Tasks: Three Models for a Multicultural Society

Comprehension:

1. The author lists a number of advantages and challenges of a multicultural society: What are they? Can you think of any others?
2. List the main characteristics of each of the three models for a multicultural society.
3. Give examples of one or more countries which follow/have followed each model.
4. What type of society does the melting pot metaphor describe?
5. Where does the expression come from?
6. Is there a significant difference between describing a society as a melting pot, or as a pizza?
7. Which positive effects are claimed by supporters of the assimilation model?
8. What image is used for a society based on the integration model? Is this a good representation? Why? Why not?
9. Are there any negative sides to the integration model?

Discuss:

Segregation, assimilation and integration may also be understood, respectively, as manifestations of fundamentalist, conservative and liberal views of culture. Use the Merriam-Webster dictionary to find the definitions of fundamentalist, conservative and liberal. Based on the definitions, explain why persons with these views would prefer one model of multicultural society over another.

Find out:

Search the internet and find examples of countries where segregation is practised in the world today.

Make a Poster:

The first picture in the text represents a multicultural society. Do you think it is a good representation? Make your own picture, poster or Glogster representing a multicultural society and present it to the class.

Make Wordles:

A wordle is a word cloud. Use the following link to make three different word clouds illustrating Assimilation, Segregation and Integration. Link to Monkey Learn's page for making word clouds.

Simply type in all the words you associate with the different terms. The clouds can be printed out and hung in the classroom, or shared on a class site.