2024-Anglais PeiP 2A (S3)
Topic outline
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Theme: Activism
General English / focus on the four skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing. Oral expression and interaction will be a priority.
Themes: Activism through a post truth lens, fake news, protest, free speech, resources, conspiracy theories.
Pronunciation: Stressed vs. unstressed syllables, stress in two-syllable words, stress in longer words, final ‘s’ and ‘ed’.
Grammar: Use of auxiliaries, tenses, passive voice, conditionals, if clauses, modals and other grammar topics in the context.
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Useful videos for your presentations:
•The 3 pillars of persuasion (how to cause people to act when they hear your words):•How to start a speech:•Two ways to call to action = how to end your speech:
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PODCAST. The internet is full of false facts and misinformation, but how can you tell what is real or fake? Alex Edmans, author of May Contain Lies, shares tips on how to separate the real from the false. https://pod.link/1296673906/episode/b10156842040e2da7120e095e7648230
Listen to the podcast, take notes of the most important information and discuss it in class.
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LISTENING ACTIVITIESWatch the latest news summary from BBC World News. International news updated 24 hours a day.
Country / city
Key words
Summary
1
2
3
4
1. True or false? Mark Twain said “A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes”
2. What does Reuters do?
3. What has contributed to the spread of circular reporting?
4. What do the following people do?
Publication A=
Publication B=
Publication A =
5. What example of circular reporting is mentioned in the video?
6. What year did this particular circular reporting start?
7. How often has the joke article in the BMJ been referenced?
8. Give an example of user-generated content.
9. Fill in the gaps:
As more writers come to ......................... such pages for quick information, an ......................... fact can be published in an article that may later be added as a ......................... making it much harder to ..........................
10. Some advice is given. What three verbs are used?
(Quartz, Jan. 2018, 3mn).A – Do you remember the false stories taken as examples by the journalist ?
1 - …………………………………………………………………………………………………
2 - …………………………………………………………………………………………………
3 - …………………………………………………………………………………………………
B – What does Damaso Reyes (the journalist who initiated the News Literacy Project) say ? «
«We all have to become …………………………………………………….. »
C – What are the 5 tips that he gives ?
The questions we must ask ourselves (5)
Examples.
Comments.
by Christine Le Lain.
FACEBOOK'S ROLE IN BREXIT AND THE THREAT TO DEMOCRACY WITH CAROLE CADWALLADR
Questions 1 – 7 (start to 2 minutes) Questions 8-11 (2 minutes à end)
1. What was the date of the Brexit vote?
2. Where did Carole Cadwalladr grow up?
3. What is South Wales famous for?
4. How many people in Ebbw Vale voted to leave the EU?
5. How much did the new College of Education cost?
6. How much did the regeneration project including the sports centre cost?
7. How much did the road improvement scheme cost?
8. What do we learn about facebook?
9. What do we learn about Vote Leave? What do we learn about Leave EU?
10. Fill in the gaps: Brexit is the ______________________________________ for Trump.
11. What do we learn about Cambridge Analytica?
12. What have the tech people, the gods of Silicon Valley, done?
a. Why did Jordan Peele make this video?
b. What are three things that ‘Obama’ says that Obama would never say?
c. How does the video make you feel? Interested? Surprised? Worried? Explain.
DEEPFAKES: A DANGER TO DEMOCRACY?
: The deepfake threat.1 A definition of « deepfakes »
2 The issue
3 Imagine a world…
4 Computers can now be trained to…
5 In the next two years …
6 Currently …
: It’s getting harder to spot a deepfake video. 0:27 – the end.7 A definition of deepfakes
8 Why are they called « deepfakes » ?
9 How are they made ?
10 How long does it take ?
11 What did researchers discover in August ?
12 What could some ill-intentioned people do with deepfakes?
13 Two issues
14 Two positive uses of deep fakes
: Could deepfakes weaken democracy ?15 Three celebrities/what they say
16 Another definition of deepfakes (up to 00 :22)
17 (from 1 :35) What did Bill do ?
18 What did it show ?
19 (from 3 :12) What does Aviv worry about ?
20 What is the ‘ultimate threat’ from deepfakes ?
21. What can be done to fight deepfakes ?
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READING ACTIVITIESOverconfident of spotting fake news? If so, you may be more likely to fall victim Natalie Grover 31st May 2021
I. VOCABULARY: match each definition with the right word from the text (underlined)
1.a purveyor
a. distended through being filled with air or gas.
2.to discern
b. a person who replies to something, especially one supplying information for a questionnaire.
3.all-pervasive
c. to see, notice, or recognize (someone or something) that is difficult to detect or that one is searching for.
4.nine out of 10
d. the state or fact of something's being probable.
5.respondents
e. to recognize or find out.
6.inflated
f .a person who sells or deals in particular goods, distributor
7.current
g.90%
8.to align
h. a failure to correspond; a discrepancy.
9.mismatch
i. occurring or having an effect through or into every part of something.
10.to spot
j. belonging to the present time
11.likelihood
k. place or arrange (things) in a straight line.
II. True (T) or False (F)?
___Internet users sure of being able to spot fake news are not likely to be deceived.
___The majority of users believe to have never spread fake news.
___Being on guard against fake news is a guarantee against being deceived.
___Two-thirds of people are not sure of being able to discern between fact and fiction.
___Level of overconfidence is more gender-sensitive that country-sensitive.
IS IT FAKE NEWS?
1. Gauge your emotional reaction: Is it strong? Are you angry? YES / NO
2. Reflect on how you encountered this. Was it promoted on a website? Did it show up in a social media feed? Was it sent to you by someone you know?
3. Consider the headline or main message:
a) Does it use excessive punctuation (!!) or ALL CAPS for emphasis? YES / NO
b) Does it make a claim about containing a secret or telling you something that “the media” does not want you to know? YES / NO
4. Is this information designed for easy sharing, like a meme? YES / NO
5. Consider the source of the information:
a) Is it a well-known source? YES / NO
b) Is there a byline (an author’s name) attached to this piece? YES / NO
c) Go to the website’s “About” section: Does the site describe itself as a “fantasy news” or “satirical news” site? YES / NO
d) Does the “contact us” section include an email address that matches the domain (not a Gmail or Yahoo email address)? YES / NO
e) Does a quick search for the name of the website raise any suspicions? YES / NO
6. Does the example you are evaluating have a current date on it? YES / NO
7. Does the example cite a variety of sources, including official and expert sources? Does the information this example provides appear in reports from (other) news outlets? YES / NO
8. Does the example hyperlink to other quality sources? In other words, they haven’t been altered or taken
from another context? YES / NO
9. Can you confirm, using a reverse image search, that any images in your example are authentic (in other words, sources that haven’t been altered or taken from another contaxt)? YES / NO
10. If you searched for this example on a fact-checking site such as Snopes.com, FactCheck.org or PolitiFact.com, is there a fact-check that labels it as less than true? YES / NO
REMEMBER:
· It is easy to clone an existing website and create fake tweets to fool people.
· Bots are extremely active on social media and are designed to dominate conversations and spread propaganda.
· Fake news and other misinformation often use a real image from an unrelated event.
· Debunk examples of misinformation whenever you see them. It’s good for democracy!
Read the article below: How to spot a deepfake like Barack Obama – Jordan Peele Video
Don’t be embarrassed if you were fooled, even if only briefly. Technology to trick our eyes and ears is advancing rapidly. Teams in Germany are working on Face2Face, the type of face- and voice-swapping technology used to create the video above. Software giant Adobe is creating a “Photoshop for audio” that makes it easy to edit and manipulate what someone has said, as is a Montreal startup called Lyrebird. After you’ve selectively edited someone’s words, you could take that audio and use tech developed at the University of Washington to generate a video of the very same person speaking those words, just to make it fully convincing. The ObamaPeele video was created using another emerging technology: FakeApp. It’s a free tool that’s recently been used to insert the faces of celebrities into porn videos.
Part of the process for creating this video involved taking an original video of Barack Obama and pasting Jordan Peele’s mouth into it. It looked really bad and clumsy at first. But things got remarkably better the longer FakeApp was left to process a more believable amalgamation of Obama’s head and Peele’s mouth.
That took roughly 56 hours and was overseen by a video effects professional. So the good news is it still requires a decent amount of skill, processing power, and time to create a really good “deepfake.” The bad news is that the lesson of computers and technology is this stuff will get easier, cheaper, and more ubiquitous faster than you would expect — or be ready for. This is why experts in computer science have been warning that an age of ubiquitous deepfakes could help usher in an “infocalypse.”
Right now the technology to create effective fakes is widely available, thanks to FakeApp. The tech to spot them is not. This is where you come in. There are basic tips you can follow to ensure you don’t get fooled easily.
1. Don’t jump to conclusions
2. Consider the source
3. Check where else it is (and isn’t) online
4. Inspect the mouth
5. Slow it downYou don’t need to be an expert in artificial intelligence or audio engineering to protect yourself and help prevent fake videos and other misleading content from spreading. All it takes is a bit of patience and skepticism. To follow Obama Peele’s timeless advice: Stay woke, bitches.
1. Answer the following questions:
a. What is a deepfake?
b. How easy/difficult is it to make a deepfake?
c. What are the possible consequences of this technology?
d. Have you ever been deceived by a deepfake?
2. Explain the meaning of the words in bold.
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SPEAKING ACTIVITYCreate your own fake news.
The goal of this exercise is to show you how manipulating information and creating fake news is easy (or not:) and can be done by anyone, and therefore, to urge you to exercise more caution with the news you get from social media.
Choose one of three options.
Option 1. Students are divided into 3 or 4 groups. Each group creates/prepares to retell a story (10 mins). The rest of the class are the followers who need to guess if the story told is a true one or a fake news.
Option 2. Students are divided into 3 or 4 groups. Each group picks 5 papers with random words written on them (prepared by the teacher or page 77 of the brochure). Having picked several words, each group makes up 1 fake news. Their fake news has to include all the picked words. The ‘followers’ vote for the best fake news.
Option 3. (Possible homework). Students are divided into 3 or 4 groups. Using fake news generator https://www.thefakenewsgenerator.com/ each group writes their own fake news, which will then be shown to the class. Don’t forget to use the rule of 5 Ws*.
(*To build your story, answer these questions: Who is involved? When and where does the action take place? What is happening and why?)
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1. Insert the missing information into the text. There are no extra sentences.
a. So a 20 per cent decrease would only decrease your risk to four in 100,000.
b. For instance: If someone said to you “Eating Jelly Babies makes you live longer”, would you believe them?
c. Secondly, how much we trust a statistic depends on how we interpret them. In the above example, it may be entirely true that eating Jelly Babies decreases your risk of chronic pancreatitis by 20 per cent.
d. This is why polls that you see on Twitter, even those with thousands of responses, can be misleading.
e. To take just one example, without them we would have no idea whether any vaccine for COVID-19 worked or didn’t work, if it was dangerous or not.
f. It’s not that you either should or shouldn’t trust any statistic.
2.Match the words with their definitions.
nan
in advance
old-wives tale
an acute contagious viral disease
smallpox
able to be relied on
sample
the process of voting in an election.
opinion poll /poll
grandmother
trustworthy
giving the wrong idea or impression.
misleading / to mislead
a widely held traditional belief that is now thought to be unscientific or incorrect.
beforehand
condition in which the corner or side of a toenail grows into the soft flesh
ingrown toenail
a small part or quantity intended to show what the whole is like
READING: Article A. 'No doubt left' about scientific consensus on global warming, say experts (extracts) Jonathan Watts: 24th July 2019
Article B. The climate is changing — the thing is, it isn’t just due to humans.
Natural forces beyond human control are also gradually affecting our climate. These geophysical forces are vital to understanding global warming. Man is indeed responsible for a large portion — possibly even a majority — of global warming. But also in play are complex gravitational interactions, including changes in the Earth’s orbit, axial tilt and torque.
This fact needs to be included in the public debate. Because these gravitational shifts, occurring over millennia, can influence climate patterns and ultimately lead to noticeable variations in seasons. Interestingly, research suggests climate change can alter the tilt of the Earth, but an unrelated change in tilt can also further change the climate. It is a balance-counterbalance relationship.
Changes in the Earth’s path around the Sun, or eccentricity, involve shifts in the orbit around the Sun from a roughly circular journey to more of an elliptical one. When the Earth gradually adopts a more elliptical orbit, there are more pronounced temperatures during the summer and winter months. This alteration is exacerbated when the Earth’s axial tilt is inclined to a sharper degree than usual. As this happens, it causes the North and South Poles to be positioned more directly toward the Sun.
Haven’t you noticed the recent rise in irregular weather patterns? This is not just a man-made problem. Gradual slight variations in the Earth’s orbit around the Sun can strongly influence temperature extremes. This is important because the conversation around climate change has become so politicized, we've totally lost sight of the science — and with it, any room for bipartisanship.
Still, even President Donald J. Trump has implied the whole of idea climate change may just be a hoax. Most Republicans seem to agree that it is not a serious problem. To make effective policy, it is important for politicians and activists alike to set aside their ideological differences.
We get it, Mother Nature always wins. So, are we now faced with the sobering lesson that little can be done, and we should just throw in the towel? No, of course not. Though climate change is inevitable, we also need to have a healthy appreciation of the fact that climate shifts aren’t just limited to rapidly changing weather patterns.
By Tonya T. Neaves, Director, Centers on the Public Service at George Mason University
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LISTENING1.Watch the video and complete these sentences with one word each.
a. Yet, as it turns out, there are plenty of ways graphs can ……………. and outright manipulate.
b. This is one of the most common ways graphs misrepresent data, by ……………. the scale.
c. First of all, the scale is ……………., compressing the 15-month span after March 2009 to look shorter than the preceding six months.
d. And picking specific data points can …………….important changes in between.
e. The first graph plots the average annual ocean temperature from 1880 to 2016 making the change look ……………..
f. When they're used well, graphs can help us intuitively grasp…………….data.
2. Match words which you wrote down in exercise 5 with their synonyms.
a . complicated –
b. unimportant –
c . cover –
d. illogical –
e . change –
f. cheat –
3. Discuss:
a. Do you agree with the statements that “numbers don’t lie”?
b. What is cherry picking according to the video?
c. In which situations can we receive misleading data? Why would some people like to hide some of it? (think about the video + your own examples)
d. How often do you see distorted or inconsistent graphs?
e. Do you think people should be punished for misrepresenting data given to the public?
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SPEAKING ACTIVITESDiscuss these questions in pairs.
a. What is similar and different about the following sentences?
“My nan ate a Jelly Baby every day and lived to the grand old age of 105” and
“Eating Jelly Babies decreases your risk of chronic pancreatitis by 20 per cent”?
b. How do we know when to trust statistics? 2 pieces of advice are given by the author:
c. Why should we be careful with the numbers in statistics?
d. Discuss the following statement : "Lies, damned lies, and statistics"
GROUP INTERACTION.
1.Students are divided into two groups. Group A reads Article A, Group B – Article B. (10 mins, bullet notes allowed).
2.Having closed their brochures, students are divided into pairs (Student A+Student B), they exchange the information they read (5 mins+5mins).
3.Students take notes of each others’ stories, asking questions to clarify (if necessary).
4.Both groups return to original seats and prepare a speech about what they heard from their classmates (Group A retells article B, Group B retells article A).
5. Finally the groups complete each others’ speeches if any details are omitted.
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Reading activitiesThousands of Fenerbahce supporters joined in the chant after their team 1…………….a goal to Ukrainian champions Dynamo Kyiv.
Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar said the incident had "saddened" him deeply. Dynamo Kyiv won the match 2-1, having drawn 0-0 in the 2. …………….played in Poland because of Russia's invasion.
"We will never understand the words of support for the Russian killer and aggressor who deliberately kills Ukrainians and destroys our country," Mr Bodnar wrote on Facebook. "Even football, which is so loved in Turkey, has its limits."
Competition organiser Uefa told the BBC that it has opened an investigation into the incident. The chants appeared to have been sparked after Dynamo midfielder Vitaliy Buyalskyi celebrated giving his side the lead by making an eagle gesture with hands, which some fans believed to be a nod to Fenerbahce's 3. ……………. Besiktas.
Dynamo's head coach Mircea Lucescu told reporters after the game that the sport "cannot accept the behaviour of the fans". "I did not expect such chants. It is a pity," he added. Lucescu, a former manager of the Turkish national team, later refused to attend a post-match news conference in protest over the fans' actions.
Fenerbahce said the fans' actions did not represent the club or its corporate 4. …………….in any way". "We once again remind the public of our stance that sports and politics should always be kept separate from each other," a statement read.
The incident sparked 5. …………….on social media, with some users saying the Turkish side should be 6. …………….from European competitions.
President of the Turkish Fenerbahce football club, Ali Koç said on Saturday that his club will not apologise to Ukraine. "We will not apologise to Ukraine. After the statements of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson and Ambassador, he should apologise to us," Koç said as reported by Turkish website CNN Turk.
However, Koç acknowledged at the same time that the crowd's 7. …………….was "unnecessary" and "inappropriate."
1. Insert the following words to the text.
2. Match the words inserted in the text to their synonyms.Banned cheering arch-rivals first leg uproar stance conceded
1.
a. To forbid
2.
b. Noise, chaos
3.
c. Rave
4.
d. The chief enemy
5.
e. Initial march
6.
f. To accept
7.
g. Attitude
1. Answer the questions.
a. Should the president of the Turkish football club have apologized to Ukraine for his team’s fans?
b. Can sports and politics be kept separate from each other?
WOMEN PROTESTING
Inside France's guerrilla-style street art protest against rampant femicide (extracts) Christy Somos CTVNews.ca – 06/11/2019
1. Read the text, study the underlines words/word combinations, trying to predict their meaning, then, insert them into the sentences below.
France has seen more than 120 femicides - usually defined as the murder of a woman by a partner, ex-partner or family member - since the beginning of this year alone, and the number continues to climb.
France is thought to be among the countries with the highest rates of women killed by their partner according to 2017 Eurostat figures.
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-datasets/-/sdg_16_10
In response, the French government has announced a slew of new measures in September to address the issue of gender-based violence. Those decisions are being welcomed by the women behind the “Collages Feminicides,” the guerilla-style street art movement that was started in Paris this past summer by artist and feminist activist Marguerite Stern.
In the Marseille chapter, Canadian member A.C., who CTV News.ca has agreed not to identify for fear of legal reprisals, has been working side-by-side with the group as they expand their membership, after stumbling across the movement on social media. A.C. says the group is an excellent example of how powerful grassroots movements can be, even one as de-centralized as Collages Feminicides. The funding for the group is provided by public donations which go into a central pot which are then used for everything from collage materials to their penal fines.
The names of femicide victims are taken from news reports or word of mouth, but there have been cases where families of unreported victims reach out to the group directly to add their loved ones to the list. Messages through Instagram pages for the movement and mass text messages in a WhatsApp group allow the women to keep in touch and to plan larger scale events.
A.C. explained “I think that France, for all that it‘s a country that is based on very republican and democratic ideals, but it’s (sic) still a country that is steeped in, and I would say obsessed with its own tradition,” she said “Some of those traditions pertain to the way that women are meant to act, the way that women are supposed to play these roles in their family lives.” A.C. said she has lived in four different countries around the world and that France is “definitely” the country where she has personally experienced and has seen the most verbal, psychological and even physical violence against women.“France is a country that struggles with feminism and…accepting that into its social model,” A.C. said, citing the tepid reception the #MeToo movement received in the country, as opposed to the considerable culture shift and repercussions in the United States.
But there is hope, A.C. said, highlighting the coverage this year in French media about femicides and public figures coming forward with their stories of abuse and sexual harassment and calling for change. But progress is slow. “France is slow to change its models and France is slow to pick up on these social causes, because I think they are so attached to the idea of ‘Frenchness,’ and what French women are.”
2. Answer the questions.
a. What does A.C say about France and “Frenchness”? Give precise examples.
b. Do you agree with her? Why? Why not?
3. Insert the following words from the text into the sentences.
a slew of measures guerilla-style side-by-side to stumble acrossgrassroots movementword of mouth to be steeped in to pertain to tepid culture shift
a. For a few minutes they walked ………………….., listening to the cicadas sing in the old oak tree by the pond.
b. The play’s premiere received ………………….. reviews from the disappointed critics.
c. A national ………………….., OWL - The Voice of Midlife and Older Women, was founded more than three decades ago to improve life for older woman.
d. Your questions should ………………….. directly …………………..the discussion topic.
e. Retailers were among those that welcomed …………………..aimed at helping small businesses.
f. Prior to every trip, I usually…………………..myself…………………..the language to be able to interact with the locals.
g. On any given day you can expect to …………………..a crowd of banner-waving protesters.
h. Some companies are known for their ………………….. tactics as they won't hesitate to sneak around or try to film things they shouldn't.
i. This was a new social phenomenon that marked a major ………………….. …………………..in how nations commemorated conflicts.
j. Much of this information is picked up by …………………..from previous students
The Guerrilla Feminists Papering Paris at Night 12/02/2020 (extracts)
1. Have you seen any of these messages?
2. Do you think this type of action is effective? Why? Why not?
3. This action is illegal. Do you agree with this fact?
4. Read the underlined part. What do you think of Pauline’s comment?
5. Have you already participated in this type of action?
6. Have you noticed any changes/improvements since the two articles were written?
to fail to deliver / to deliver
to field
a prank
READING. Campers react to new law banning smoking in state-owned campgrounds
by Dalton Williams, July 16th 2022
Lawmakers backing this change say state parks should be family-friendly and free of secondhand smoke.
Rochester, N.Y. — Lawmakers backing this change say state parks should be family-friendly and free of secondhand smoke.
Sandy Sweeney is camping with her family at Hamlin Beach over the weekend.
She didn't know about the law signed by the governor recently that bans smoking at state-owned beaches, parks and campgrounds.
She said people paying for campsites should be allowed to smoke there.
“If you’re going to do it, you’re going to do it,” said Sweeney, “Well, we can have campfires and if people want to smoke, they can smoke. I am an ex-smoker, so for me personally I don’t smoke, but I think people should have the choice to decide for themselves.”
Isaac Rodriguez also dislikes the new law. He said Governor Hochul should focus on cleaning up cities instead of banning smoking.
“I just visited Boston not too long ago and the city is so clean but in Rochester, there’s just garbage everywhere,” said Rodriguez, “We don’t really focus on maintaining our city and keeping it clean, inside it, we are worried about banning smoking at campgrounds. We need to take care of our city.”
There are exceptions to the law including in the Catskills and Adirondacks.
Smoking in state park parking lots will be allowed.
The governor, and the lawmakers who sponsored the bill, say New Yorkers deserve to breathe fresh air -- free of secondhand smoke.
The new law takes effect in 90 days, and after that violators could face a $50 fine.
“There is no way I would pay a $50 fine, you can hunt me down and give me a warrant, are you going to get an arrest warrant for not paying my $50 fine for having a cigarette? No I should be able to sit here and make a campsite and have a cigarette. We are out in the open.
The law applies to cannabis and tobacco. Vaping and e-cigarettes are not covered, but the state park system already restricts their use.
1. Look at the information in the box and discuss the questions.
1 in 3 adults consumed tobacco in 2000.
1 in 5 adults consumed tobacco in 2022.
Source : WHO
Why do you think the number of people consuming tobacco is decreasing?Have you noticed this trend among the people you know? Give some details.
Do you think this trend will continue? Why/Why not?
2. Complete each word with a prefix or a suffix in the boxes.-able -ful il- ir- -less un- un-
A. Smoking is unhealthy and ___responsible___ but it is a personal choice so non-smokers shouldn’t
judge smokers.
B. If you start smoking, you will probably have this ___harm___ habit for the rest of your life.
C. Standing next to someone who is smoking is very ___pleasant___ because of the second-hand
smoke.
D. Some people smoke not because they find it ___enjoy___ but because they’re addicted to nicotine.
E. Dropping cigarette butts on the ground is ___harm___because it’s not hurting anyone.
F. Some people smoke only when they are around people who smoke, which is ___logical___ to me.
G. Vaping in public is just as ___acceptable___ as smoking cigarettes. People who vape should think about the people around them.
3. Choose three comments in ex. 2 and explain why you agree or disagree with them.4. Discuss the questions. Use at least three of the words in the box.
Look at the comments from the article. Are the people right? Why/Why not?
Which statement is true about where you live? Give some details.
- Smoking (and vaping) is allowed everywhere.
- Smoking (and vaping) isn’t allowed in some public places like restaurants
or at bus stops.
- Smoking (and vaping) isn’t allowed in any public places, including on
streets, in parks, at playgrounds, on beaches and in campsites.
- Smoking (and vaping) is illegal.
5. Look at some ideas to encourage people not to smoke and discuss the questions.Which of the ideas might work and which might not? Why do you think so?
How easy or difficult is it to introduce these ideas? What could be some problems with these ideas?
What are some other ideas to encourage people to stop smoking.
Nicotine in tobacco products
If the amount of nicotine in tobacco products was reduced, smokers might stick to smoking the same number of cigarettes but consume less nicotine.
Fewer stores selling cigarettes
If the number of stores selling
cigarettes was reduced,
smokers’ access to cigarettes
wouldn’t be that easy.Introducing a ban on cigarettes for future generations
The age of sale would rise by one every year, e.g. in 2030 only people aged 18 and older would be allowed to buy cigarettes. Then, in 2031 only people aged 19 and older would be allowed to buy them, etc., until
cigarettes would stop being sold.
Positive encouragement
Encouraging people to quit smoking by focusing on the positives could work, e.g. “Think how much money you’ll save!”, or “You won’t struggle climbing the stairs anymore”.
Pop culture
If smokers weren’t featured in films
and other media, the number of
smokers would drop.
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Listening activities(5:57) 07/06/2021 (B2)Sections of fans at Wembley Stadium booed England players for taking a knee before the European Championship game against Croatia. The boos, which could be heard over those fans applauding, came despite pleas from the team to respect the anti-racism gesture.
1. What reasons are given for booing by the man who phoned in?
2. What techniques does James O’Brian use to make his point?
1. Why did the NBA paint the message BLM on their courts?
2. Why did the NBA remove the message from their courts?
3. Which decision is right in your opinion? Why?
4. What legislation do NBA players want to be passed?
5. How do you understand the last sentence “money talks, BS walks”
This is a clip from the film The Boys Who Said NO! the first documentary film to profile the young men and women who actively opposed the military draft in order to end the Vietnam War. Their personal and collective acts of nonviolent resistance, risking arrest and imprisonment for up to 5 years, were a critical part of the antiwar movement, intensifying opposition to the war and eventually forcing an end to both conscription and the war.
1. What reasons does Muhammad Ali give for his decision?
2. What were the consequences for Muhammad Ali?
1. What do the women look like?
2. What 3 rights are these women demanding?
3. Which two restrictions faced by girls and women are mentioned by the reporter?
4. How do the Taliban try to stop women demonstrating?
5. What is the economic situation in the country?
6. What are women forced to do?
7. What solution does every citizen search for?
1. What do the young people want?
2. What slogans are shouted?
3. What does “taking a knee” stand for?
4. What role does social media play?
5. Have you ever gone on a demo? Why? When? Descibe your experience. Did it achieve anything?
*Generation Z (Gen Z for short) = those born between the mid-to-late 1990s to the early 2010s. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_Z
Greta Thunberg's emotional speech to EU leadersWatch the video and answer the questions.Australian students join strike for climate change Behind the News(0:30) Fill in the gaps: We are the …………………………… and if nothing is done about it now then when we are …………………………… it is ………….…………… to be ……… mayhem.
(0:38) This is our future than the politicians are …………………………… and it’s not ……………………………
(0:46) We are …………………………… of our …………………………… being …………………………… for profit.
(1:05) I think it is important you know that students take a …………………………… against this type of inconsiderate …………………………… and strike.
a. What criticism has been made of the school strikes?
b. What have school kids been threatened with?
Call it a TikTok phenomenon. A called action on a social network may have contributed to lower than expected ……………. at a recent Trump rally. In Nashville six teenagers organized a march against police ……………. that drew a crowd of nearly 10 000. How did they get the ……………. out? Instagram. (…)
Today’s ……………. are speaking up using what they know best – social media.(…)
Sharing resources and building online coalitions with other ……………. organizations are key. ‘There’s nothing better than coming together in a group and just really talking about what is necessary and then ……………. up and creating those tools so that we could ……………. it out to our communities.
Digital activism isn’t new. But young people today are making ……………. of it. Rosario helped to create digital tool kits that supporters could use to push for legislative action in the State Senate. (…)
People could ……………. on it and it would automatically open up their Twitter, it was like a pre-written Tweet that we have created and just in a second you can send… text the ……………. officials telling them exactly what the legislation name is and why we were demanding it. (…)
Others are ……………. existing platforms, like Twitch, a ……………. site for gamers that recently has become a platform to catch protests as they happen on the ground.
For 21-year old Rosario who falls squarely into……………. demographic, there’s still an appreciation of old school technology. ‘Text isn’t always the best, if you have lots to say, you wanna hear people’s emotions , when you are like, telling them news. I like phone calls ……………. than text messages’. For these digital ……………. getting everyone’s attention is all about online and offline connections.
Eve, the off-grid life of a 9 year old climate activist 01/06/2021 (21:06)
1. What decisions has Eve’s family made?
2. For what reasons?
3. What do you think about this type of action?
Eve spoke an event organized by https://extinctionrebellion.uk
1. Find out 5 facts about XR.
2. Do you agree with their aims?
3. Do you agree with their strategy?
PAXTON SMITH NPR 03/06/2021 (from 4:35 to end)
1. On what occasion is Paxton Smith speaking?
2. What are the “recent events” she mentioned.
3. What are the repercussions for women?
4. What rhetorical devices does Paxton Smith use?
5. Do you agree with the statement “this is a war on my body, this is a war on my rights”?
1.Art is a tool for…1.
2.
3.
2. Who is Kate DeCiccio:
3. Three examples of pieces Kate made:
4. What were the objectives of the Women’s march the following day?
5. What make Kate’s work stand out?
6. Why did Kate submit one of her posters to Amplifier Foundation?
7. Who is Rhanda and why is she a part of the march?
8. ‘It was an incredible freeform march unlike anything that I’ve ever seen in my life.’ List from 3 to 5 facts about the march that made Kate think so (responses may vary).
9. What is the greatest power of an artist?
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VOCABULARYFill in the blanks with the global issues against which most protests are organized.
corruption disease global warming homelessness terrorism unemployment
1 We interviewed Tom, who had been living on the streets for a year. ………………………….
2 All Americans will remember 11 September 2001, when two planes crashed into the World Trade Center. ………………………….
3 Ebola, which is a virus, has killed thousands of people in West Africa. ………………………….
4 A politician from New York, who accepted money from companies in return for changing policies to benefit them, has been sent to prison. ………………………….
5 My brother, Jack, who has got a degree, still hasn’t been able to find a job. ………………………….
6 The weather in the Caribbean, where there have been extremely strong hurricanes, has been the worst on record. ………………………….
censorship famine gender inequality immigration nuclear weapons racism
1 Banning controversial books is an example of ………………………….
2 The British population has increased because of …………………………. and 12% of UK residents were born outside the country.
3 Although there is less …………………………. today, African Americans still find it more difficult to find jobs than white Americans.
4 Considering how much food we throw away in developed countries, it’s a crime that …………………………. continues to affect a large part of the world’s population.
5 More and more countries have …………………………., and that makes the world more dangerous.
6 Although …………………………. has been tackled in places like universities, there is discrimination against women in many places.
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Task - Class Oral Activity – Opinion PollIn pairs create your own questionnaire and try and find out about your class mates’ activism. Find out who has done what? When? Why? Against what? How effective does the person consider this form of protest to be? Summarise and present your findings. Draw conclusions about your class. -
SPEAKINGYoung activists have taken lead roles in public protest and advocacy around many issues like environmental protection, abortion rights and gun control, gender inequality. You are an active member of a youth group. In groups of 3-4 choose an issue to protest against (take ideas from the activity above) and make a 2-minute speech.
Cover the following points : What you are protesting against.
Why it is a problem.
Who your speech is addressed to.
What the solution of the issue should be.
Use at least 5 words from the list below.
NOUNS
A demonstrator /
a protester
The privileged /
the underprivileged
The haves /the have-nots
The well-to-do/the destitude / poverty-stricken / the needy
A demonstration / a march
An uprising / a rebellion
Politics /A politician
Human rights / civil rights
Equality
VERBS
To struggle
To disapprove of
To go on strike
To threaten
To hold a speech
To protest / to rise up against
To stand up / fight for one’s rights
To confront / to challenge
To make oneself heard
To demonstrate / to take to the streets
To resist (sth / sb)
To raise awareness
ADJECTIVES
Committed to / involved in
Powerful / mighty
Influential
Well-off / wealthy / rich
Determined / strong-willed
Shocked > Indignant
Furious > angry
Scandalous > outrageous /shocking
Terrible / awful / dreadful
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LISTENING ACTIVITIESProtest at NUS London to reform no-platform policies (2 :43)
1. What does free speech mean?
2. What examples are given of people who have offended others with their ideas?
3. What does free speech not mean?
4. Why does a no-platform policy not work according to the speaker?
LISTENING:
NewsnightLISTENING: No platforming: Justified or the work of a “woke cult”? 14/06/21 (6:39)
Listen to the two videos above and fill in the table below:
Arguments FOR banning controversial speakers
Arguments AGAINST banning controversial speakers
LISTENING:
Let’s ask them 08/12/15 (8 :12)1. What is a macro-aggression?
2. Which statements are considered micro-aggressions? (fill in the table)
YES
NO
3. What do the students think of the idea of creating a data base of statements that can be reported?
4. What are student protestors demanding?
5. What are observers asking?
6. What are the arguments against free speech?
7. What is hate speech according to the students?
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For your information: the no-platform policy of the National Union of Students (NUS):
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READING ACTIVITIESThere must be free speech, even for Milo Yiannopoulos (B2) Matthew d'Ancona, 06/02/2017
Answer the questions.
Did the protest against Yiannopoulos go as planned? What did it look like?
Why is Yiannopoulos’ referred to as just Milo?
In what two respects was a cancellation of Yiannopoulos event a warning?
Explain the statement. ‘…the right to free speech is meaningless unless it is extended to those with whom one profoundly disagrees.’ Do you agree?
Translate the following words into French and find in what context they were used in the article (HW or in class (2-3 words per student)).
rancorous
Libel, slander
mayhem
an own goal
squatters on the moral high ground
turbo- charge
eleventh hour
notoriety
ludicrously
pathological
balaclava-wearing
prankster’s share price
all-time high
curtail
loose-knit
heeded
long past
sensitive snowflakes
cross-examined
give us pause for thought
shy away from
wasteland of stultified silence
enshrined
incremental
to take them for granted
Permanent suspension of @realDonaldTrump
By Twitter Inc. 8th January 2021
framework
to be above the rules
ongoing
uptick
pattern of behaviour
to disavow
target / to target
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SPEAKING ACTIVITIESSPEAKING 1. Organize a class debate: Milo Yiannopoulos should be invited to talk at Polytech Yes/No
SPEAKING 2: Do you agree with Twitter’s decision? Yes/No – justify your answer.
SPEAKING 3. A free world needs satire…
Look at the cartoons and answer the questions below.
When describing your cartoons try to use expressions in the box below.
1. What is happening in the cartoon?
2. What do you notice first? What people or objects are shown?
3. Does the cartoonist refer to a person’s personality or appearance?
4. What issue do you think this cartoon is about?
5. Does the cartoon show any stereotypes, symbols or references to culture or history?
6. Does it have a caption? Does the caption help you to understand the cartoon?
7. Why is it funny?
8. Do you think it should be censored? Is it too provocative?
I suppose/reckon/guess…
What it shows is…
It might address/touch on
I wonder what/why…
What I don’t understand about it is why…
It seems that…
She/he gives the impression of being…
What I don’t like about it is
What interests me is…
It might suggest that…
I’m pretty sure that…
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VOCABULARY ACTIVITIESVOCABULARY: Complete the table with the correct forms.
VERB
NOUN (GENERAL)
NOUN (PERSON)
ADJECTIVE
propagandize
propagandist
cartoon
Cartoonish
caricature
caricaturist
provoke
provocateur/provoker
censor
censor
Censored
criticize
critic
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READING ACTIVITIESREADING: The 3 most famous American conspiracy theories (From: Today in English)
Americans love conpiracy theories. Many are sceptical of « official versions » of Kennedy’s murder, alien life, and even September 11. But why are such rumours so popular?
Many people seem to think that Americans never criticize their own society. According to the stereotype, the ignorant, idealistic American believes everything his president says, thinks the USA is the most free and fair nation on Earth, and imagines his country only acts with honourable motives.
Nothing could be further from the truth. The reality is that the average American citizen is more paranoid and suspicious of his own government than the citizen of almost any other country. This scepticism fuels the vast quantity of « conspiracy theories » circulating in the USA. The villain, in almost all of them, is the US government. There are many different types of conspiracy theories, dealing with every imaginable subject, but they all share one defining characteristic : a paranoid belief that secret forces are controlling events.
There is nothing new about this. For example, theories that the Masons or the Jews are secretly running the world go back centuries. America, however, has seen a remarkable growth in conspiracy theories over the past ten years or so.
In large part, this new popularity must be due to the internet and its unlimited potential for disseminating nonsense – but Americans seem to be particularly prone to believing them. Most of them are untrue, of course, but once you start looking into the world of American cosnpiracy theories, even the most hardened sceptics find they no longer know where to draw the line between truth and fantasy.
1 – What are many Americans sceptical of ? (3 answers)2 – What is the stereotype of the American ? (3 points)
3 – What is the average American citizen like in fact?
4 – What does his scepticism fuel?
5 – Who is the villain generally?
6 – What is the common characteristic of conspiracy theories?
7 – Which century-old theories are mentioned?
8 – What has happened in the past 10 years or so?
9 – What is it largely due to?
10 – What is difficult, once you start looking into conspiracy theories?1 – The assassination of President John F. Kennedy
The assassination of President John F. Kennedy took place 40 years ago, and the truth is still no clearer than it ever was. Almost every secretive organization in the world – the CIA, KGB, the Mafia and others – has found a role here. In 1963, the American public was evenly split between those who believed the official explanation that he was shot by Lee Harvey acting alone, and those who did not. Forty years later, public opinion is massively behind the conspiracy theorists. Today, only 13% of Americans believe the Oswald scenario.
To believe the official explanation, you have to accept that a single bullet caused different wounds to Kennedy and another man in the car. You also have to find nothing suspicious about the fact that the X-rays of Kennedy’s body were confiscated by federal agents while doctors were performing their autopsy, and have not been seen since.
On the other hand, you could argue that if the president’s killing was a conspiracy involving many people, they could not all have kept the secret for 40 years. Well, they haven’t. In fact, the problem is that too many have come forward – to date, no less than 21 different people have « confessed » to being involved in the assassination. Most of these people are no doubt delusional – but which ones ?
The line between fact and fiction is now so blurred that we will probably never know the truth.
1 – Which organizations may have played a role in President John F. Kennedy’s assassination?2 – What was the official version of events?
3 – Did the American public believe it at the time?
4 – What’s the most common opinion now?
5 – Why is it difficult to believe the official explanation? (2 reasons)6 – However, why may a conspiracy also seem unlikely?
7 – Will we ever know the truth?2 – The Roswell Incident
Say what you like about the so-called Roswell Incident, but no less than two-thirds of Americans believe that an alien spacecraft crashed there in 1947. Even more of them (80%) believe that the US government knows of the existence of aliens, but is keeping it secret. This is despite the fact that there is no serious evidence of the existence of UFOs. Indeed, UFOs are the perfect example of how conspiracy theories are self-reinforcing phenomena.
The American public’s acceptance of the existence of UFOs has only encouraged the conspiracy theorists to become more and more adventurous. By the mid-1970s, they were starting to say that aliens were kidnapping humans for scientific research. A decade later, the story had become even more spectacular – abducted humans were being forced to have sex with aliens. Today, following the logical evolution of the conspiracy theory, a large number of people believe they are human-alien hybrids resulting from these encounters. There are even organizations that have been set up to provide these hybrids with psychological councelling to help them cope with their « difference ». One such organization, Adult Children of Alien Abductees, claims that 4% of Americans are actually human-alien hybrids.
Once you get to that level of absurdity, anything becomes possible. Betty Trout, a director of MUFON, one of the largest « serious » UFO organizations, claims that she was abducted by aliens who were wearing cowboy booots and stetson hats and forced her to teach them country dancing.
Too ridiculous for sensible people to believe ? Not at all. In a 1997 poll, 7% of Americans claimed to have been abducted by aliens or to know someone who had. Today, 21% of Americans claim to have been abducted while 19% say that they « may » have been abducted but have no recollection of it. Taken together, that is 100 million people – which, logically, would make alien spacecraft about as common as the Ford Fiesta.
1 – What is supposed to have taken place in Roswell?
2 – Do Americans believe this?
3 – What else do they believe?
4 – Does it look reasonable?
5 – Why does the journalist say that conspiracy theories are « self-reinforcing phenomena »?6 – What did conspiracy theorists claim from the mid-1970s?
7 – What did they claim in the 1980s?
8 – What do many Americans believe today?
9 – What has been one of the consequences of this belief?
10 – Who is Betty Trout?
11 – What does she claim?
12 – What did a 1997 poll reveal?
13 – What are the percentages like nowadays?
14 – Which funny remark does the journalist make at the end of his article?3 – « The moon landings were faked »
That’s right – Neil Armstrong, some people insist, never went to the moon. The whole thing was filmed in a studio, and was merely Cold War propaganda to show that the USA could beat the USSR to the moon. Based on analysis of old NASA photographs, the « evidence » for the theory is more convincing than you might think – at least superficially. The American flag, for instance, is shown to be fluttering as if in the wind – would it do this if there was no atmosphere ? The dust under the lunar module is the same as elsewhere – why did the rockets not leave a crater ? And why are there no stars in the sky, only blackness ? It goes on and on.
NASA has constantly argued that there are reasonable scentific explanations for these questions, but nothing will convince the conspiracy theorists that they are wrong. NASA was planning to publish a book refuting the allegations, but decided that it would be wrong to take the dispute seriously. Some people, predictably, interpreted this as a sign that NASA had something to hide. At present, 6% of Americans believe Apollo 11 was a hoax, and the proportion is growing.
1. Explain the meaning of the underlined words.
2. Note 5 reasons why some people believe in conspiracy theories, according to psychology researchers:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Is the Earth Flat? Alex Moshakis – 27th May 2018 (B2)
to peter out
rebuttal
untrustworthy
to simmer
brash
to vy
primetime slot
open-minded people
to be enthralled
quirk
1. What are the flat earth theories mentioned in the article?
2. What may contribute to someone becoming an flat-earther?
3. In your opinion is this way of thinking dangerous? Yes/No? Justify your answer.
READING: The role of influencers by Jennifer Hassan & Rick Noack 26/05/2021
colossal
abroad
to claim
holdout
to shift
to fade
1. What is an influencer?
2. Is this theory credible? Justify your answer.
3. “the space was empty, there was no scientific discussion” Do you agree?
4. Go back to the Carole Cadwalladr video on page 7. How influential is social media in influencing people?
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LISTENING ACTIVITIES(14:22 - Questions = 1:00 to 3:07)
1. Where can you find the flat earth communities?
2. Is Dave Murphey part of any formal group?
3. Fill in the gaps: Dave believes he lives on a big disc of _________________________ , the north pole
is in the _________________________ surrounded by all the _________________________ , the edge is
_________________________ .
4. When did Dave re-assess his beliefs? (more than one answer is possible)
5. What is the simple flat-earth experiment called?
Three hypotheses as to why we haven’t found intelligent alien life yet
1. Complete the sentences with the words in brackets.
a. Advanced civilizations want to merge with machines. They are now hibernating because the machines would need ………… (processing, overheating, expand).
b. Many young rocky planets have unstable climates and if microbial life evolves on them, it quickly dies. That is not what happened on Earth because ………… (release oxygen, stabilize).
c. Life is more likely to exist in subsurface oceans on planets and moons rather than on the surface because ………… (radiation, temperature changes). The reason why we haven’t found intelligent alien life in such environments is that ………… (communication).
2. Answer the questions.
a. Which of the theories presented in the video do you find most compelling?
b. Have you heard any other theories as to why we haven’t found or heard from any extra-terrestrial life?
c. According to the video, finding intelligent life elsewhere in the universe would be ‘the grandest discovery in human history’. Do you agree? Why/Why not?
LISTENING. Marianna in Conspiracyland. (B2+)
Released On: 01 Jun 2023
In this 10-part series, the BBC’s Disinformation and Social Media Correspondent Marianna Spring investigates the legacy left by the rise in conspiracy movements in the UK and the media machine at its heart. She exposes how radical they have become and how action is spilling offline.
Listen to an episode of the podcast. Fill in the grid with key words and expressions to be able to report on the events.
Theme:
Event:
Interviewee(s):
Keywords:
Extra Information:
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SPEAKING ACTIVITIESROLE PLAY. Even if the truth seems obvious, it is not easy to talk to a conspiracy theorist. Are you ready to try ? Read 10 phrases below to be able to disagree politely.
Students are divided into groups of 3-4.
ROLE CARD 1.– Students A+B. You are committed conspiracy theorists (*pick a theory below). Another victim of deception is trying to convince you. Unfortunately, he doesn’t understand the obvious. Share your arguments and try to win him over to your side. (This will be easy once s/he hears your secret solid facts). Don’t forget 5 golden rules!
ROLE CARD 2. – Student C (+D). You do not believe in this conspiracy theory (*pick a theory below). Your task is to convince two believers, confronting the falsehoods and providing arguments. Share your information and try to win them over to your side. Don’t forget 5 golden rules!
1. Keep calm. It's never useful if things end up in a flaming row.
2. Don't be dismissive. Listen to what they have to say with patience.
3. Encourage critical thinking
4. Ask questions. Questions are much more effective than assertions, experts say.
5. Don't expect immediate results. You might be hoping that a constructive conversation will end with some kind of epiphany over Christmas pudding - but don't bet on it.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-55350794
I see what you’re saying but…
I understand where you’re coming from, but…
That’s a valid point, but…
I’m sorry but I disagree with you about this.
I see things differently.
I am on the opposite side of the debate.
Our opinions diverge.
I beg to differ.
Thanks for your opinion, but we will have to agree to disagree.
https://www.popularmechanics.com/culture/g35766929/crazy-conspiracy-theories/
Hollow Earth
While Flat Earthers get all the attention in the mainstream media, Popular Mechanics notes that there is also a conspiracy that says the “Earth is hollow and that there might even be a whole other civilization of advanced beings living in it”.
Elvis is alive
Music legend Elvis Presley died on 16 August 1977 - or did he? If the latest conspiracy theory is to be believed, the King of Rock and Roll faked his own death and now works as a groundsman in Graceland.
Reptilian Elite
The “reptoid hypothesis” is a conspiracy theory which advances the argument that reptilian humanoids live among us with the intention of enslaving the human race. It has been championed by former BBC sports presenter David Icke, who believes the likes of Bob Hope, members of the royal family and former US presidents George W Bush and Bill Clinton are part of the ”Anunnaki“ race who came to earth for “monatomic gold”.
Prince Charles is a vampire
Like all good conspiracy theories, this one has some basis in fact. According to genealogy records, Prince Charles is believed to descend from Vlad the Impaler, the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. First revealed in Iain Moncreiffe’s 1982 book Royal Highness, the Prince can trace his lineage back through his great grandmother Queen Mary, the consort of George V, to Vlad IV, the half-brother of the notorious ruler.
Finland doesn't exist
The nation of Finland is actually part of the Baltic Sea and people who claim to live there are really from eastern Sweden, western Russia or northern Estonia, according to a theory born on Reddit in 2016. What began as a joke quickly gained traction online, spawning numerous subreddits and websites explaining why Russia and Japan made up the fictional country in 1918.
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-
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Listening activitiesDay Zero: how Cape Town stopped the taps running dry
Watch this video and make notes:
What crisis?:
Different ways of saving water:
Ø ----------------------------------------------
Ø ----------------------------------------------
Ø ----------------------------------------------
Ø ----------------------------------------------
Day zero is the result of ______________________________________________________________
The measures of cutting water use have been consensual or contentious? Give examples to justify your answer. ___________________________________________________________________________
Who is most affected by the water crisis? ________________________________________________
Is the crisis over?
Long term solutions:
Ø -------------------------------------------------------------
Ø ------------------------------------------------------------
Why don’t we cover the desert with solar panels?
1. Watch the first part of the video (00:00 to 02:59) and check your answers to the questions.
a. Do you know if there are any solar plants in deserts?
b. What would be the biggest problem if we covered the Sahara with solar panels?
2. Watch the first part of the video again (to 01:51) and complete each gap with a word or a short phrase.
a. The Sahara receives over one hundred times more energy than is consumed by humanity ………… .
b. Electrons are knocked out of their stable bonds by …………. hitting the solar panels’ surface.
c. Solar panels’ efficiency is limited because only some ………….. can interact with them to generate electricity.
d. Electrons are more likely to be hit by light particles if the solar panels’ surface is covered with anti-reflective coatings and ………… .
e. Solar energy gets cheaper because other technologies use ………… .
3. Watch the next part of the video (01:51–05:04) and take notes on the following points.
a. heat absorbed by solar panels causes the following problems:
b. solutions adopted at Morocco’s solar power plant:
c. challenges for solar power and other renewables :
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Vocabulary activities -
Quiz - Climate Champ or Climate Chump? Test Your KnowledgeThink you’re a climate champion? Take this quiz to test your knowledge of the science behind why our world is warming, the impact it’s having on our environment and our planet, and the clean energy solutions we have today. Then, find out how you can take action to help end the greatest challenge humanity has ever faced. -
SPEAKING ACTIVITYDiscuss the questions.
· Do you think the solar power will one day be the main source of energy? Why/Why not?
· How popular is solar power in your country?
· What energy sources does your country depend on most?
· What would be the benefits and drawbacks of connecting electric grids across the globe?
Think about which energy sources in the table could be developed in France. Complete the table below in small groups.
Energy source
To what extent do climate and landscape allow for
How reliable is it?
What would be the possible objections from citizens?
SOLAR
HYDROELECTRIC
WIND
NUCLEAR
GEOTHERMAL
Compare your ideas with those of other groups and note down any additional ideas your group didn’t come up with. Decide which two energy sources you would choose to invest in in France.
Laundry and dishes
Plumbing fittings and fixtures
Gardens and outdoor areas
Swimming pools
Check if your guesses were right
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-
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How does Bea reduce her waste? (list precise examples)
What adjectives you would use to describe Bea? Why?
What could you refuse – reduce – reuse – recycle – rot?
.Watch the video for the first time. In your own words, explain what ‘plogging’ is.
1. Complete the sentences below with ONE word only. Watch the video again to check your answers.
a. Michelle wants to wear a t-shirt with ‘plogging’ on the back to appeal to younger ............
b. The word ‘plogging’ is derived from the Swedish words that mean ‘pick up’ and ............
c. Michelle couldn’t get her local ............on board with doing something about the ............ without evidence of what she was collecting.
d. Most of the trash ends up in a ............
e. Michelle is especially happy when she saves items from going into the .............
f. Her measure of success would be the clean ............
2. Match the two halves to create some verb phrases with prepositions.
1. to be a measure
2. to derive
3. to end
4. to get someone
5. to speak
6. to appeal
7. to save it
8. to deprive someone
a . of basic things
b . up in the ocean
c.of success
c. d. from Latin
d. e. from going into the ocean
e. f. on board with your ideas
f. g. on behalf of the people
g. h. to the younger generation
Two messages from Sir David Attenborough. Who is Sir David Attenborough?
(2:47)
1. What have people done after watching Blue Planet?
1. Is not eating meat and not eating fish radical action?
2. Is it effective?
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Task - Class discussionDiscuss the questions.
a. How much food do you throw away each week? Why does it happen?
b. Do you think restaurants and supermarkets waste a lot of food?
c. Is food waste a serious problem? Are people worried about it where you live?
Discuss the questions.
a. Has the pandemic made us less materialistic?
b. Is materialism always bad? Why/Why not?
c. Was your attitude towards material possessions different when you were younger? If so, how?
d. Would you agree that ‘the best things in life aren’t things’? Why/Why not?
David Attenborough says “small steps really can have an effect”. Do you agree?
SPEAKING TASK.
In the modern green movement rush to solve our numerous environmental crises, scientists have been scrambling to develop innovative technologies and creative solutions. Some of these developments have been lauded for their ingenuity and potential. But other concepts, while initially offering promise, have turned out to be impossible, dangerous, or just…ridiculous.
1. Look at the pictures and try to predict the purpose of these inventions.
2. Match the descriptions to the pictures.
3. Now, don’t you think the descriptions went a bit too far? Let’s give inventors a credit and help them with the commercial speeches. In groups of 3-4 prepare a speech to promote the inventions and highlight their best features. You should sound persuasive and absolutely sure that your product is the best.
4. The rest of the group are consumers who then vote for the best commercial speech.
Solar Hat Fan
River Gym
White goat
Ecobutton
Name …………………….
Plug this this invention into your computer and then press it to automatically send your computer into sleep mode. I have heard that one could achieve a similar effect by either closing their laptop or using the ever-so-complicated drop down menu.
Name …………………….
There are a couple of things that should never have been invented – socks and sandals, the fanny pack and this invention. Sure to brighten your day or the planet – if only because you will be laughing and pointing at the person wearing it. It does absolutely nothing to help the environment, and one could probably produce the same amount of cooling air by waving a magazine in front of their face.
Name …………………….
Put this invention in your office and feed it scrap printer paper – it will eat it, digest for 30 minutes, and at the other end it will spit out toilet paper. It shreds the paper, dissolves it in water, thins it and dries it, then winds it around a roll. It costs about 12 cents to make one roll, and these things are actually available for purchase in Japan this summer for the convenient cost of $100,000.
Name …………………….
Ever felt like the view from your treadmill just wasn't good enough? it's everything you've ever wanted. It uses the energy burnt from your workout to move it around on the water. If you're not the active type, you can also opt to sit back and eat chocolate while you hitch a ride on the blood, sweat and tears of those motivated types.
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READING ACTIVITIES1. Answer the questions.
a. Why are the results of the research surprising?
b. How does the author explain the results?
c. Can the results be generalized to the entire population?
d. What will the future trend(s) be, according to the author?
2. Explain the following facts mentioned in the article. Discuss which of them you would call serious social issues.
a. Children are taught that material gain is associated with rewards for good behavior.
b. Whenever people feel threatened by world events, they stock up on vital supplies.
c. It has been shown that the pandemic made us lonelier.
d. Media and advertising encourage us to be materialistic.
e. Many people believe that more material possessions will bring them happiness.
3. Discuss
a. Has the pandemic made us less materialistic?
b. Is materialism always bad? Why/Why not?
c. Was your attitude towards material possessions different when you were younger? If so, how?
d. Would you agree that ‘the best things in life aren’t things’? Why/Why not?
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Listening activitiesThe problem with fast fashion -Teen Vogue, September 2018 (5:23)Is Fast Fashion Destroying our Environment? (5:06) -
Reading activities -
Task - A clothes SwapHow to organise a clothes swap?What are the different steps outlined in the article?https://youngandthrifty.ca/how-to-organize-a-clothes-swap/Before the event:How would you organise a clothes swap at the end of your English class?What type of clothes would you include/exclude?Who brings what?What rules will you adhere to?What will you do with the remaining clothes?WRITING:Write up the event (250 words). Try to analyse rather than describe.Here are some examples of points you can cover.- What were your expectations?
- What went well / badly / as you expected/what was unexpected?
- Were there any problems? How would you avoid these in the future?
- A positive / negative experience?
- To be repeated / to not repeat? Why / why not?
Writing tips:- Use formal English (avoid contractions and personal pronouns).
- Use paragraphs. Do not overuse commas.
- Keep your sentences short and simple.
- PEEL (point, explain, example, link).
- Do not go over 250 words.
- Check your singular and plural agreements.
- Check your use of the third person “s”.
- Check your use of articles.
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SPEAKING ACTIVITYAs an alternative to the fast fashion industry, the term
“slow fashion” has been coined. In pairs, think of 6 adjectives that describe slow fashion
and think how they might define it.SLOW FASHION
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
1. Think of five things that you can start doing to be part of the slow fashion movement.
2. What could you say to a shopaholic to make them buy less?
3. How can slow fashion be economical? Can it successfully compete with the fast fashion industry?
4. How much do you think the slow fashion movement affects the fashion business? Do you think big brands will want to be more eco-friendly and ethical?
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The hydrogen revolution
Listening activities
How do hydrogen fuel cells work? Let's find out!
For more information, visit this websiteHydrogen: fuel of the future? | The EconomistThe truth about hydrogen -
What Is Green Hydrogen And Will It Power The Future?
introduction- 0’00 -> 2’30 - - the questions raised by hydrogen
- 2’ 30 -> 4’45 - Hydrogen today: hydrogen production - the colours of hydrogen - green hydrogen - private and public investment
- 4’46 -> fuel cells - difference between electric cars and hydrogen-fuelled cars
- 6’25 -> long haul trucking / freight shipping / air travel
- 6’57 -> a slow beginning for hydrogen vehicles
- 7’56 -> the problem of fuelling stations
- 8’40 -> hydrogen efficiency rate and energy density
- 9’36 -> making hydrogen technology more cost-effective
- 9’51 -> the complexity and cost of hydrogen storage
- 10’45 -> storing renewable power
- 12’55 -> batteries v. hydrogen
- 13’28 - Future outlook - the need for governments' intervention and investment.
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Reading activities
In his speech on the planned economic recovery, the prime minister said hydrogen technology is an area where the UK leads the world. He hopes it’ll create clean jobs in the future. But is the hydrogen revolution hope or hype?Hydrogen is widely touted as a green fuel for everything from cars and planes to heating homes. But all too often it has a dirty secret
Industry has been promoting hydrogen as a reliable, next-generation fuel to power cars, heat homes and generate electricity. It may, in fact, be worse for the climate than previously thought.
Too many technical difficulties to overcome to make it a viable low-carbon heating fuel, say researchers. -
Task - Energy Assembly UK, The Path to Net ZeroThe situation
You have been chosen to take part in Energy Assembly UK, The Path to Net Zero. You are part of the focus group dealing with the issue of hydrogen.
Energy Assembly UK will host a discussion between assembly members who will present their arguments to the Assembly so that they come up with a list of 5 to 10 recommendations.
More information here
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LISTENING ACTIVITIESAmy Cuddy: Your body language shapes who you are.
Watch the video from 1:00 to 5:25 and answer the following questions.
1. Social scientists also refer to body language as ...............................................
2. They try to answer the question: what is your body language .......................................... .............................. and what is mine .................................................................................?
3. In other words, they look at the effects of body language on .............................................
4. For example, body language can have an effect on who we ............................................... or who we .......................................................
5. Amy Cuddy gives 3 examples of predictions we can make. Fill in the grid with key words.
What we watch (people/situation)
What we can predict (results)
6. Amy Cuddy is particularly interested in non-verbal expressions of ..................................... and ............................................ :
When you feel powerful, you ........................................................................................
when you feel powerless, you ........................................................................................
Watch the video from 8:43 to 12:37 and answer the following questions.
7. Amy Cuddy defines testosterone as ............................................................ and cortisone as ................................................................
8. The common point between primate alpha males and powerful leaders around the world is that ...
9. In the primate hierarchy, when an individual suddenly becomes the leader...
Conclusion:
10. Pick out information about the EXPERIMENT Amy Cuddy and her team ran in a LAB:
What people had to do:
What the scientists measured:
1)
2)
What the scientists noticed:
High power pose
Low power pose
Conclusion:
(3:00)
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Pronunciation & intonation: practice (Part 1).
Stressed vs. unstressed syllables
In English polysyllabic words (with 2 syllables or more) put the stress on one syllable. The stressed syllable will be more prominent, while the unstressed syllables will be weaker.
1. Pronounce the following words and circle the stressed syllable.
1. beautiful
2. education
3. September
4. Japan
5. passenger
6. adjective
7. important
8. identity
9. before
10. vegetable
11. interesting
12. international
13. tomato
14. Canada
15. shampoo
16. arrive
17. agriculture
18. photography
19. university
20. beginning
Pronunciation & intonation: practice (Part 2)
Stress in two-syllable words. Observe: Where is the stress in the following words?
Nouns
Verbs
artist
forest
brother
weather
record
become
repeat
research
prefer
record
Conclude: Most nouns (and adj) are stressed on the ........................... syllable while most verbs are stressed on the ........................ syllable.
Note: PAIRS of 2 syllable words (verb/noun or adj) can be spelt in the same way but stressed differently:
Noun/Adj
Verb
‘produce
‘decrease
‘contrast
‘export
‘perfect
pro’duce
de’crease
con’trast
ex’port
per’fect
There are of course exceptions. In the following EXERCISE you must find the word with a different stress pattern from the others.
Example: money (10) machine (01) mountain (10) message (10)
1. answer agree allow attract
2. middle minute mission mistake
3. compare correct copy collect
4. garden granny guitar grammar
5. complete common careful crazy
6. pronounce provide promise prefer
7. shampoo shoulder shower shopping
8. reason remove receive review
Pronunciation & intonation: practice (Part 3)
1. Fill the following grid with the words below according to the pronunciation of the final <S>.
politicians, astronauts, candidates, offices, defeats, victories, advantages, compromises, missions, investments
[S]
[Z]
[IZ]
2. Tick the box corresponding to the pronunciation of –ed
/t/
/d/
/id/
strong- minded
left-handed
two-faced
sorted out
well-managed
warm-hearted
badly-behaved
short-listed
ill-advised
level-headed
blue-eyed
Pronunciation & intonation: practice - Stress in longer words (Part 4)
We can build longer words by adding parts to the beginning or end of shorter words. Usually, this does not change the stress: it stays on the same syllable as in the original word.
EXERCISE - Where is the stress in the following words?
1. forget, forgetful, forgetfulness, forgettable , unforgettable
2. believe, believer, believable, unbelievable, unbelieving
3. care, careful, carefully, careless, carelessness
Here is a list of beginnings and endings which do not change the stress of the shorter word:
- able (drinkable)
-al (musical)
-er (player)
-ful (helpful)
-hood (childhood)
-ing (boring)
-ise (civilise)
-ish (childish)
-less (childless)
-ly (friendly)
-ment (employment)
-ness (happiness)
-ship (friendship)
in-/im- (impossible)
un- (unhappy)
under- (underpay)
Some endings do change the stress in the shorter word.
EXERCISE - Where is the stress in the following words?
1. scientist ® scientific
2. national ® nationality
3. music ® musician
4. educate ® education
What about the following words?
-IC
-ITY
-IAN
-ION
basic
public
electric
economic
romantic
optimistic
pessimistic
diplomatic
reality
majority
electricity
personality
university
publicity
authority
opportunity
Canadian
Brazilian
electrician
vegetarian
pedestrian
politician
comedian
technician
nation
relation
discussion
operation
competition
communication
identification
telecommunication
Þ RULE: In words ending with -IC, -ITY, -IAN, -ION, the stress usually comes on the syllable .......................... the suffix.
It is also the case with the following suffixes: -ual, -ial, -ient, -ious, -ior , -ics
Now how do you pronounce: Supercalifragilistic ?!
Pronunciation & intonation: practice (Part 5)
PRACTICE Find the word stress in polysyllabic words and read out the following sentences.
- The journalist recorded the news at the last minute.
- Our team holds the record for total points scored.
- The number of viewers increased by 42% last year.
- There was a 3% increase in visitors.
- The supporters are planning a non-violent protest in front of the stadium on Sunday.
- They already protested last month.
- You’re such a rebel !
- Conservatives rebel over gay marriage in France.
Last but not least, can you handle this one?
According to alarming news bulletins, there were numerous horrifying creatures coming from Mars everywhere!
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The Internet is a great tool to help you improve your English. Here are a few websites that your English teachers have selected for you.
Don't forget, if you need more help outside class, visit the multimedia room (Building 336, 2nd floor, room 240). Teachers and tutors are there to help you. Opening hours
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Grammar websites
Here is a list of websites to help you improve your grammar:- e-anglais: Lessons in French and online exercises.
- Englisch-Hilfen: Lessons in English and online exercises.
- My English Pages: Grammar lessons in English and much, much more...
- The British Council: Grammar, vocabulary, skills...
- The BBC: Learning English pages.
- e-anglais: Lessons in French and online exercises.
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Vocabulary - Online Dictionaries
There are many online dictionaries on the internet. Watch out: a dictionary is not a translator!
Forget about Reverso and Google trad and learn how to use a dictionary, you will learn a lot more words.
Learner's Dictionaries = for a simplified definition which is easier to understand when English is not your mother tongue.
Traditional Dictionaries
Thesaurus = all the dictionaries above have a thesaurus section to allow you to find synonyms and antonyms.
You can also visit: http://www.thesaurus.com/
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Phonology websites
Phonemic Charts:
Games - Have fun with English sounds (and learn how to recognise English sounds!):
IPA typewriter - If you need to type the phonetic transcription of a word or a phonetic symbol:
If you do not know how to pronounce a word:
... or you can check any good online dictionary.
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You may find PeiP2 Final test Listening Part 1 and Part 2.
Thank you!
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Call-To-Action presentations
- Lucas + Christopher = Cybersecurity - Link to the survey
- Joël + Mathis = sugar and food
- Johann + Amin = Food waste
- Romain + Mathéo = (cyber)bullying
- Mélodie + Léo = fast fashion
- Hiba +Vladimir = the isolation of international students
- Antonin = Dopamine
- Nolann = Health and young people
- Laura = Mental health - Link to the survey
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Opened: Monday, 30 September 2024, 12:00 AMDue: Monday, 7 October 2024, 8:00 AM
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BBC One Minute World News:
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Essay-writing: If you are not sure about how to write an essay, here is some useful advice. The link shows how to write an essay for the IELTS test but the advice can be followed for essay-writing in general and an example of a discursive essay is given at the end.
https://www.ieltspodcast.com/writing-task-2/discursive-essays/
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There is bug on the EUGLOH website:When registering on the EUGLOH website, if you can't see "Faculté des sciences" in the list of institutions listed under Université Paris-Saclay, you need to apply by selecting “none” in the “Institution Division” and write the name of the Faculty in the “Department” field, so as not to lose any information.Another problem may occur when you try to answer the following question : · Have you previously benefited from an EU funded scholarship?If you add NO for the following question and you cannot submit the form, it may tell you that you haven't filled in this field.Should this happen you will need to go back and add YES.(see below)
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QUIZ
READING ACTIVITIES
Listening activities