a new cultural atmosphere, to be treated unfairly, information written in many different languages, people living next to each other, people of different backgrounds, so many ways of life

Exercise 11.

• Complete the sentences using your knowledge or imagination:

In my opinion living in a multicultural society is …

It is not so easy to keep peace between mixed people so that they can live and work together, because…

Some ethnic immigrant groups do not want to integrate because …

Exercise 12.

• Read the text and find arguments to prove that:

a) Great Britain is a very good example of a multicultural society.

b) Living in a multicultural society has some advantages.

• Use the material of the text to answer the following question:

What causes tension between the Slovaks and minority groups?

• Read the text again and find sentences describing:

a) why New York is as cosmopolitan as London but is not as mixed;

b) some countries which do not welcome foreign cultures as well as others.

• Find the places in the text to support the following statement (висловлювання):

Racial integration has been successful in many areas of Britain.

Exercise 13.

• Agree or disagree with the following statement. Explain your choice.

Cultural differences cause problems (conflicts).

It is better for people to stay in their own countries rather than to migrate to other ones.