aiMOOC

E10 E - Regional identity and internal diversity

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E10 E - Regional identity and internal diversity

One place can mean different things to different people. In this aiMOOC, you explore Wales as a case study for regional identity within the UK while remembering that Wales is also a country in its own right. You investigate how people can relate differently to place, language, history and culture. A flag, an accent, rugby, Welsh, a city, a landscape or a festival may matter to someone, but none of these features defines every person.

Guiding question: How can a region have shared stories and symbols while people inside it still belong in different ways?

Media entry: One place, many stories

Look at the images first. Do not search for the “typical Welsh person”. Instead ask: What does each image make visible? What does it leave out?

Media analysis: Write three observations, two possible interpretations and one question.
Representation: Which image could challenge a simple stereotype about Wales? Explain why.
Source awareness: Separate what you can actually see from what you infer.

I can ...

I can explain regional identity and internal diversity in clear English.
I can understand key ideas in authentic videos and short data-based texts.
I can compare perspectives and support a point with evidence from more than one source.
I can discuss identity without turning one person, language or tradition into a stereotype.
I can write a coherent argument, use source-aware language and revise my own text.
I can mediate key information for a specific audience without translating everything word for word.

Before you start

Prior knowledge: Name four things that can connect a person to a place.
Multiple identities: Can someone feel Welsh and British, local and global, or connected to more than one language? Give a reason.
Source check: What is the difference between a tourism advert, census data and a personal statement?

Core idea: identity is layered

Regional identity is a sense of belonging connected to a place. It can grow from everyday experience, family stories, language, work, migration, music, sport, landscape, neighbourhoods or shared memories. Internal diversity means that people in the same place may connect to these things in very different ways.

A useful rule for this unit is: shared place does not mean identical identity.

A historic festival image can tell us something about cultural heritage. It still cannot stand for every person, every period or every form of Welsh culture.

Evidence snapshot: Wales is not one story

The 2021 Census gives useful patterns, but it does not tell us what every individual feels.

Welsh language: In the 2021 Census, 538,300 residents aged three or older reported that they could speak Welsh. That was 17.8% of that population group.
Regional variation: Welsh-speaking ability varied strongly. Gwynedd and the Isle of Anglesey had the highest percentages, while many areas in south-east Wales had lower percentages.
National identity: In 2021, 55.2% of residents selected “Welsh only” as a national identity, 8.1% selected both “Welsh” and “British”, and 18.5% selected “British only”.
Urban diversity: Census data for Cardiff show greater linguistic and ethnic diversity than in many other Welsh local authorities.

Important: Language ability and identity are not the same variable. A person can feel strongly Welsh without speaking Welsh, and a Welsh speaker can describe their identity in more than one way.

Source basis: GOV.WALES: Welsh language in Wales, Census 2021 and GOV.WALES: Ethnic group, national identity, language and religion in Wales, Census 2021.

Listening and viewing 1: What image of Wales is being sold?

This 2024 Visit Wales advert is a promotional source. Its job is not to show every part of life in Wales.

First viewing: Note five things you see or hear.
Second viewing: Identify three choices in image, music, pace or wording that create a mood.
Media purpose: Write one sentence beginning: “The advert presents Wales as ... because ...”
Missing voices: Name two aspects of everyday life that the advert does not show.
Source criticism: Explain why “attractive” is not the same as “complete” or “neutral”.

Listening and viewing 2: Language, belonging and public messages

The speaker in this official Welsh Government video argues that Cymraeg belongs to everyone in Wales. Treat the video as a situated viewpoint: identify the speaker, purpose and evidence before accepting a claim.

Listening: Note key words connected to belonging, learning and language.
Viewpoint: What relationship between language and identity does the speaker promote?
Evidence: Which parts are personal experience, which are policy aims, and which would need independent data?
Comparison: Compare this message with the 2021 Census snapshot above.

Listening and viewing 3: Butetown – local history and diversity

A Town of Many is a 2020 educational film connected to Cathays High School and University of Bristol work on Butetown heritage and social inclusion. Butetown grew around Cardiff's docks and has a long history of migration and cultural exchange.

Viewing: Collect examples of place, migration, memory and community.
History: How can dock history still shape identity today?
Perspective: Whose voices are included? Which voices might still be missing?
Transfer: Explain how a neighbourhood can have a strong local identity and still contain many different life stories.

Background source: National Library of Wales: Tiger Bay migration stories.

Reading: four fictional voices

These profiles are fictional composites. They are not real pupils and they do not represent whole groups.

Nia, 16, Gwynedd: “I use Welsh with some relatives and at school, but a lot of my online life is in English. Welsh matters to me, but I do not think language should be a test that decides who belongs.”

Samir, 16, Cardiff: “Cardiff feels like home because of my friends, my neighbourhood and the stories my family tells about the city. We use English and Arabic at home. I am learning Welsh, but my connection to Wales is already real.”

Maja, 15, Wrexham: “My family speaks Polish and English. I notice Welsh in school, on signs and at events. Sometimes I feel connected to several places at once. That does not make one of them less important.”

Evan, 16, Swansea: “For me, local music, football and my grandparents’ stories about industry matter more than national symbols. My sister feels differently, even though we grew up in the same family.”

Reading comprehension: For each profile, identify the strongest link to place, language, history or culture.
Text comparison: Find one similarity and one difference between two profiles.
Inference: Which profile shows most clearly that identity can be multiple? Explain with evidence.
Critical reading: Why would it be wrong to call any one profile “the Welsh view”?

Context vocabulary

Word	Useful meaning	Useful phrase
belonging	feeling connected to a place or group	a sense of belonging
heritage	traditions, memories and history passed on	cultural heritage
bilingual	using two languages	a bilingual sign
identity	how people understand who they are	regional identity
diversity	meaningful differences inside a group	internal diversity
representation	the way a person or place is shown	media representation
perspective	a point of view shaped by experience	compare perspectives
evidence	information that supports a claim	evidence from a source
bias	influence that can shape what is selected or omitted	possible source bias
overgeneralise	make a claim that is too broad	avoid overgeneralising

Pronunciation focus

Clarity matters more than sounding like a native speaker. Focus on word stress.

regional /ˈriːdʒənəl/ – stress the first syllable.
identity /aɪˈdentəti/ – stress the second syllable.
diversity /daɪˈvɜːsəti/ – stress the second syllable.
bilingual /baɪˈlɪŋɡwəl/ – stress the second syllable.
heritage /ˈherɪtɪdʒ/ – stress the first syllable.
belonging /bɪˈlɒŋɪŋ/ – stress the second syllable.

Read one sentence slowly, then once at natural speed: “Regional identity can be shared, while personal belonging remains diverse.”

Functional grammar: compare, qualify, avoid overclaiming

Use language that matches the strength of your evidence.

Contrast: “Nia connects language with belonging, whereas Evan focuses more on local history and culture.”
Qualification: “The advert suggests that landscape is central to the image of Wales.”
Hedging: “Language may be important to identity, but it does not define everyone.”
Evidence frame: “According to the 2021 Census, ...”
Limitation: “This source shows a broad pattern, but it cannot explain every individual experience.”

Avoid absolute claims such as “All Welsh people ...”, “Wales is ...” or “This proves ...” when your evidence is limited.

Speaking: evidence-based discussion

Discuss: “A shared regional identity needs a shared language.”

Prepare before you speak:

Make one claim.
Use evidence from at least two course sources.
Include one counterpoint.
Use one phrase such as “This suggests ...”, “However ...” or “A limitation is ...”.
Respond to another speaker’s idea, not to the person.

Privacy: Audio or video recording is optional. Keep recordings private unless everyone involved has explicitly agreed to sharing. Do not upload classmates’ voices, images or texts without permission.

Writing: one place, several identities

Write 180–220 words on this statement:

“A region can have a shared identity without having one single story.”

Use at least two sources from the course and one fictional profile. Include a clear position, one comparison, one counterpoint and a short conclusion. Name the source type: for example, census data, promotional video, official speech, historical image or educational film.

Writing frame:

Opening: “Regional identity can be understood as ...”
Evidence: “The Census data show ..., while the video presents ...”
Comparison: “Whereas ..., ...”
Evaluation: “This source is useful because ..., but its limitation is ...”
Conclusion: “Therefore, internal diversity means ...”

Mediation: purpose before translation

Your German exchange partner asks: “Why is a bilingual road sign interesting, but not enough to explain identity in Wales?”

Write an 80–100 word German message that explains the key idea. Use the sign, one Census point and one fictional profile. Do not translate the English course text sentence by sentence. Select what your addressee needs.

Help and sentence starters

Describe: “The source shows ...”
Compare: “Both sources ..., but only source B ...”
Analyse: “This choice may influence the audience because ...”
Evaluate: “The source is useful for ..., although ...”
Disagree respectfully: “I see your point, but the evidence also suggests ...”
Avoid stereotypes: “This is one perspective, not a statement about everyone.”

Feedback and revision

Exchange drafts or discuss them with a partner. Give feedback on meaning first, then language.

Is the main claim easy to find?
Is each general claim supported by evidence?
Are source and purpose named accurately?
Does the text compare perspectives instead of listing them?
Are absolute or stereotypical claims avoided?
Do connectors make the argument easy to follow?
Has the writer kept their own original draft and revised it deliberately?

Revise at least one paragraph after feedback. Highlight one change that improved precision and one that improved coherence.

Error analysis

Improve these sentences and explain the problem.

“Everyone in Wales speaks Welsh.”
“The tourism advert proves what Wales is really like.”
“People which live in the same place have the same identity.”
“The census says 17.8%, so language is not important.”
“Samir represents multicultural Wales.”

Think about factual accuracy, grammar, source limits and overgeneralisation.

AI and source check

If you use an AI tool for ideas or language feedback, keep your own draft. Check factual claims against reliable sources before using them. Do not treat an AI answer as a source by itself. Do not paste personal data, classmates’ work, private recordings or identifiable school material into external AI systems without permission.

A strong check asks:

Who created the information?
For what purpose?
When was it created?
What evidence is given?
What might be missing?
Can another reliable source confirm the key claim?

Transfer: your own region

Choose one place you know in Baden-Württemberg or another region. Explore one example of internal diversity: dialect and standard language, city and countryside, migration history, local industry, religion, music, sport or another relevant factor.

Use two different source types. Explain what they show, what they do not show and why no single feature should be treated as the “real” identity of the whole region.

Can-do check

I can ...	Yes	Mostly	Not yet
explain regional identity and internal diversity	□	□	□
understand the main ideas of an authentic video	□	□	□
compare two perspectives with evidence	□	□	□
identify purpose, selection and limits in a source	□	□	□
write a coherent 180–220 word response	□	□	□
revise my text after feedback	□	□	□
mediate key information for a specific audience	□	□	□

Follow-up course

Continue with E10 E - Representation, belonging and media to examine how news, advertising, social media and personal storytelling shape ideas about places and communities.

Interaktive Aufgaben

Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen

What does internal diversity mean? (People in the same region can have different identities and experiences) (!Everyone in a region shares the same identity) (!Only language creates regional identity) (!Internal diversity means regions have no shared features)

What can Census data show especially well? (Broad patterns across a population) (!Exactly how every person feels) (!The true personality of a region) (!A neutral answer to every identity question)

What share of residents aged three or older reported being able to speak Welsh in the 2021 Census? (17.8 percent) (!55.2 percent) (!64.4 percent) (!91.1 percent)

Which statement best reflects regional variation in Welsh-speaking ability in 2021? (Percentages were especially high in parts of north-west Wales) (!Percentages were identical in every local authority) (!The highest percentages were only in Cardiff) (!Welsh-speaking ability was not measured by area)

What is a media representation? (A selected way of presenting a person, group or place) (!A complete copy of reality) (!A list of grammar rules) (!A census category)

What is a strong first step in source criticism? (Check who created the source and for what purpose) (!Assume official-looking sources are always neutral) (!Choose the source with the strongest images) (!Ignore the date if the source is interesting)

What is the main purpose of a tourism advert? (To attract interest in visiting a place) (!To represent every resident equally) (!To replace census research) (!To provide a complete social history)

What does good mediation require? (Selecting and adapting relevant information for the audience) (!Translating every sentence word for word) (!Adding facts that were not in the source) (!Keeping all difficult details even when they are irrelevant)

Why are words such as may and suggests useful in analysis? (They help match the strength of a claim to the evidence) (!They make every claim uncertain and useless) (!They replace the need for evidence) (!They are only used in informal speech)

Which statement avoids a cultural stereotype? (This source shows one perspective and cannot represent everyone) (!Welsh identity always depends on speaking Welsh) (!People from Cardiff all share the same culture) (!Rugby defines Welsh people)

Memory

Regional identity	Sense of belonging connected to an area
Internal diversity	Differences within one region
Bilingualism	Use of two languages
Heritage	Traditions and history passed on
Representation	Way a person or place is presented
Source bias	Influence of purpose or perspective on information

Drag and Drop

Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu.	Thema
Place	Physical and social location linked to belonging
Language	A form of communication that can connect people and communities
History	The remembered and recorded past of a place
Culture	Shared and changing practices, arts, values and traditions
Perspective	A point of view shaped by position and experience

...

Kreuzworträtsel

Identity	What word describes how people understand who they are?
Bilingualism	What word describes the use of two languages?
Heritage	What word means traditions and history passed on?
Perspective	What word means a point of view?
Diversity	What word means meaningful differences within a group?
Belonging	What word describes feeling connected to a place or group?

LearningApps

Lückentext

Regional identity describes a sense of

connected to a place. People in the same region can still show internal

. In the 2021 Census, 17.8% of residents aged three or older reported that they could speak

. Census data can show broad patterns, but they cannot explain every individual

. A tourism advert is a form of media

with a specific purpose. Strong analysis compares sources and uses

for its claims. Words such as “may” or “suggests” help a writer avoid

. Good mediation adapts information to the needs of the

.

Offene Aufgaben

Leicht

Image reading: Choose one Commons image from the course and write five observations without interpretation, then add two careful interpretations.
Identity map: Create a private identity map for a fictional teenager using place, language, history and culture. Do not use a real classmate.
Vocabulary in context: Write six original sentences using belonging, heritage, diversity, representation, perspective and evidence.
Source purpose: Compare the purpose of the Visit Wales advert with the purpose of the Census page in 100 words.

Standard

Fictional interview: Write eight interview questions for one fictional profile, then answer them consistently in character without claiming the profile is typical.
Media comparison: Compare the tourism advert and the Butetown film. Identify two similarities, two differences and one important omission in each.
Mini podcast: Plan a two-minute private audio commentary on “One Wales, many identities”. Recording is optional; a script is always sufficient.
Mediation task: Prepare a short German briefing for an exchange student explaining why Welsh language data and Welsh identity data should not be treated as the same thing.

Schwer

Source triangulation: Investigate one claim about Wales using three source types and explain where they agree, differ or leave gaps.
Representation redesign: Storyboard a 45-second tourism clip that deliberately includes internal diversity without turning people into tokens or stereotypes.
Local history comparison: Compare Butetown with one neighbourhood or town in Baden-Württemberg that has been shaped by migration or industry. Use reliable sources and state the limits of your comparison.
Argument revision: Write a 220-word argument, collect peer feedback, revise it and annotate three changes that improved evidence use, coherence or precision.

Lernkontrolle

Source comparison: Explain how the Visit Wales advert and Census data construct different kinds of knowledge about Wales. Give two strengths and two limitations for each.
Evidence and identity: Use the language and national identity statistics to show why “speaking Welsh” and “feeling Welsh” cannot be treated as the same measure.
Perspective analysis: Compare two fictional profiles and explain how similar surroundings can still lead to different relationships with place, language, history or culture.
Historical transfer: Use the Butetown material to explain how migration and urban change can influence regional identity across generations.
Media judgement: Choose one image and one video. Explain how framing, selection and purpose shape the audience’s view of Wales.
Transfer task: Apply the concept of internal diversity to a region you know. Use at least two concrete examples and avoid a single “typical” identity.

Lernnachweis

For a strong learning record, you should be able to:

define regional identity and internal diversity in your own words;
use at least two different source types as evidence;
distinguish data, personal viewpoint, promotion and historical material;
compare perspectives without stereotyping;
use contrast, hedging and source-aware language accurately;
write a coherent argument and document a revision after feedback;
mediate selected information for a specific audience rather than translate everything;
transfer the concept to another region with suitable evidence.

OERs zum Thema

Useful open or publicly accessible sources:

Media note: Wikimedia Commons file pages provide licence and attribution information. YouTube videos remain on their hosting platform; availability and captions can change. Check source, date, creator and purpose before reuse.

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