ESL Blogs

Where were you born? This country is called your native country. It it also your homeland and your birthplace. Is it where you belong? This month, I'd like you to tell us about the land of your birth and your sense of belonging.

Your Task
1. Watch and listen to "Vseki den" by EnglishClub's musician Jonathan Taylor Britunculli.
2. Create a new blog post. Use the title: Writing Challenge - The Land of My Birth
3. Tell us where you were born and where you feel most at home. Comment on your sense of loyalty. Do you feel that you belong in your homeland, or are you more comfortable living and working in another country? What about your hometown? Do you feel a sense of belonging there?
4. Publish your post and share a link to it in the comments below!

Go see what is there 

In this beautiful world

But don't forget to return

To the land of your birth

It's where you belong

~ Vseki den, Jonathan Taylor Britunculli

Useful vocabulary
patriotic: showing or feeling loyalty to one's country

loyal: staying true to one person or thing

hometown: the city you were born (and/or) raised in

brain drain: the loss of intelligent or skilled workers from a country

expatriate (expat): a person who lives outside his or her native country

national pride: love or devotion for one's homeland

My Example:

The Land of My Birth
I was born in Vancouver, Canada.  I love being a Canadian! I consider myself a patriotic person. I feel a strong sense of national pride when I watch Canadians compete in the Olympic Games. 

I've lived in a few different areas of Canada, and I feel most at home in the province of British Columbia where I was born. However, I didn't spend my childhood there. I grew up in Ontario, which is quite far from BC (about a five hour plane ride). I moved back to BC after university and started a family there. My family moved back to Ontario to be close to my brothers and their families for a while. It's wonderful to watch the cousins growing up together! 

Though I feel a strong sense of belonging in Canada, I don't think I owe my country anything. I think people should feel free to explore the world and live wherever they feel at home.  I would be willing to live and work in another country if my children could receive a good education and it wasn't too expensive to live there. My husband would love to live in the southern United States where winters are mild. It's difficult for Canadians to get jobs in the US, though. We have a great healthcare system in Canada. Many retired Canadians live in the southern US for the winter, but come back to Canada every six months to benefit from our healthcare plan. 

Eventually, I will move back home to BC. The ocean, forests, mountains, and milder winters are calling my name...