Task 4. Listening and comparing opinions about globalization

GLOBALIZATION

A: Pre-listening tasks:

1) You can hear the term ‘globalization’ very often now.

Ø How do you understand this concept?

Ø What positive / negative features do you see in globalization?

Ø Do you think globalization is inevitable?

2) First listen to the words and phrases that are used in the text:

ü individual - индивидуум

ü to maximize profits – максимально увеличивать прибыли

ü fair - справедливый

ü constrained - ограниченный

ü boundary - граница

ü to expand - увеличивать(ся) в объеме, развивать(ся)

ü to enter the foreign market – выходить на зарубежный рынок

ü blinkered - ограниченный

ü consumerism – защита интересов потребителя

ü economic entity – субъект хозяйствования

ü to challenge – бросать вызов, провоцировать

ü the notion of democracy – понятие демократии

ü to have power over sb. – иметь власть над кем-либо

B: Listening task: Listen to the recording and choose the most appropriate answer according to what you will hear.

1. globalization is a term which originated in

a) sport

b) politics

c) business

2. global trade

a) has always existed

b) has developed from more local trade

c) is only now beginning to affect us

3. The role of technology in globalization

a) has caused a lot of damage

b) has produced benefits for many parties

c) is not very important

4. Which best describes the relationship between governments and global companies?

a) Global companies are controlled by the governments.

b) Global companies sometimes hold more power than government.

c) Global companies dictate the directions of governments.

5. Which sentence best sums up the author’s view?

a) Globalization is generally bad.

b) Globalization is a positive force in our world today.

c) Globalization has its pluses and minuses.

C: Share with the group:

1. Reflect, if your understanding of the notion of globalization coincides with the opinion of the lecturer you’ve just heard, and share your opinion about globalization.

2. What is your attitude to the regular anti-globalization demonstrations and marches which are organized in different parts of the world? Can you give any examples of such events from media?

3. Is our country involved in globalization processes? What are positive and negative consequences of globalization for our land?

STARTER 2

Before starting the work on the presented material think over the possible answers to the following questions:

Ø What do people usually imply when they speak about politics?

Ø What definitions of the term ‘politics’ can you offer?

Ø Can you suppose why people are eager to live in a democratic society?

Ø In what way do democracy and freedom correlate in your opinion?

Ø What associations come to your mind when you think / speak about political system of a country?

Ø What international organizations can you name?

Ø What issues do the international organizations deal with first of all?

Ø What would you include in the list of burning issues of the 21^st century?

Task 5. Read the following text. You will learn about the different variations of the definition of the term ‘politics’. Why are there so many definitions, in your opinion?

WHAT IS POLITICS?

Originally, “politics” comes from Ancient Greece, i.e. “polis, the city-state”. Politics is therefore “what concerns the state”.

The New Collins Concise English Dictionary defines politics as

Ø the art and science of directing and administrating states and other political units;

Ø any activity concerned with the acquisition of power.

So, politics is the activity through which people make, preserve and amend the general rules under they live. On the other hand, people recognize that in order to influence these rules or ensure that they are upheld, they must work with others. This is why politics is often portrayed as a process of conflict resolution. There are some other more specific definitions which can be broken into four categories:

a) politics as the art of government;

b) politics as public affairs;

c) politics as compromise;

d) politics as power.

Дата добавления: 2015-10-23