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Year 11
Edexcel

Understanding the poem ‘In Wales, wanting to be Italian’ by Imtiaz Dharker

I can explain how Dharker presents ideas of cultural identity and belonging associated with youth.

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Year 11
Edexcel

Understanding the poem ‘In Wales, wanting to be Italian’ by Imtiaz Dharker

I can explain how Dharker presents ideas of cultural identity and belonging associated with youth.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Dharker was born in Lahore, Pakistan before moving to Glasgow, Scotland before her first birthday.
  2. Dharker's poems are testaments to her experience: intercultural identities and global living.
  3. Dharker's poetry explores the longing of youth - when you desire to be anyone more exciting than who you currently are.
  4. Dharker's poetry reminds the reader that people often look elsewhere to create a sense of belonging.

Keywords

  • Yearn - an intense longing or desire for something

  • Belonging - feeling accepted and comfortable in a particular group or place

  • Calvinist - a person who follows Calvinism, a type of Christianity that believes God controls everything

  • Cultural identity - a feeling of belonging to a particular culture or group

  • Intercultural identity - feeling like you belong to more than one culture; mixing different traditions and experiences

Common misconception

Dharker grew up in Wales.

Although Wales features in the title of this poem, Dharker moved to Scotland just before her first birthday. She references Glasgow (where she grew up) in the second stanza of the poem.


To help you plan your year 11 english lesson on: Understanding the poem ‘In Wales, wanting to be Italian’ by Imtiaz Dharker, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Consider showing students pictures of the places mentioned in the poem so they can begin to contrast how people may feel about growing up in each of the places (Glasgow, Bombay and Wales vs. France, Zanzibar and Italy).
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Teacher tip
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Equipment

You will need access to a copy of 'In Wales, wanting to be Italian' by Imtiaz Dharker (found in the Edexcel GCSE Poetry anthology - 'Belonging' cluster).

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Content guidance

  • Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
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Supervision

Adult supervision recommended

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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What does it mean to 'emigrate'?
to visit a new country for a holiday
Correct answer: to leave your own country to live in another
to explore different cultures and traditions
to return to your home country after living abroad
Q2.
What does it mean to fantasise about something?
to plan something in detail
to remember something from the past
Correct answer: to dream or imagine something that might not happen
to discuss something with friends
Q3.
What does it mean to 'romanticise' something?
Correct answer: to make something seem better or more attractive than it really is
to criticise something harshly
to remember something accurately
to discuss something in a logical way
Q4.
Why could someone's teenage years be viewed as a period of transition?
They are fully independent and self-sufficient.
They have a stable and unchanging lifestyle.
They no longer need guidance from adults.
Correct answer: They are moving from childhood to adulthood.
Q5.
Which of the following are second person pronouns?
he, she, it
I, me, mine
Correct answer: you, your, yours
we, us, ours
Q6.
What does it mean to have a sense of 'belonging'?
Correct answer: feeling connected and accepted within a group or community
owning a lot of possessions and acquiring lots of money
travelling to different countries and experiencening cultures
being alone and independent, not needing to have others around you

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What does it mean to 'yearn' for something?
Correct answer: to strongly desire or crave something
to plan something carefully
to forget something important
to dislike something intensely
Q2.
What is 'intercultural identitity'?
feeling disconnected from one's cultural background
identifying strongly with only one cultural tradition
Correct answer: identifying strongly with multiple cultural influences and experiences
believing in the superiority of one's own culture
Q3.
Why does the speaker of 'In Wales, wanting be Italian' wish they were born Zanzibar?
She has read about it on social media.
She visited once as a child.
Correct answer: A famous pop star originates from there.
A famous fashion designer lives there and everyone is so cool and well-dressed.
Q4.
Why may teenagers fantasise about growing up in another culture?
Correct answer: they want to escape the rules and responsibilities of their current life
they are happy with their life but wish they had a different parents
they wish they could start their life again
Correct answer: they may feel as though they don't 'fit in' and want to feel like they belong
they want to enjoy childhood again
Q5.
Why might someone romanticise what life would be like in another country?
Correct answer: They may be inspired by what they see on social media, films and TV.
They have believed propaganda written by that country.
They have imagined the place in their dreams.
Q6.
Which of these pieces of contextual information about Imtiaz Dharker is not true?
she moved to the UK before her first birthday
her poetry often explores ideas related to identity and belonging
she identifies as both Muslim and Christian
Correct answer: before writing, she worked as a tour guide

Additional material

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