1.5. Jamie's grandad

Conocimiento previo

 

Imagen de Stevvvv4444 en wikipedia bajo licencia CC

The Empire Windrush story

The S. S. Empire Windrush arrived at the port of Tilbury on 22 June 1948, carrying 492 passengers from Jamaica wishing to start a new life in the United Kingdom. The passengers (including one stowaway) were the first large group of West Indian immigrants to the UK after the Second World War.

The arrival of the boat immediately prompted complaints from some members of parliament, but legislation controlling immigration was not passed until 1962.

These people were temporarily housed in the Clapham South deep shelter in south-west London, less than a mile away from the Coldharbour Lane Employment Exchange in Brixton, where some of the men and women sought work. Many intended to stay for a few years and came alone, although the majority remained and settled permanently when their families came.

Source: adapted from MV Empire Windrush. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Empire_Windrush

Eva Dlouhy's story

I know it's hard and difficult to leave your own country, settle in a new place and learn a new language. I, too, came here as an immigrant more than 20 years ago with my husband and then three year old son from the former Czechoslovakia, where we escaped communism.

Not knowing much English, I was pleased to have the opportunity to learn the language once I arrived in London.
At that time, English as a Second Language (ESL) classes were offered at Fanshawe College, in a few churches, and at libraries.
There were also evening programs offered at a few public schools.

After finishing my course in ESL at Fanshawe College, I continued
studying and I also volunteered at public schools.
I used to be an elementary teacher in Czechoslovakia, where
I developed my passion for teaching.

Source: Adapted from ESL. http://immigration.london.ca/about-us/story-gallery/ESL.htm

Imagen de Julie Facine en Flickr bajo licencia CC

Actividad desplegable

Read the two stories carefully and choose:

1. Who arrived by boat?

2. Who was received in their new country with some problems?

3. Who travelled with their family?

4. Who came with the idea of returning to their country of origin?

5. Who had to learn a new language?

6. Who received help from some English institutions?

7. Who continued working in their profession?

8. Who could not return to their country of origin?

9. Who had to look for a job?

10. Who had to study before working in their new country?

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Rellenar huecos

Listen, read and complete the story below. Use contracted forms with the verbs in negative. (was not / wasn't, did not / didn't)

 

Juan meets Mati's friend Jamie at the pub. Jamie talks about his grandfather's experience when he came to London.

"My grandad(come) here in the 1950's. He (leave) Jamaica when he (be) 20 and he (come) by boat . Imagine! The journey almost (take) 20 days. The ship (not be) like the modern cruisers either, it was a shabby, tiny nutshell compared with today's ocean liners. He said he (feel) seasick most of the time and he was always hungry. He (not like) the British food that they (serve)  and most of the time he (eat) bread and (drink) water. Life on board wasn't easy either, he shared the ship cabin with half a dozen other travellers and it got colder and colder as he approached Britain. When he landed on the docks of the Port of Tilbury it was a terrible shock, it was midwinter and he didn't have a coat! Lucky, that his brother, my granduncle was waiting outside the immigration office and he brought him a coat. After that, they ran off to catch the train. He stayed with my granduncle until he found a nice rented room with an Irish family. And guess what? He met my grandmother there. That's where I get my blue-green eyes, but that's another story!"

 

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Actividad desplegable

Look at the words in bold letters.

  1. Choose the word that does not belong to this group: boat, ship, docks, oceanliner, cruiser
  2. Choose the word that means:

a) A bedroom in a boat. 

b) A travel, from one place to another. 

c) Vomiting caused by sea travel. 

d) Foreign people visit this place to work and live in a new country. 

e) On the ship. 

 

Learn more vocabulary about boats and sea travelling.

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