Welcome to Sharing the Planet: Global Issues!

Hello future global citizens! This chapter, Global Issues, is part of the larger theme Sharing the Planet. Don't worry if the topic seems huge; we are focusing on how to talk about big world problems using simple, clear language in your target language.

We will learn the essential vocabulary and phrases needed to discuss challenges that affect many countries, like health crises or poverty. Being able to talk about these issues shows your international-mindedness and ability to engage with the world around you, which is key to the IB Diploma!

Section 1: Defining Global Issues (The Basics)

A global issue is simply a problem or challenge that crosses national borders and requires international cooperation to solve. It’s not just a problem in one country; it affects everyone!

Analogy: Think of a global issue like a giant storm that hits the whole continent. Every country has to work together to recover, because the storm affects their neighbours too.

Key Vocabulary for Categorizing Issues

In Language ab initio, you need to recognize and use basic terms related to the major categories of global challenges.

  • Poverty and Inequality: The state of being very poor or when resources are unfairly divided.
    • The Problem: La pauvreté (poverty), L’inégalité (inequality)
    • The People: Les sans-abris (homeless people), Les personnes défavorisées (disadvantaged people)
  • Health Crises: Widespread diseases or lack of access to medical care.
    • Vocabulary: La maladie (sickness/disease), Les hôpitaux (hospitals), Un virus (a virus)
    • Action: Aider les malades (to help the sick)
  • Conflict and Migration: Wars, violence, and the movement of people fleeing danger.
    • The Crisis: La guerre (war), Le conflit (conflict), La violence (violence)
    • The Movement: Les réfugiés (refugees), Émigrer (to emigrate), Fuir (to flee)
  • Human Rights: Basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the world.
    • Vocabulary: Les droits de l'homme (human rights), La liberté (freedom), La justice (justice)

💡 Quick Review: How to remember the 4 Big Cs

To keep the main types of global issues straight, remember the 3 Cs and the P:

Conflict, Climate (covered in the environment topic, but related!), Crisis (Health/Poverty), and Poverty.

Section 2: Expressing Concerns and Describing Challenges

At the ab initio level, you need to use simple sentence structures to state what the problem is and why it worries you. Remember to keep your tenses simple (present tense is your friend!).

2.1 Stating the Problem (Using "There is" / "There are")

Use the simple structure for existence (e.g., Il y a in French, Hay in Spanish, etc.)

Formula: There is/are + a lot of + Problem Noun.

  • Example: There is a lot of poverty in the world.
  • Example: There are too many conflicts in certain regions.
2.2 Expressing Concern (Why is it bad?)

To show why a global issue is challenging, link the problem to a negative consequence using words like "because" or "it causes."

Key phrases to memorize:

  • It is serious: C'est grave. / Es grave.
  • It is difficult: C'est difficile. / Es difícil.
  • It causes suffering: Ça cause la souffrance. / Causa sufrimiento.
  • It affects: Ça affecte les enfants. / Afecta a los niños. (It affects the children)

Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't try to use complex conditional or subjunctive tenses when expressing abstract ideas! Stick to the simple present tense to describe the situation.

Instead of: "I wish that governments would solve the crisis..."

Say: "The crisis is big. Governments must help." (Keep it simple!)

Key Takeaway: Focus on using the simplest sentence structure (Subject + Verb + Object) to clearly identify the problem and its immediate negative impact (e.g., "Poverty is bad because people are hungry").

Section 3: Discussing Actions and Solutions

The theme "Sharing the planet" encourages us to think about opportunities and solutions. You need basic verbs to discuss what individuals and governments can do to help.

3.1 Actions for Individuals (What I can do)

These actions are often practical and local:

  • To help: Aider / Ayudar
  • To donate: Donner / Donar
  • To volunteer: Faire du bénévolat / Hacer voluntariado
  • To inform oneself/to learn: S'informer / Informarse
  • To recycle: Recycler / Reciclar

Practice Sentence Structure: I can help. (Je peux aider. / Yo puedo ayudar.)

3.2 Actions for Governments and Organizations (What They must do)

These actions are generally larger and focus on policy and finance. We often use modal verbs like "must" or "should" (if taught at your level).

  • To protect: Protéger / Proteger
  • To support/finance: Soutenir / Financiar
  • To reduce: Réduire / Reducir
  • To construct: Construire / Construir (e.g., schools, hospitals)

Did you know?

Many international organizations have names that are abbreviations (like the UN or WHO). Knowing the target language term for these organizations (e.g., L'ONU for the UN) can make your speech sound much more sophisticated in your oral assessment!

3.3 Using the Impersonal Structure (It is necessary to...)

This is a powerful structure in ab initio because it allows you to suggest solutions without needing a specific subject (I, you, they).

Key Phrase: It is necessary to... (e.g., Il faut... / Es necesario...)

  • It is necessary to help the refugees.
  • It is necessary to fight inequality.
  • It is necessary to speak about human rights.

Key Takeaway: Focus on clear action verbs in the present tense or with modal verbs (can, must). Use the impersonal structure ("It is necessary to...") to offer simple, direct solutions.

Section 4: Expressing Opinions and Reflecting

In your individual oral assessment (IOA) or written tasks (Paper 1), you might be asked to express your personal opinion on a global issue. Keep your opinion structure simple and clear.

4.1 Simple Opinion Phrases

Start your sentence with a strong opinion marker:

  • I think that...: Je pense que... / Creo que...
  • In my opinion...: À mon avis... / En mi opinión...
  • It is important that...: Il est important que... / Es importante que...
4.2 Linking Opinions to Action

Combine your opinion with an action verb to create a comprehensive statement.

Formula: Opinion Marker + that + Subject + Action Verb.

Example: I think that governments must help the people.

4.3 Showing Empathy and Reflection

This shows intercultural understanding. Even if the topic is challenging, use simple adjectives to express hope or difficulty.

  • It is sad: C'est triste. / Es triste.
  • It gives me hope: Ça me donne de l'espoir. / Me da esperanza.
  • The situation is terrible: La situation est terrible. / La situación es terrible.

Don't worry if this seems tricky at first: The examiner expects simple communication. It is better to use four simple, grammatically correct sentences than one very complex sentence that contains multiple mistakes!

🔥 Quick Review: Global Issues Communication

When communicating about global issues, ensure you cover these three points:

  1. Identify the Issue: Use basic vocabulary (e.g., poverty, conflict).
  2. Express the Challenge: Use simple phrases like "It is difficult" or "It causes suffering."
  3. Propose a Solution: Use action verbs (help, donate) or impersonal structures (It is necessary to...).

You now have the essential tools to discuss "Global Issues" confidently within the context of Sharing the Planet!