Discuss with pupils reasons why people choose to travel to live in Northern Ireland? What challenges do they face? How can we make them feel welcome? Twenty-five different nationalities have registered to vote in Northern Ireland. One of the big challenges that these new arrivals face is learning a new language. Ask the class to research online and draw up a list of these twenty-five different nationalities and the possible languages they speak. Colour in these regions on a world map and estimate the distance they have travelled.
- BBC Topics: Immigration [article & Flash video]
- BBC News Special Report Destination UK [article]
- BBC News: Rise in Foreign Language pupils [article]
- BBC News: Immigrants could sway polls [Windows Media video]
Invite a person who has moved to Northern Ireland to speak to your class. Ask them to talk about their home country and their experience of Northern Ireland. Prepare a welcome pack for new arrivals to your community. What kind of information would be helpful to them?
