The textbooks used in English class are starting to look more and more like they should be used in social studies class, focusing increasingly on the cultures of countries where English isn't the first language. These lessons in diversity come in the form of stories about famous people such as Pakistan's Malala Yousafzai.

However, while Western countries are often portrayed with beautiful explanations of local holidays and cuisines, discussions around countries like Pakistan tend to be limited to its experiences with poverty and war.

It's definitely necessary to understand the historical, political and social issues of any country in the world — which inevitably include poverty and war — but I like to think the reason we learn a new language is to forge connections with people in other countries, an aim that would likely be better served through positive representation.