1.en.10 Migration narratives

We’ve been travelling together since the beginning of the school year, haven’t we?  This week you will finish presenting your travel projects that have taken us to distant lands.

Here we are  again, on the move, forced to pack. This time for a different reason, not just for pleasure. Unfortunately, current news are an endless source of information about people who are forced to leave their countries and settle elsewhere.

1. Why do people migrate?
2. What are the push and pull forces that make people move?
3.  How do they feel about leaving their  belongings behind?
4. What do they take with them?

These are some of the issues we shall investigate. In this BBC site you can find some answers to the first two questions. 

Regarding questions 3 and 4 we’ll try to find some answers in   an old suitcase full of  memories from distant lands. We read the stories  in 

What do all these stories have in common? Well, you’ll  need to find out.  They were compiled by the New York Times a couple of years ago. Your teachers and your classmates last year found them inspiring.  We hope you do too.

 

Choose three stories and compare them. Go through the check list below and take notes. Be ready to report about your findings.

1. How long have they been in the USA?
2. Why did they leave their country?
3. How old are they?
4. What is their job?
5. What did they do in their country of origin?
6. Do they regret moving to the States?
7. Do they give any details on their background and family life before they emigrated?
8. What are their plans for the future?
9. What is the object they have chosen to keep? 
10. Why is it valuable for them?
11. Use the interactive map to check the number of people who emigrate to the USA. Compare with other destinations
12.  Which story did you find the most interesting/ moving?  Why?
13.  Read some of the comments generated by the article. Choose one and copy it in your notebook.

 

Use this interactive map to check the number of people who migrate to the USA. (arrivals)  compare it with departures. 

Also, can you add extra information about the country of origin? the reasons  for leaving their country?