This document discusses various social issues and conflicts around the world. It provides a list of common social issues such as bullying, child labor, domestic violence, etc. It also lists headlines from recent news stories about some of these issues, such as ISIS attacks, modern slavery, unemployment, abuse cases, and more. The document asks readers to define and discuss these social issues, match them with related words, and consider how policies may impact social consequences. It prompts discussion of important current issues and what could motivate protests. Overall, the document aims to raise awareness of prevalent social problems and conflicts globally and in different countries.

1. SOCIAL ISSUES &SOCIAL ISSUES &
CONFLICTSCONFLICTS
Isabel Bastida & Ana Mena
EOI Cartagena B2

2. • Listen to people from different countries talking about what their
main concerns about the current situation in the world are.
What social issues and conflicts do they refer to?
• In pairs try to define the different issues in the box below:
Bullying
Child labour
Domestic violence
Energy poverty
Corruption
Armed conflicts
Homelessness
Environmental threats
Illegal immigration
Discrimination
Unemployment
Terrorism
Human Trafficking
Sexual Harassment
• What other social issues would you add to the list above?
• Have you recently heard in the news stories about the social
issues mentioned before?

3. HEADLINES
ISIS Suicide Attack Kills at Least 20 in Kabul
Modern slavery is happening in the UK
Spain Among the Countries with
the Highest Unemployment in Europe
Salma Hayek says she was abused by 'monste
FBI investigating Democratic rep overpaym
2017 was the hottest year on record without
an El Niño, thanks to global warming
9-Year-Old Child Worker Dies in Bangladeshi
Textile Mill
Mother reveals horrific injuries inflicted by bullies on autistic son
100 people feared dead in Mediterranean as 2016 toll reaches 5,000
Transgender Student’s Discrimination Suit Is Settl
In Deepest Cold, a Subway Car Becomes the Shelter of
Last Resort
California Man Killed 3 Kids After
Domestic Dispute
Rising energy bills and inefficient housing
mean even those in work can’t afford to heat
homes, Policy Exchange study shows
U.S. service member killed, four
wounded in Afghanistan

4. Match the words and expressions in the first box with a word or
expression in the second one which is either the closest in
meaning or which is normally associated with.
• Ethnic cleansing
• Squat
• Prejudice
• Rebel
• Harassment
• Picket line
• Poverty-stricken
• Refugee
• Outcast
• Reject
• Non-conformist
• Blackleg
• Destitute
• Discrimination
• Racial purging
• Displaced person
• Intimidation
• Eviction
What social issues do they refer to?

5. Read the definitions below and guess the conflic they refer to.
A war fought by different groups of people living in the same country.
The surrounding of a place by an armed force in order to defeat those
defending it.
Sudden illegal, often violent, taking of government power, especially by
part of an army.
An agreement between enemies or opponents to stop fighting or
arguing for a certain time.
A regulation requiring people to remain indoors between specified
hours, typically at night
An act of giving financial assistance to a failing business or economy to
save it from collapse.
Interposition or interference of one state in the affairs of another
An occasion when an army or country uses force to enter and take
control of another country.
Can you think of any examples of the conflicts above? Give information about what happened,
reasons and causes.
CIVIL WAR
SIEGE
COUP
TRUCE
CURFEW
BAILOUT
INTERVENTION
INVASIO
N

6. Match the verbs and the phrases to form collocations related to terrorism.
Then complete the sentences below.
1.The terrorists are planning to ……………………….. and fly to another country.
2.Terrorist groups ………………………. on the Internet in order to recruit new
members.
3.A reoffender was planning to ………………………. at the embassy, but the FBI
caught him just on time.
4.The Islamic State ………………………………..for a truck attack in New York that
killed 7 people.
5.After 12 hours of negotiations, the terrorists finally decided to…………………….,
mainly women.
6.The government did not want to run any risks and were forced to …………………
by removing their troops from the border.
7.The government and the terrorists managed to ........................................ The
government released 5 terrorists and ISIS 10 hostages.
1. Hijack
2. Release
3. Negotiate
4. Agree to
5. Plant
6. Spread
7. Claim
a. a bomb
b. a plane
c. a prisoner exchange
d. hostages
e. propaganda
f. responsibility
g. the terrorists’ demands

7. Complete the sentences to get a collocation with
peace.
1. A __________ for peace was made by all authorities
after the terrorist attacks that killed 347 civilians.
2. Waves of refugees from Syria just want to __________
in peace.
3. Jihadism poses a __________ to peace and harmony.
4. The Israeli PM has been criticised for freezing the peace
__________ with the Palestinian Authority.
5. Colombian streets are filled with joy as a peace
__________ has been signed by Colombian guerrillas to
declare a ceasefire.
6. The Eiffel Tower became the new __________ of peace
after the Nov 13 attacks.

8. Discuss these questions in
groups.
• What are the three most important social issues
in your country and in the world at the moment?
• What’s being done to tackle them?
• What are the best ways of fighting for social
justice?
• What lies underneath growing popular unrest?
• What loss of rights would make you go on a
march?
• What’s your opinion about your country’s legal
system? Does it seem to work?
• Who’s to blame for most social issues? Why?

9. The ideal politicianThe ideal politician
What would the ideal politician be like?
Profile of the ideal politicianProfile of the ideal politician
“My ideal politician would have a ....personality to
charm the opposition. They’d have the ....to really care
about the communities they work for and excellent .....skills
to argue for their cause. They would be humble and ......,
rather than .....and full of their own self-importance. But
they need to be ....too, so that they’d be able to make the most of
opportunities when they arose. They’d have the ......to stand up for their
beliefs in the face of opposition, but be prepared to back down and ....in
order to reach a solution that suits everyone. Unfortunately, I don’t think
this kind of politician exists!”
arrogant bravery charismatic communication compassion
compromise down-to-earth shrewd

10. POLITICSPOLITICS
What’s the difference between …?
• A general election / A referendum / An opinion poll
• Bipartisanship / Partisanship
• Left-wing parties / Right- wing parties / Centrism
• Upstart parties / Traditional parties
• Election turn-out / Election results
• Ruling party / Opposition
• Polling station / Polling (voting) booth
• Cast your vote / Abstain from voting / Spoil the ballot
• Boycott the election / Rig the election
• Call for an early election / Postpone the election / Stand for election
In pairs. Think of the present political scenario in Spain. Use some of
the expressions above to talk about it.
Is it similar to the one in other countries?

11. Policies and social consequences
Trigger –Bankrupt – Lead – Discourage – Curb –
Boost – Benefit – Undermine - Compound
1. It might ……………………. people from working.
2. It might ……………………. the rich, but it’ll harm the poor.
3. It’s a bad idea. If anything, it’ll create division and ……………………. to tension.
4. It might ……………………. an election earlier than they expect.
5. It’ll ……………………. the economy and create jobs.
6. It’s bad. It’ll ……………………. relations between the two countries.
7. This new law might aim to .......................petty crime and reduce arrest.
8. It’d put an enormous strain on finances. It could ……………………. the country.
9. The rise in prices will only serve to ...........................the problem of unemployment
among the poor.

12. Discuss these questions in groupsDiscuss these questions in groups
1. When was the last time the government was
mixed up in a scandal?
2. What politicians have had a low standing in the
polls and why?
3. When was the last time you cast your vote?
What was the outcome of the last general
election in your country?
4. What events might trigger an early election?
5. Under what circumstances could a government
postpone an election?