Wordbank
Relating to, containing, or including several distinct cultural or ethnic groups within a society.
Multicultural
it hit me
the penny finally dropped
"A very wise man (my dad) once told me that underneath all our differences, we’re all the same and want the same basic things from our lives. We’re human. Having lived in many different countries in the past few years, I cannot help but say my dad is right. If you relate to people on a human level, and stop comparing who’s better (or worse) – you will come out with brand new friends and develop a much richer understanding of the world. I’ve never liked being put into a box. I refuse to be limited by definition of my nationality or ethnicity alone. There’s more to me than that. I have left a piece of my heart in every place we’ve been to and I carry a piece of them in me. Today, I am part Indian, part Australian but also part Colombian, part Mexican, part Thai & much more — all of which combine to make me wholly global — fitting in everywhere yet not belonging anywhere. And I love that."
T or F
1. The author disagrees with their father's advice about human nature.
2. The author feels that their identity is defined solely by their nationality and ethnicity.
3. The author has lived in countries like Colombia, Mexico, and Thailand.
1 F
2 F
3. T
Complete the following reflection based on the experiences of Third Culture Kids and global citizens.
Right now, many young people ___________________ (live) in countries different from their place of origin.
are living
Successful leaders inspire other people.
What is the topic? What is the controlling idea
successful leaders
inspire other people.
A conflict or disagreement arising from interactions between people with vastly different cultural values, beliefs, or practices.
Culture clash
1. fixed point in place and time
2. using a short hand
1. a constant
2. it's quicker to say
Word / Phrase from TextMeaning
1. Underneath
2. To be put into a box
3. Wholly
4. Fitting in
A. Completely; fully.
B. Beneath the surface or external appearance.
C. To be categorized, stereotyped, or restricted to a narrow definition.
D. Feeling comfortable, accepted, or harmonious within a group or environment.
1 – B (Beneath the surface)
2 – C (To be categorized/stereotyped)
3 – A (Completely; fully)
4 – D (Feeling comfortable/accepted)
People from different cultures often ___________________ (express) politeness through gestures rather than words.
I ___________________ (believe) that underneath all our differences, we all ___________________ (want) the same basic things from life.
Currently, the author ___________________ (try) to adapt to the local Aussie slang and accent.
express
believe
want
is traying
_____ They set an example for other students. Other students tend to listen to their ideas. Many successful students inspire others to do well. Students who are struggling may even depend on successful students for help. Students who are successful often have important positions, like class president. They usually make good leaders.
1. Successful students manage their time well.
2. Many successful businessmen did well in school.
3. Successful students are often good leaders.
Successful students are often good leaders.
1. Oversimplified, generalized beliefs or ideas about a particular group or type of person.
2.The qualities, beliefs, personality traits, and background that define who a person or group is.
3. howing a great deal of variety; composed of distinct or different elements.
1 Sterreotypes
2 Identity3 Diverse
1. overlap
2. at home
3. environment
1. layers that merge together
2. familiar
3. milieu
Answer the following questions
According to the author's father, what unites all human beings?
What advice does the author give about how to interact with people from different backgrounds?
Underneath our differences, we are all human and want the same basic things from life.
Relate to people on a human level and stop comparing who is better or worse.
Currently, I am living in Brisbane, but I am knowing that my family misses me back home.
Correction: ____________________________________________________________________
In Australia, people are usually saying "please" and "thank you" in almost every sentence.
Correction: ____________________________________________________________________
Globalization changes the way people interact with each other these days.
Correction: ____________________________________________________________________
but I know that my family misses me back home.
In Australia, people usually say "please" and "thank you"...
Globalization is changing the way people interact...
Who is Leymah Gbowee? _____ Gbowee has been fighting for peace for over a decade. She has completed many programs that teach skills for peace building. She started an organization called Women Peace and Security Network Africa. She has won awards for her peace-building skills. She contributes her knowledge and helps guide the peace process. Gbowee promotes peace through her leadership.
1. Jimmy Carter is another leader who promotes peace.
2. Leymah Gbowee was born in Liberia in Africa.
3. Leymah Gbowee is a leader who promotes peace.
B. What does the topic sentence of a paragraph do?
1. gives examples of the topic
2. tells the main idea of the paragraph
3. gives information about several different topics
Leymah Gbowee is a leader who promotes peace.
tells the main idea of the paragraph
1 The process by which businesses, organizations, and cultures develop international influence or start operating on an international scale.
2 Experienced and sophisticated, with a broad knowledge of the world and human nature.
3 A connection or cooperative relationship between people, groups, or ideas.
4. In or to a foreign country or countries
1 Globalization
2 worldly
3 Association
4 Abroad
What is Taiye Selasi's cultural background?
She was born in the UK, raised in the US, her mother is Nigerian, and her father is Ghanaian.
What does the author mean by the phrase "I carry a piece of them in me"?
It means that the places and cultures they have experienced have influenced their personality and become an essential part of who they are.
Living as a global citizen 1. ________ (teach) us how to adapt to new environments. Currently, more people than ever 2. ________ (move) abroad for study or work. While daily routines 3. ________ (change) quickly during a transition, core personal values usually 4. ________ (remain) the same. Right now, international students around the world 5. ________ (learn) to navigate different politeness styles and cultural expectations. Although adapting 6. ________ (take) time and effort, it ultimately 7. ________ (broaden) a person's worldview and 8. ________ (help) them build connections across borders.
teaches
are moving
are changing
remain
are learning
takes
broadens
helps
Read the supporting sentence. Choose the topic sentence it is related to.
1. For example, the gene for brown eyes is stronger than the gene for blue eyes.
Topic Sentence 1: Genetics is an important scientific field.
Topic Sentence 2: Dominant genes are more powerful than others.
Choose the best supporting sentence for this topic sentence:
"Twins that are separated at birth have many similarities."
1 Studies show that twins raised apart score similarly on IQ tests.
Dominant genes are more powerful than others.
Studies show that twins raised apart score similarly on IQ tests.
1 A traditional sequence of actions, ceremonies, or procedures performed regularly in a specific order.
Established practices, traditions, or unwritten rules common to a particular society, place, or group.
Settled, regular behaviors or routines that an individual practices automatically or frequently.
1 Rituals
2 Customs
3 Habits
What does Selasi reveal about her upcoming second novel?
She cannot reveal too much because it is a "middle-level secret," but she confirms it is very different from Ghana Must Go
"During my first year in Australia, I hated it. I found it beautiful, but superficial and the people friendly, but distant. I missed my family, my friends, the food and the overfamiliar warmth of India.
I was also terrified of how polite everyone was. Every sentence seemed to be punctuated with a please or a thank you. If you come from a non-Anglo culture, you’ll know exactly what I mean.
It wasn’t an English language problem because I have spoken English my whole life; but communication in India is a lot more direct.
In Australia however, I realised I had to embellish my sentences with “Would you mind…” or “Could you please…” before even getting around to the actual point. I lived in mortal fear of losing friends because I hadn’t said the right amount of pleases and thank yous.
I make it sound like we’re so rude in India. We’re not, I promise.
Our politeness is just more centred around gestures and body language (head nods, anyone?) and not so much around minding our Ps and Qs. It’s complicated, but if you’ve ever spent time with anyone from an Asian culture, you’ll know what I mean.
Of course when I wasn’t terrified of politeness, I spent my time worrying about accents. Back in 2007, I was ridiculously shy and hated having to repeat myself or worse, asking people to repeat themselves.
I struggled a bit with the nasal Queenslander Aussie accents and jargon and in return, I got my share of strange looks for my accent or choice of words that aren’t commonly heard in Australia."
Answer the following questions based on the text s:
Why was the author afraid of not using enough "pleases" and "thank yous" in Australia?
How do people express politeness in India according to the author?
What specifically about the Australian accent or speech style caused difficulty for the writer?
They were afraid of losing friends or appearing rude by not matching the Australian standard of verbal politeness.
Politeness in India is centered around body language and physical gestures (like head nods) rather than constant spoken formulas.
The author found the nasal Queenslander Aussie accent and regional jargon difficult to follow.
Moving to a new country always 1. ________ (bring) both excitement and unexpected challenges. Nowadays, an increasing number of young people 2. ________ (experience) life abroad as Third Culture Kids or global nomads. While daily routines and cultural habits 3. ________ (change) constantly during a transition, a person's core values usually 4. ________ (stay) rooted in their background.
Right now, international students around the world 5. ________ (try) to navigate different styles of communication and politeness. For instance, someone from India often 6. ________ (rely) on direct speech and body language, whereas people in Anglo cultures usually 7. ________ (prefer) adding polite formulas like "would you mind" or "could you please". At this very moment, thousands of travelers 8. ________ (learn) how to adapt to local accents, slang, and social expectations.
Although adjusting to a new environment 9. ________ (take) patience and time, it fundamentally 10. ________ (enrich) a person’s worldview. Today, many individuals 11. ________ (discover) that fitting in everywhere 12. ________ (not / mean) losing their original identity. Instead, they 13. ________ (build) a truly global perspective that 14. ________ (connect) them with people across different cultures every single day.
brings
are experiencing
change
stay
are trying
relies
prefer
are learning
takes
enriches
are discovering
does not mean
are building
connects
A. Read the following paragraph carefully and identify its main structural components.
Adapting to spoken politeness in a new culture can be a challenging process for international students. For instance, in Anglo countries like Australia, people frequently use phrases such as "would you mind" or "could you please" to make requests gentler. Furthermore, misunderstanding these local speech habits can make newcomers worry about sounding rude or out of place. In short, mastering these subtle linguistic nuances is essential for building strong relationships in a foreign environment.
B. The sentences below form a coherent paragraph about global identity, but they are out of order. Reorder them from 1 to 4 to create a logical flow.
[ ] Consequently, experiencing multiple cultures enriches a person's worldview rather than weakening their roots.
[ ] For example, living in different countries teaches individuals to appreciate diverse values and non-verbal communication styles.
[ ] Developing a global identity offers numerous personal and cultural benefits.
[ ] In addition, interacting with varied communities helps people build meaningful connections across borders.
A. Adapting to spoken politeness in a new culture can be a challenging process for international students - Topic sentence
For instance, in Anglo countries like Australia, people frequently use phrases such as "would you mind" or "could you please" to make requests gentler. Supporting 1
Furthermore, misunderstanding these local speech habits can make newcomers worry about sounding rude or out of place. Supporting 2
In short, mastering these subtle linguistic nuances is essential for building strong relationships in a foreign environment. Concluding
B.
4
2
1
3