Subject File DISCRIMINATION

Key Concepts

Stereotypes

Stereotyping means making an unfair assumption or generalisation about a person or group of people based on an aspect of their identity, for example their race, culture, religion, or gender.

Stereotypes are thus widely held but fixed, i. e. permanent, and oversimplified images or ideas of a particular type of person or thing or of a social group. 

Example: All Germans are always punctual.

Prejudice

Prejudice means to ‘pre-judge’ someone. It starts in the mind and is a negative attitude towards people based solely on a group to which they belong. It is based on an unfounded opinion.

A prejudice is thus a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience

Bias 

Bias is a disproportionate preference or inclination for or against an idea, thing, or group. It often leads to closed-minded, prejudicial, or unfair judgments because it allows personal opinions or stereotypes to override objective facts.

Bias leads to actions or behaviours which support the group/the individual which is favoured.

SPOTLIGHT on ENGLISH # 3 _ Learning English as a Global Lingua Franca

Task 1

Discuss English as a global lingua franca (a global means of communication) and highlight the consequences for other languages. 

1. Study the cartoon: What does it say about the significance of English in comparison to other languages?
2. Based on the bar chart, determine why English and French are considered global means of communication, but Chinese is not.

Task 2

Make predictions about the reasons why the significance of English as a global means of communication will only grow in the future. (Use the future simple with 'will'.)

-> Refer to the info-graphic below.

Task 3

Practising function verbs/descriptors. 

-> Develop the following key points in a presentation and study the differences.

• suggest institutions in your country which provide English language instruction
• describe institutions in your country which provide English language instruction
• evaluate institutions in your country which provide English language instruction

Subject File MOBILITY AND TRANSPORTATION

 

Classic London Routemaster Double Decker Bus
Courtesy: https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/blog/around-london/the-classic-routemaster-double-decker-bus/

Ex. 1: Prepositions of Transport. 

Ex. 2: Talking about public transport.

BBC Learning English - Real Easy English: Talking about public transport

Ex. 3: English transport announcements. Complete the online exercises.

British Council Learning EnglishTransport Announcements

Green Mobility 

BBC Learning English - 6-Minute English: Should we cycle more

Subject File FOOD TRENDS

 Fast Food

Ex. 1: Watch the video and complete the News Review quiz online.

Fast Food: Bad for the Brain?

Ex. 2: Watch the video and complete the News Review quiz online.

Junk Food Addiction

Ex.3: 

BBC Learning English: Ultra-processed food health warning

Subject File A HEALTHY AND BALANCED DIET

 

Courtesy: https://www.safefood.net/healthy-eating/the-food-pyramid-(1)/what-is-a-healthy-diet-(1)

 More information on the Eatwell Guide

Ex. 1: Diet or nutrition? Complete the table with the suitable concepts.

Ex. 2: Complete the gap text with concepts from Ex. 1.

1. The doctor has told me to go on a ........................... (1) because I am too big. 
2. Children not receiving adequate ............................... (2) frequently suffer from poor health.
3. The Japanese ............................ (3) consists of rice, vegetables, and plenty of fish.
4. It is crucial to eat a balanced .............................. (4)
5. Many illnesses are caused by poor ............................. (5)     

Ex. 3: 

You are a nutritionist and you advise people on how to improve their diets if they suffer from the following conditions. Study the food pyramid and suggest a diet to improve them. 

• a skin rash
• digestive problems
• a heart condition
• osteoporosis

https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/healthy-eating-pyramid/

Ex. 4: Eating habits and meal routines.

Ex. 5: Reflect on your personal eating habits and meal routines, using the present simple tense.

• What I have/eat ...

Ex. 6: Learn more about which foods not to consume in a healthy and balanced diet.

Harvard Health: Which foods don't belong in a healthy diet?


Ex. 7: Food and Mental Health. 

BBC Learning English: Food and Mood

Ex. 8: The impact of alcohol on the human body.

Alcohol can unravel the brain's connections. 

Alcohol damages the brain, leading to nerve cell death and the loss of neural connections. 

Brain atrophy is the gradual loss of brain cells and neural connections, causing the brain to shrink. When this process progresses more rapidly, it is often associated with neurological disorders, especially dementia. 

Subject File HOUSING

Ex. 1: Listen to the podcast and note down the types of houses mentioned.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/features/real-easy-english/250117

Ex. 2: Different types of housing in the United Kingdom and the United States. 

manor house - farmhouse - thatched cottage - mobile home (BE), caravan, trailer (AE) - detached house (BE), single family house (AE) -mansion - semi-detached house (BE), two-family house (AE), skyscraper - terraced house (BE), row house (AE) - high-rise residential building - flat/block of flats (BE), apartment - penthouse 

Subject File THE GIG ECONOMY

• The gig economy, also known as the sharing or access economy, consists of a labor market that emphasizes short-term, temporary, flexible, part-time and freelance work engagements rather than permanent positions, often facilitated through digital platforms, representing a shift from traditional employment structures.

• People earn money from providing on-demand work, services, or goods. 

• Remote positions allow gig workers to live anywhere that has an internet connection.

• Positions are often filled by independent contractors. While offering flexibility and independence to workers, this type of of work removes job security and benefits like health insurance and paid leave. 

• Companies save costs by hiring freelancers without these benefits. Employers benefit by saving costs and hiring from a larger, globally accessible talent pool due to remote work options. 

Ex. 1: Study the vocabulary items below. 

• digital freelancing
• in demand
• digital gig platforms 
• earnings 
• entrepreneur 
• to freelance (verb)
• perks 

Ex. 2: Watch the video and complete the sentences with the items in Ex. 1. (KEY below)

Paid vacation, sick leave, life insurance and retirement plans are among the ... (1) that come with salaried jobs. Freelancers, though, will have to take responsibility for these themselves. 

... (2) come with drawbacks and may not provide a reliable living wage but they offer convenience and opportunities to find paid work fast. 

Freelancers may find it hard to find out how much money they actually make as ... (3) are based on location and often include business expenses and the digital platforms' cuts. 

Freelancing requires becoming an ... (4) because marketing, negotiating, administration, networking, and client acquisition are central to the gig economy. 

If a person has a skill that is ... (5), they can charge more for the services they deliver to their clients.

... (6) is a new development where freelancers collaborate with digital platforms such as Uber or Upwork. 

When people decide to ... (7), it is often because they enjoy the independence and flexibility these short-term and flexible work arrangements bring.