Language of the Heart
Leveraging Multilingualism for Success
2 hour cultural presentation
In the modern world, people move from one country to another, from one language environment to another and from one culture to another. It is assumed that when a person enters a new country, they will make an effort to assimilate by learning and accepting the local culture and language.
Unfortunately, emotional development is strongly tied to the context in which it occurs, including the language, and simply starting to speak another language brings with it emotional complications, despite the best efforts of everyone involved.
In a multicultural world with a large migrant population, many countries are facing challenges with diversity. Migrants do not assimilate as well as they could do. They tend to keep to their own community, socialize within their ethnic group at work, do business within their trusted cultural circle, prefer the company of those who speak their language and isolate themselves to some degree from “the locals”.
The locals, on the other hand, do exactly the same.
This division between “locals” and “migrants” is highly undesirable for our society and our government systems, so pressure is put on migrants to desert their home language and switch to the local language. However, by choosing to give up the home language, the “language of the heart”, families give up academic performance, flexibility and the ability to support each other.
Fortunately, this can be addressed by migrants and locals understanding language acquisition and recognizing the great advantages that cultural fusion brings with it.
What’s in the presentation?
Number of participants in this presentation: unlimited.
Presentation running time: 2 hours, with a 5-minute break.
Presentation Contents:
- About migration
- Challenges of Migrants in a new country
- The Language Challenge
- Understanding Language Acquisition
- Primary vs. Secondary Language
- Languages and Academic Achievements
- Languages and Emotional Intelligence
- Approaches towards Multilingualism
- Culture and Language Challenges Faced by Migrants
- Language of the Heart
- Solutions
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Benefits of this presentation to the participants
- Understanding the different dimensions of culture
- Becoming familiar with the cultural gap – values and needs
- Learning about cultural barriers, including religion and family structure
- Seeing the effects of the language barrier
- Finding out the facts about migration
- Understanding multiculturalism
- Understanding the personal effects of migration
- Seeing life in Australia as a cultural context
- “Traveling” around the world and learn about different customs
- Learning great ways to make immigration easier for newcomers and locals alike and to create a stronger society for everyone
Benefits of this presentation to the community
- Creating a tolerant, accepting attitude towards other cultures, traditions and languages
- Promoting flexibility and excellence through strengthening of organic language studies
- Building happy communities within an accepting environment
- Encouraging strong, positive communication across ethnic groups
- Producing more independent and self-sufficient families and youth
- Fusing ideas from different places into optimal solutions locally
- Building a more productive workforce, where everyone feels that they belong and works towards the general interest
- Making the country an attractive place for highly educated, highly skilled and highly motivated migrants
Who is this presentation suitable for?
- Multicultural organizations
- Multinational companies
- Ethnic communities and organizations
- Cultural events and festivals – available to the public or sold for an additional price
- Immigration agents, lawyers and consultants
- Education departments
- Schools
- Universities
- Language schools
- Expatriate (expat) associations
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Feedback
Here is some participant feedback from a recent presentation:
The presentation showed the fact that the mother-tongue language should be maintained in a child’s life to make his/her English better. My clients are Vietnamese and they feel sorry that they don’t have English to bring-up their children with. This piece of information helps me in my job
- Ngoc Croft, Inala Youth services
The presentation reinforced the concept of primary language and the importance of a second primary model
- Lin Holzheimer, Inala Youth services
The presentation explained that there’s no need to change your primary language and the importance of speaking your language with your kids
- Tua Moga, Inala Youth Services
The presentation showed me that it is important for immigrants to speak their primary language at home. I learnt the importance of languages for leaning and how there are different types of languages. I learnt about the crucial ages for children to learn languages. I learnt the way we acquire language
- Shakina Rahel Burdo, Inala Youth services
The presentation was very thought provoking. I really learnt something from it. Excellent inherit;”>presentation
- N.W., Inala Youth services
I found that the presentation brought more understanding for our English only speaking workers, and helped them to understand what we go through as immigrants
- Samuel Johnson, Inala Youth services
This presentation explained the diverse advantage of those individuals who speak more than one language
- J., Inala Youth services