Basics
Area: 243,000 sq. km. (93,000 sq. mi.); slightly smaller than Oregon.
Capital: London
Climate: Generally mild and temperate
Nationality: British
Population : 62.2 million.
Major Ethnic Groups: British, Irish, West Indian, South Asian.
Major Religions: Church of England (Anglican), Roman Catholic, Church of Scotland (Presbyterian), Muslim.
Major Languages: English, Welsh, Irish Gaelic, Scottish Gaelic.
Education: Years compulsory--12. Attendance--nearly 100%. Literacy--99%.
Health: Infant mortality rate--4.85/1,000.
Life Expectancy --Males 76.5 yrs.; Females 81.6 yrs.; total 79.0 years.
http://www.state.gov/outofdate/bgn/unitedkingdom/153114.htm
Based on the information retrieved from the United States Government Website. A family moving from the United Kingdom face many challenges especially if they have children. Moving to a country that their majority speaks English may seem familiar to some yet far from normal for others depending on their families primary language. In regards to accommodating a families religious beliefs it is important to remember that the British population practice Anglican, Roman Catholic, or Presbyterian which are not unknown to those in the United States. Education is very important the the British citizens and that is reflective in the high attendance and literacy rate. There will be adjustments on the families part because it will not be familiar to them.
Ways that we can make it easier is by
1. Welcoming them and showing them the willingness to help them adjust
2. Giving the children an opportunity voice their concerns and giving them adequate time to adjust.
3. Ask their children's' parents if there are food considerations that need to be considered when it comes to teaching the children about holidays etc.
4. Take the time to get to know the families
5. Working close with families and other staff members to make the transition as smooth as possible for all involved.
Amanda,
ReplyDeleteI think you've brought up an excellent point. Although the majority of British families speak English, there still remain many other cultural differences that would need to be understood in order to help the child and family feel welcomed and comfortable in a new setting. I enjoyed reading your post and I think your blog design is quite beautiful.
Amanda,
ReplyDeleteI have a little girl in my class whose dad is Australian. Although we speak the same language the many cultural differences are apparent. Not all the words or terms we use are exactly the same.
We had an exchange student from England for a few months living in our home, and there were many cultural differences. Drinking age in the US being one of them! Just because we speak the same language does not mean we have the same world views.