87 We are all just a small section of the population here in London, but we have left our mark in more ways than one and we will continue to do so. (applause) The days of the Windrush are behind us, but let us not forget the spirit of the early days, when we got together, talked and played and enjoyed our food in the West Indian front room. Today we are not migrants from another part of the British Empire, we are an essential part of the UK. (applause, cheering) And we can be proud of what we have achieved. 0: their family history 1: to welcome guests/friends/family 2: British/UK citizenship/British passports 3: to find work/help rebuild Britain 4: to be welcomed 5: their culture/achievements 6: to respect each other 7: as part of Britain/as an essential part/as essential for Britain Test practice: Culture and heritage (Transcript and key) Hello and welcome to our podcast “Cultures and People” in which we explore issues of cultural exchange and the importance of intercultural respect. Our topic today is the question of how far people can go when adopting features of another culture. Before we start dealing with these issues, let’s discuss what the term “culture” actually means. When people talk about culture, they mean aspects like customs and traditions but also the way in which people behave in certain situations. In addition, most people would associate the term “culture” with aspects like art, literature, music and other things and of course with their cuisine, the food they were brought up with, their clothes and their lifestyle. Does culture change or is it a static feature of our lives? Well, it is a basic aspect of anything cultural that there is constant change. When you think of yourself and the way your parents, for example, think about certain aspects in life, I’m sure you have noticed that they see things differently from you as a young person and still, you belong to the same cultural group. So to put it simply: Culture also means change and development. Why is it that we share our cultural heritage with so many people? Culture is acquired through learning in the social group we belong to. From a very early age onwards, we are told and shown what to do and how to do things. We soon learn what is OK and what is not OK, how we should behave in certain situations. Our heritage is a guideline for our daily lives. However, our cultural heritage might be different from that of another person of the same background. Think of your parents and grandparents. Do they speak another first language than you? Do they cook other dishes than your neighbours? Do they tell other stories? What are the characteristics of their background? It’s a big mistake to think that culture is just one fixed set of traditions that is there forever. Culture means diverse influences and lifestyles as well. It cannot be defined by a single set of values. Accepting just one uniform norm for everybody would mean that a lot of people might feel excluded, but in fact everybody should be respected whatever their cultural heritage is. And what about cultural differences? Modern societies are characterised by their diversity. They are a mix of cultural influences like traditions, cooking styles, narratives, images, lifestyles and so on. And these features influence each other. This is not a new development though. People tend to approve of what suits them and tend to ignore or brush aside what they don’t like. However, it is vitally important that before cultural trends are adopted, people should try to understand what these traditions or customs are about. Respecting each other’s cultural heritage is perhaps the most important element of a society in which people can live in peace and harmony with each other. Now let’s turn to the questions which I asked at the beginning of this episode … (fade out) 0: b, 1: c, 2: a, 3: d, 4: c, 5: d, 6: b 16 Social issues Pre-listening task: Rephrasing and shortening sentences (Key) Sample answer 1. Have you ever thought of participating in a volunteer project? 2. Now I think I am too young for volunteering. 3. They will do the rest. 4. Would you like to work in a soup kitchen? 5. Their pension is just not enough. 6. You can choose your working hours. 7. Do my parents have to allow this? 8. There is always someone to help you. 9. Most of them are old, lonely and poor. 10. You can often meet interesting people in soup kitchens. 5 + 49 1 Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv
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