世界中の人々が集まって国が作られてきたアメリカとカナダには、毎年多くの移住者が集まっている。新しく移住してきた人たちの暮らしぶりは、アメリカとカナダではどう違うのだろう？

　

Yukiko:In America, I have heard their society described as a melting pot. However, in my class, a teacher described Canada as multicultural. Is there a difference?

Sandy:There is a difference. People who immigrate to a country and want to blend into it's culture is described as assimilation.

Yukiko: So many people who immigrate to America are expected to become American?

Sandy:Basically. That does not mean they have to deny their heritage, but they should try to assimilate themselves into American culture.

Yukiko:How is that different from Canada?

Sandy:Many people immigrate to Canada to feel that they can maintain their way of life. To be multicultural is to be a society made up of many different cultures.

Yukiko:But shouldn't they try to become Canadian?

Sandy: In both America and Canada, there is not only one way to be American or Canadian. I have family in both America and Canada, but we feel encouraged to be proud of original heritage and to share that heritage with other citizens.

Yukiko:What about people who are completely Canadian? Don't they want people to try to be the same?

Sandy:Almost every American or Canadian, with the exception of our First Nations peoples, have ancestors that immigrated to Canada. Almost every American and Canadian has their roots in another country and culture.

Yukiko:I see. By including different cultures, we learn from them and become a better society as a result.

　

Ask away ： 聞いてみて！
Melting pot ： 人種･文化のるつぼ
Blend into ： ･･･に溶け込む
Assimilation ： 同化
Deny their heritage ： その人たちの文化を否定する
How is that different from… ： ･･･とどう違うの
Maintain their way of life ： その人たちのライフスタイルを維持する
First Nations ： 先住民族