Empower p 117. Politics. Extra Oral Mediation

A friend of yours from England is going to give a TED talk about the state of politics in different parts of the world. While doing his research, he came across these pictures of Spain on Google. He sends them to you so that you can shed some light on the state of politics in your country. Your friend also asks you some questions about this topic. You decide to send your friend a voice message with an explanation of 2 minutes.

1. Could you please comment on the pictures I have sent you?
2. What’s voter turnout like in your country?
3. How do you think democracy could be improved in your country?
4. Have you recently heard of any political scandals in your country? What happened?
5. Which elections are the most important to you: local, national or European?
6. Is politics a major topic of discussion in your country or region? What do people tend to say when they talk about politics?
7. What criteria would you follow to decide on a particular political party or individual candidate?
8. Do you follow the latest political events in your country? Which issues do you find most interesting? Why?
9. What makes a good politician in your opinion?
10. What are the main political areas of concern in your country or region at the moment?

Useful language to describe a chart:
 
This chart illustrates how...
This chart compares...
The results that are shown in the chart are...
As can be seen from these results, ...
According to this chart, 
From the data in the above chart, it is apparent that ...
We can see on this chart how... 
The chart indicates that...
The chart represents...
The information given in the chart...
The percentage of people who... is shown on the chart.  
The chart shows quite clearly the impact of...

Empower p 115. Relationships. Extra Oral Mediation

A friend of yours from England is going to give a TED talk about relationships in different parts of the world. While doing his research, he came across these pictures of Spanish relationships on Google. He sends them to you so that you can shed some light on relationships in your country. Your friend also asks you some questions about this topic. You decide to send your friend a voice message with an explanation of 2 minutes.

1. Could you please comment on the pictures I have sent you? How would you describe the relationships depicted in them?
2. How has the concept of family changed over the last 30 years in your country? What are the positive aspects of modern families? Are there any downsides to modern families?
3. How different do you think your family is compared to other families? Do families in Spain have any special traditions?
4. Are friends the new family? Discuss.
5. What are the main problems affecting families in your country at the moment? What kind of problems can put a great strain on a relationship? What impact does divorce have on a family in your country?
6. What are the most memorable moments you’ve ever spent with your friends?
7. Do grandparents look after their grandchildren in Spain? What do people think about it?
8. What do people in your country think of married couples who decide not to have any children?
9. What are the pros and cons of being a single parent in your country?
10. Are there more benefits or drawbacks to living alone in your country nowadays? Is it possible to be unattached and happy where you live? Is there any negative stereotyping in your society?   
11. What are the Spanish traditions and rituals in relation to weddings? What are the differences between Spanish and English weddings?
12. Can you tell me about the last time you went to a stag/ hen party? How did you celebrate it?
13. What is the right age to get married in your country? And to have children?
14. What kind of presents do the guests to the wedding offer the newly-wed couple? What do people think about the fact that together with the invitation to the wedding the guests in Spain also receive the bank account details to deposit money?
15. Do people in Spain complain about their neighbours? What do they complain to their neighbours about? Do you think Spaniards are thoughtful and considerate neighbours? In what ways is the current lifestyle eroding neighbourhood ties in Spain?

Useful language to describe a chart:
 
This chart illustrates how...
This chart compares...
The results that are shown in the chart are...
As can be seen from these results, ...
According to this chart, 
From the data in the above chart, it is apparent that ...
We can see on this chart how... 
The chart indicates that...
The chart represents...
The information given in the chart...
The percentage of people who... is shown on the chart.  
The chart shows quite clearly the impact of...

Empower p113. Essay: The Effects Of the Internet. Word Formation Cloze

 There is no doubt that the Internet has had the most (0) dramatic (DRAMA) effect on (1)____________ (KIND) since the (2)____________ (INDUSTRY) Revolution. It has changed the way  we communicate with each other and has brought the world into our homes and work.

With the Internet, nobody and nothing is out of reach. (3)___________ (ELECTRICITY) mail, instant (4)________________ (MESSAGE) and social (5)________________(NET) sites enable us to stay in touch with family and friends no matter where we , or they, may be. What is more, gadgets such as web cameras and microphones make the presence of the other person more real. Aside from connecting us to (6)________________(FAMILY) faces, the Internet allows us to meet  people we might never have met (7)______________(OTHER). Beyond its social aspect, the Internet allows information to be gathered with ease and it exposes us to international points of view, thus (8)_______________ (BROAD) our horizons. 

There is, (9)_____________ (NONE), cause for much concern in a number of areas. To begin with, the (10)____________ (PRIVATE) of online users is (11)______________ (THREAT) since criminals have (12)________________(PRECEDE) access to personal and (13)_________________ (CONFIDE) information, which can result in (14)___________(IDENTIFY) theft and credit card fraud. (15)________________ (FAR), there is a (16)___________ (STAGGER) amount of (17)_______________ (INFORM) online and users must be (18)______________(WARINESS) when researching. Finally and most (19)_______________ (IRONY), the (20)________________(CONVENIENT) of the Internet becomes a (21)_______________(EDGE) sword when being connected means you never have a moment to yourself.

All in all, the Internet places the world at our (22)__________________(TIP), but the (23)______________ (BENEFICIAL) must be (24)______________(OFF) against some very serious dangers.

KEY

1. humankind

2. industrial

3. electronic

4. messaging

5. networking

 

 

 

6. familiar 

7. otherwise

8. broadening

9. nonetheless

10. privacy

11. threatened

12. unprecedented

13. confidential

14. identity

15. Furthermore

16. staggering

17. misinformation

18. wary

 

 

 

19. ironically

 

 

 

20. convenience

 

 

 

21. double-edged 

be a double-edged/two-edged sword/weapon

to be something that has both advantages and disadvantages.

 

 

 

22. fingertips 

have something at your fingertips: to have the information, knowledge, etc. that is needed in a particular situation and be able to find it easily and use it quickly. E.g. I made sure I had all the facts at my fingertips before attending the meeting. 

 

 

 

23. benefits 

24. offset

offset: (V) /ˈɒfset/
to use one cost, payment or situation in order to cancel or reduce the effect of another. Sp. Compensar, contrarrestar. E.g. What expenses can you offset against tax?  You can offset any loss you make in a year against your profits. Sp. Puedes compensar cualquier pérdida en un año con tus ganancias.