Teaching the Cultural Multiplicity of Canada as Example for Diversity of Language and Behaviour within a Country

Essay from the year 2012 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Culture and Applied Geography, grade: 1,5, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen (Anglistik), course: Academic Writing, language: English, abstract: Whether Canada is as multicultural as it seems or if it is just the country of the encounter of different cultures without bringing them closer to each other is often discussed talking about diversity within countries. The population of Canada is culturally mixed because so many people from different cultural background live there. Nevertheless the globally admired multiculturalism of Canada is often regarded as superficially by other countries. It is necessary for students to be informed about how it is possible for some countries like Canada to host such a variety of cultures. Apart from that, they get to know how people are able to live peacefully together although they come from different cultural background and pay attention to different traditions. I analyze the differences between other countries and Canada in terms of multiculturalism and show how Canada portrays itself. This analysis finds out whether it is reality or ideology the inhabitants of Canada display. Afterwards I present methods of teaching the cultural diversity of Canada in school.