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Migration and multiculturalism are key themes in the BAC Terminale English programme. Types of migration : economic migration, refugee and asylum seeker, internal migration (rural-urban). Push factors : poverty, conflict, climate change, lack of opportunity. Pull factors : better wages, safety, family reunification, education. Irregular migration : dangerous crossings (Mediterranean, Sahara), smuggling networks. Diaspora : communities living outside their country of origin while maintaining cultural ties. African diaspora : in France, USA, UK, Italy — remittances, brain drain, cultural exchange. Multiculturalism : the coexistence of diverse cultures in one society. Integration vs assimilation : integration = maintaining identity while adapting; assimilation = adopting the host culture fully. Challenges : xenophobia, discrimination, cultural tensions, legal status. Benefits : cultural enrichment, economic contributions, demographic renewal. Key vocabulary : asylum seeker, refugee, deportation, undocumented migrant, remittance, integration, xenophobia, multiculturalism, diaspora.
Exercise 1 : Answer in developed paragraphs.
1. What are the main push and pull factors of migration?
2. What is the difference between a refugee and an economic migrant?
3. Are remittances a sustainable development strategy for Senegal?
Exercise 2 : Write a balanced discursive essay (250 words):
'Immigration enriches host countries more than it burdens them. Discuss.'
What is the difference between a refugee and an economic migrant?
Correction
A refugee has fled their country due to a well-founded fear of persecution (war, violence, political oppression, religious persecution) and is protected under the 1951 UN Refugee Convention. They cannot be returned to a place where they face danger (non-refoulement). An economic migrant moves voluntarily for better economic opportunities. They are not legally protected in the same way, though their needs may be equally urgent.
What are remittances and what role do they play in African development?
Correction
Remittances are money sent by migrants to their families in their home countries. For many African countries, remittances exceed foreign direct investment and aid. In Senegal, remittances represent a significant share of GDP. They fund education, healthcare, housing, and small businesses. However, they create dependency, do not address root causes of migration, and fluctuate with the host country's economy.
What is the difference between integration and assimilation?
Correction
Integration means migrants adapt to their host society — learning the language, following laws, participating in civic life — while maintaining their cultural identity. Assimilation means migrants fully adopt the culture of the host society, often at the cost of their original identity. Integration is generally considered more respectful of diversity and more sustainable; assimilation can lead to cultural loss and identity conflict.