In today’s blog, let’s try something different and explore the topic of integration into Canadian society, which often comes up in the IELTS or CELPIP exams.
Sometimes, it is difficult to feel comfortable in a new country, especially if you miss your home. If you feel homesick, sometimes it may help to discover new cultures and activities.
Think about the following questions:
- Do you often miss your home country? What do you miss most about it? How do you attempt to deal with this feeling?
- Do you feel integrated into Canadian society? Is it important to you to feel integrated? If so, can you think of any strategies to become more integrated?
I will present a reading/listening topic, but first, check out the following vocabulary.
If you want a more complete definition, google the word. You can also google the word and its pronunciation to make sure you are familiar with the proper pronunciation.
VOCABULARY QUICK MEANING
crane a heron, an aquatic bird with a long neck
Origami the Japanese art of paper folding
depressed extremely sad, miserable
to integrate to become part of something (Canadian culture)
weird extremely strange, bizarre
multicultural involving many cultures
a waste of time time spent in a useless way
atmosphere the feeling, the ambiance
percussion musical instruments such as drums, bells, etc. which you play by
hitting them
workshop a short class with a specific focus
spectacular stunning, amazing, fantastic
extravaganza show, performance (on a large, grand scale)
Métis people descended from Native and French Canadians
Six Nations an alliance of Indigenous Canadians living near Brantford, ON
Pow-Wow a celebration that showcases Indigenous music, dance, crafts, etc.
Oktoberfest a German Beer Festival held in Kitchener/Waterloo
lumberjack a woodcutter, someone who cuts down trees
heritage tradition, custom, culture
Kapuskasing a small town in northern Ontario
Idioms and expressions
to mope around to sulk, to brood, to be depressed, sad
to hang /out with/around at to stay at, to lounge around at,
the thing the problem/issue
to get your feet wet to try something new (just a little)
to jump right in the deep end to try something new (with no hesitation)
to have something in common to share the same interests
to tag along with someone to come along, to join in
Now, listen to the conversation.
Try listening without reading, and then answer the questions at the end. If you find the dialogue challenging, you can also read along.
This is great practice for both the IELTS and CELPIP exams. Note: This dialogue is longer than typical IELTS or CELPIP listening tasks, so it will be a challenge to answer all of the questions. Let’s see how many you can answer.
Dialogue: Listen to the following dialogue between two friends: Hao, from Hong Kong, and Jaewon, from South Korea. Both of them have been in Canada for the same amount of time, but Hao feels a lot more integrated and comfortable here than Jaewon does.
Hao: Hey, Jaewon, what are you up to?
Jaewon : Oh, I’m making paper cranes. It’s kind of like origami. According to Korean tradition, a young man should make 1,000 paper cranes for his girlfriend as a sign of love.
Hao: Oh, how romantic! But isn’t your girlfriend back in Korea?
Jaewon: Yeah. And to be honest, she asked me to make the cranes. It wasn’t my idea!
Hao: So, is this your excuse for not coming to the class party on Saturday night? Don’t tell me you’re busy. I mean, we don’t have exams right now, and you’re not working or anything. C’mon, what’s up? I always see you moping around, looking depressed.
Jaewon: Ok, I’ll admit it: I really miss Korea, so I spend most of my time on the Net, chatting to friends back home, reading Korean News, and playing on-line games.
Hao: You really ought to get out of the house more. If you miss Korea so much, why don’t you hang out at a Korean café or bar?
Jaewon: That’s the thing. When I think about doing that, I get even more depressed. I really would like to feel more integrated here in Canada, but I just don’t know how to do it.
Hao: Well, I felt the same way at first, but you have to go out and get your feet wet. Or better yet, jump right into the deep end! You know, this might sound weird, but I really like going to cultural events from other countries. I mean, Canada is a multicultural country, right? So, I think it’s important, and a lot of fun, to get to know all the other cultures living around here.
Jaewon: Don’t you think it’s a waste of time? I mean, I’m not interested in cultures from half a world away.
Hao: No, not at all. Getting to know other cultures can actually help you integrate better into Canadian society. Let me explain: one event I really like is Brazilfest, which is held every year on Centre Island. I just love the atmosphere, the people, and especially the batucada, which is a kind of music performed by very lively percussion groups.
Jaewon: That doesn’t sound like my idea of fun.
Hao: Ah… Well, I didn’t think so either, but you never know until you try. Anyway, after going to Brazilfest two years ago, I began to get interested in percussion. So, the following year, I went to both the International Drumming Festival and also to Afrofest, which are weekend activities held at Queen’s Park downtown. I got so interested in percussion that I signed up for a couple of workshops and joined an African Percussion class. And guess what? I’ve become very good friends with some of the people in my group. They are Canadians from all sorts of backgrounds, including some whose families have been living here for over a century.
Jaewon: So, in the end, your interest in multiculturalism helped you to integrate into a social group with Canadians from many different backgrounds.
Hao: That’s right. It’s easy when you meet people you have something in common with.
Jaewon: So, what other cultural events have you been to? I suppose you’ve been to Caribana, the famous parade?
Hao: Actually, I would call it a spectacular street party extravaganza rather than a parade. Besides, along with concerts featuring Caribbean music such as calypso and steel drumming, Caribana also includes food competitions, theatre, dance, storytelling and avvisual art exhibition.
Jaewon: Wow, that’s pretty impressive.
Hao: And a lot of fun. But you know, just about every ethnic festival features a wide variety of activities. I’ve really enjoyed the Toronto Turkish Festival, The Chinese Lantern Festival, The Beaches Jazz Festival, RastaFest, MuslimFest, and well, the list goes on and on. And in case you’re wondering, I’ve also been to the Métis Festival at Black Creek Pioneer Village, which was a nice look into Native Canadian Culture. This year, I’m also going to the World Fest at Ontario Place, which will have attractions from over 50 countries.
Jaewon: Wow, you don’t stop!
Hao: I guess I don’t. I’ve also been to festivals when I’ve been out of town, like the Six Nations’ Pow-WowFestival near Brantford, the Dragon Boat Races in Sudbury,Oktoberfest in Kitchener/Waterloo, and even the Lumberjack Heritage Festival in Kapuskasing.
Jaewon: Wow. Ok, Hao. You’re a good salesperson. Say, which festival are you going to this weekend? I’d like to tag along.
Hao: Actually, this weekend, I’m planning to spend some quiet time at home, but I could help you with your cranes, if you want.
Jaewon: Sure. Just don’t tell my girlfriend.
Listening for Gist – Questions
1. General Understanding
- What is the main topic of the conversation?
- Why are Hao and Jaewon talking to each other?
- What problem is Jaewon experiencing?
2. Speaker Attitudes
- How does Jaewon feel about his life in Canada overall?
- How does Hao feel about living in Canada?
- What is Hao’s attitude toward trying new cultural experiences?
3. Purpose of the Conversation
- What is Hao mainly trying to do in this conversation?
- Why doesn’t Jaewon want to go to the class party at first?
4. Key Idea / Contrast
- What is the main difference between Hao’s and Jaewon’s lifestyles?
- How does Hao suggest Jaewon can improve his situation?
5. Outcome / Ending
- Does Jaewon change his attitude by the end of the conversation?
- What decision do they make at the end?
Questions for further discussion:
- Have you ever been to any cultural events or festivals in Ontario? Did you enjoy the experience? What did you enjoy the most? Are you interested in attending more cultural events in Ontario? Why or why not?
- What is your opinion of Hao’s method for integrating into Canada? Do you think his methods will help Jaewon stop missing home so much? Why or why not?
- Hao feels happy with how he is integrating into society and Jaewon is not as satisfied with his own progress. Do you think it is necessary to try to integrate into your new country? Do you feel integrated? Can you think of any ideas that may help you feel more integrated?
Written by: Larry Fedorowick
IELTS / CELPIP Topic
