POLITICS, DEMOCRACY AND ACTIVE CITIZENSHIPS

UNIT „POLITICS, DEMOCRACY AND ACTIVE CITIZENSHIPS“

This part of the lecture gives definition of the basic political terms and concepts.

Level: A1-A2

Learning outcomes:

– Vocabulary on politics

– Reading comprehension

– Speaking and discussion

– Grammar and use of English

Duration: 15 min

Learning outcome:

+ Changing perspectives

+ Critical thinking

+ Open-mindedness

+ Understanding the concept of elections

Learning skills:

Vocabulary

Speaking

Voting in elections?

Read the text conversation between Ana and Martin and discuss the following questions with your classmates.

1.        Is voting important for you?

2.        When was the last time you went to vote?

3.        What do you think Martin should do?

4.        What do you know about elections in your country?

5.        How often should there be elections in a country?

Modal verbs of obligation

Present

Positive

Negative

have to /
don’t have to

strong obligation (possibly from outside)

●        Children have to go to school.

no obligation

●        I don’t have to work on Sundays.

●        You don’t have to eat anything you don’t like.

must / mustn’t

strong obligation

●        I must study today.

negative obligation

●        You mustn’t smoke here.

should / shouldn’t

mild obligation or advice

●        You should save some money.

mild negative obligation or advice

●        You shouldn’t smoke so much.

1.         We go to school.

2.        We have to work on Mondays.

3.        I   vote, because elections are important.

4.        I think you, but it’s your choice in the end. Do what you want.

5.        We some in here, its forbidden.

6.        I spend so much money on clothes, I need to save.
C. Political vocabulary check

Look at the useful vocabulary and answer the following questions




Choose the correct definition


12.       What is the definition of Bill?
13.       What is the definition of Coalition?
14.       What is the definition of campaign?
15.       What is the definition of Coup d’ etat?
16.       What is the definition of By-election?
Look at the following pictures and then decide which option (A-D) in each question matches the indicted picture


Source: Excellent ESL 4U. ESL Politics Vocabulary. https://www.excellentesl4u.com/esl-politics-vocabulary.html (accessed 23 September 2021)

17.       Picture A?

18.       Picture B?
19.       Picture C?
20.       Picture D?
21.       Picture E?

Duration:  10 minutes reading + 10 minutes

Learning outcome:

+ Self-reflection

+ Critical thinking

+  Reading comprehension

Learning skills:

Vocabulary

Reading

Grammar

Comprehension

Read the text about political parties and complete the following exercises.

Decide if the following statements are TRUE or FALSE

1. In most countries people with similar views about how the country should be run join together to form political parties.
2. Some countries have lots of different political parties while others have only two parties.

3. Right-wing parties normally support modern beliefs.
4. Left-wing parties normally support socialist beliefs.

5. When a party comes into power and forms a government it will never try to make laws.

6. If the party does not run the country well, people will vote for it at the next election.

7. If another party has a new majority, it will be able to form a new government.

8. The smallest party forms the government.

9. Conservative beliefs are generally that people should have the freedom to do as they want without much interference from the government and that businesses should be supported.

 

Duration: 20 min

Learning outcome:

+ Self-reflection

+ Critical thinking

+ Speaking

Learning skills:

Vocabulary

Reading

Discuss the following questions with your classmates.

1.      How is the government formed in countries with only two popular parties?

2.      Explain the difference between right-wing and left-wing parties.

3.      What happens when a party comes into power?

4.      What happens if the party doesn’t run the country well?

5.      What do you know about political parties in your country?

 

Look at the following images and discuss with your classmates what you have understood so far. Try to use the useful vocabulary

Imagine you are going to create a new political party. Think of a name for your party and five things you will do if you are elected. Then try to persuade your classmates to vote for you.

Duration: 10 min reading + 10 min

Learning outcome:

+Reading

+ Vocabulary

+ Reading comprehension

Learning skills:

Vocabulary

Reading comprehension

Read the text about the politics in the UK and complete the following exercises.   







Decide if the following statements are TRUE or FALSE.

1. Constitutional monarchy means that the Queen is the head of state and actively participates in politics. 
2. The Queen signs all the laws passed by the politicians but she does not have any responsibility for saying what the laws should be about.


3. Everyone who is on the electoral register has two votes.

4. On the ballot paper there is a list of all the candidates that are standing for election.

5. Parliament is the place in certain countries where the politicians meet to debate and vote.

6. The political leader of the UK is the President.

7. If one party does not have enough seats to form a majority it will need to form a coalition with another party, and they will run the country together.
8. Ballot paper is a piece of paper that lists all the options that can be voted for.

9. Normally there are elections every two years in the UK.

10. Constituency is the area of a country that is represented by a certain elected official.

Duration: 15 min

Learning outcome:

+  Self-reflection

+ Critical thinking

+ Reading

+ Vocabulary

+ Comprehension

Language skills:

Vocabulary

Match the definitions to the explanations.

1. Campaign
2. Prime Minister
3. Electoral register
4. Coup d’ etat
5. Parliament
6. Coalition
7. Polling station
8. Majority
9. By-election
10. Constituency
Choose a word from the box and complete it in the sentences.



1. The United Kingdom is a , which means that the Queen is the head of state but she does not actively participate in politics.

2. In most countries people with similar views about how the country should be run join together to form

3. parties normally support conservative beliefs, which are generally that people should have the freedom to do as they want without much interference from the government

4. The UK is divided into many different .

5. If the party does not run the country well, people will not vote for it at the next , so another party will have a new majority and so be able to form a new government.

Duration: 15 min

Learning outcome:

+  Self-reflection

+ Critical thinking

+ Reading

+ Vocabulary

+ Comprehension

Learning skills:

Vocabulary

Reading

Complete the following sentences with have to/must/should or don’t have to/mustn’t/shouldn’t.

1. To travel, you carry a passport.

2. You bring food into the class.

3. I probably do this, but I want to!

4. My tooth is sore. I go to the dentist.

5. I think you , but it’s your choice in the end.
Match the words in the box with the images.