Navigation
Studying how host countries change when new people and cultures arrive.
Imagine walking down your street and suddenly smelling spicy curry, hearing a new language, and seeing a bright festival you've never seen before. How did your neighborhood become a mini-version of the whole world?
When people move from one country to another, they don't just bring suitcases; they bring their culture. This includes their favorite foods, music, holiday traditions, and languages. This process creates cultural diversity, which makes a community more vibrant and interesting. In your school, you might see this when friends share snacks from different countries or celebrate holidays like Lunar New Year or Diwali. This 'mixing' of cultures helps people learn about the world without ever leaving their hometown. It turns a city into a mosaic, where every different piece makes the whole picture more beautiful.
Quick Check
What are three things immigrants bring with them that increase cultural diversity?
Answer
Immigrants bring food, music, traditions, and languages.
Migration also has a huge impact on the economy, which is the system of how money and goods are produced and traded. Immigrants contribute in two main ways. First, they fill important jobs in many fields, from healthcare to construction. Second, many immigrants are entrepreneurs, meaning they start their own businesses. Think of a local grocery store that sells international spices or a tech company started by someone from another country. These businesses create jobs for others and pay taxes that help build local parks and schools. If represents the number of businesses in a town, adding immigrant-owned shops increases , making the local economy stronger.
1. A family moves from France to a small town in the USA. 2. They open a bakery () selling traditional croissants. 3. They hire two local teenagers to help behind the counter. 4. Now, the town has a new delicious food, and two people have new jobs. The total number of jobs () has increased: .
Quick Check
How does an immigrant-owned business help people who were already living in that town?
Answer
It creates new jobs and provides goods or services that weren't available before.
Sometimes, when new immigrants arrive, they choose to live near other people from their home country. This creates a cultural enclave. You might know these as 'Chinatown,' 'Little Italy,' or 'Little Ethiopia.' These neighborhoods act as a 'bridge.' They help new arrivals feel safe because they can speak their native language and find familiar foods while they learn the customs of their new country. Over time, these enclaves become famous tourist destinations, attracting visitors who want to experience different cultures, which brings even more money into the city's economy.
Imagine a city where immigrants arrive from China. 1. They settle in one neighborhood to support each other. 2. They open grocery stores and restaurants. 3. People from all over the city start visiting the neighborhood to buy authentic silk and eat dumplings. 4. The city decides to put a decorative 'Paifang' (gate) at the entrance. The neighborhood is now a 'cultural enclave' that preserves heritage while helping the city grow.
Consider a city that receives three waves of migration over years: - Wave 1: People from Italy start 'Little Italy.' - Wave 2: People from Vietnam start 'Little Saigon' nearby. - Wave 3: People from Mexico open markets in the same area.
What is the term for a neighborhood where many people of the same ethnic background live together?
How do immigrant entrepreneurs mainly help the economy?
Cultural diversity can make a city more attractive to tourists.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to explain to a family member what a 'cultural enclave' is and why it helps new immigrants.
Practice Activity
Look at a map of a major city near you (like New York, London, or San Francisco). Can you find the names of any cultural enclaves?