Topic 5: Some people argue that immigrants should adopt the local culture when

immigrating to a new country. An alternative view is that they can adapt to a new
environment by establishing a minority community. Discuss these two views and give
your opinion .
) Contradictory or conflicting ) ,( coexistent ) ,( realize betterment ) ( dual approaches (
) merge into the new culture ,( ) integrate into the new society ;( ) dominant language ) ,( a fair chance
to succeed ; (
) mutual understanding ,( ) hostility and xenophobia ,( ) perceptions of threat ,( ) favorable attitudes
toward immigrants ) ;( positive perceptions of migrant groups (
) sense of identity ) ,( preservation of one's own festivals and cultural heritage ) ,( religion and cultural
groups ( ) satisfy most peoples' needs ; (
) unable to comprehend simple tasks in their new life ,( ) old country of residence ) ,( longing for
family ) ,( feel lost (
The world in the 21st century is marked by high population mobility. When an increasing
number of people have chosen to leave their motherlands and resettle in a new country, they
are at crossroads whether to blend in with the local culture or to cherish their own cultural
heritages by establishing a minority community. In my opinion, the convergence of different
cultures does not require one culture to yield to another. Instead, it can be achieved by
building minority communities .
ost immigrants, at the first stage of their life in a new country, are faced with merging
into the new culture and integrating into the new society. !ccepting the local culture by
observing the local traditions is a good starting point "oing so enables immigrants to
interact with locals, especially in the workplace, where locals predominantly work. #or
e$ample, in Western culture, people customarily keep a certain distance from each other
when having a conversation, whereas in some other cultures, the closeness of physical
distance is taken as a sign of mutual trust. %$amples of this kind are many. ! migrant to a
new country should recogni&e the differences and observe local conventions. It will help
avoid embarrassment and bring a sense of comfort .
While adopting local customs and blending into the local culture, migrants can follow
their individual cultural traditions. The coe$istence of different minority communities in a
country benefits both immigrants and locals. 'n the one hand, it enables immigrants to
counteract the stress that results from culture shock and to increase confidence in their
residence in a new country. 'n the other, the flourishing of different cultures contributes to
the establishment of a multi(cultural environment, a prere!uisite for attracting skilled
workforce from all over the world to settle .
)y comparing the immigration options above, one can conclude that immigrants can
adopt local conventions and cherish their own cultures simultaneously. This allows both
locals and immigrants to co(build a harmonious multi(cultural community .
" #otherland$ native country
% &esettle$relocate
' Convergence$union$(unction$meeting
) #erge into$blend into$integrate into
1
* +tarting point$basis
, Customarily$routinely$habitually$regularly$usually
- Closeness$nearness$proximity
. Counteract$offset$neutralize$counter
/ 0lourishing$blooming$budding
"1 2rere!uisite$re!uirement$condition$must$precondition
2