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Conversation / LET'S TALK
Lesson 05
Social Issues – Gender Equality, Racism, Poverty
Advanced
Exercise 1
Expressions
Direction: Listen and repeat after your tutor
Gender equality
/ˈdʒen.dər iˈkwɒl.ə.ti/
Meaning:
The state in which access to rights or opportunities is not affected by gender
- Many companies are now promoting gender equality in the workplace.
Racial discrimination
/ˈreɪ.ʃəl dɪsˌkrɪm.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/
Meaning:
Treating someone unfairly because of their race or ethnicity
- Racial discrimination is illegal in many countries but still happens often.
Marginalized groups
/ˈmɑː.dʒɪ.nə.laɪzd ɡruːps/
Meaning:
Groups that are treated as less important or with fewer opportunities
- Governments should create policies to support marginalized groups.
Raise awareness
/reɪz əˈweə.nəs/
Meaning:
To make people more informed or conscious about an issue
- Social media is a powerful tool to raise awareness about gender issues.
Exercise 2
Mini Debate
❝Should governments do more to reduce inequality, or is it mostly an individual responsibility?❞
Exercise 3
Article
Direction: Now, we're going to listen to a short audio titled ... Listen carefuly.
Social Issues – Gender Equality, Racism, Poverty
1. What is one reason gender equality is still a challenge?
a) Men don’t want to work
b) Women hold fewer leadership roles and earn less
c) All people are treated equally now
d) The article doesn’t mention it
2. What does it mean to “break the cycle” of poverty?
a) To stop poverty from passing from one generation to the next
b) To ignore poverty
c) To accept living without money
d) To increase government spending
3. What is the article’s main message?
a) Social problems will disappear on their own
b) Governments alone can fix inequality
c) Solving social issues requires both individual and collective action
d) Social media causes most social issues
Exercise 4
Let's Talk
Answer using the words and expressions you have learned in this lesson. Talk about yourself!
In your opinion, which social issue is the most urgent to solve today, and why?
Have you or someone you know ever experienced discrimination? How did it feel?
Do you think gender roles are changing in your country? Give examples.
What can schools do to teach students about racism and equality?
How does poverty affect opportunities in education or jobs?
Should people with privilege have a responsibility to help marginalized communities?
How can media (TV, films, social media) affect people’s views on social issues?
Do protests and activism help bring real change? Why or why not?
What role does language play in fighting or supporting inequality?
What’s one thing you can do personally to promote equality in your community?
Should companies be required to hire a diverse workforce? Why or why not?
How do gender and racial issues differ in different parts of the world?
