First we have to understand people came to Australia from different countries. For many of them English is not their own language and to break the barrier of different languages, there are many services and opportunities for newcomers to this country.

There are interpreter services, ESL (English as a Second Language) classes, community centres such as Neighbourhood Houses, libraries, as well as media outlets such as SBS television and radio, which both broadcast in different languages. There are many foreign language newspapers and magazines as well.

In the ESL classes, which I have attended, there are many opportunities to meet people from different countries. In my experience of these classes, teachers give each student the chance to express their own ideas by speaking and writing them. This means that students can tell each other about their own experiences and ideas on different subjects, such as education, religions, politics, historical events, and personal experiences from their own families.

Other ways to learn about different cultures is to share food prepared by students from other countries, join craft classes like the African women from Somalia who made some special items which expressed their identity. It was also interesting to learn about the fasting times of the Muslim religion from the class and which was printed in the local newspaper.

In all these ways people from different ethnic backgrounds, languages, skin colours, religions are all together getting to know and respect one another.

I think English classes are an effective melting pot. They not only teach English by opening the language barrier, they also help all of us understand differences, and to learn to accept those differences and understand the meaning of multiculturalism being a way for individuals to live together with differences.