🌏 Sharing the Planet: The Environment (L'environnement) 🌏
Hello future global citizen! Welcome to the study notes for the theme Sharing the Planet, focusing specifically on the topic of The Environment. This is one of the most relevant and important themes in the entire Language ab initio course.
Why is this important? Because being internationally-minded means being able to discuss global challenges—and the environment affects everyone. These notes will give you the essential vocabulary and simple structures you need to describe problems, suggest solutions, and express your commitment to a healthier planet.
Don't worry if environmental terms seem technical; we are only focusing on the most common, everyday vocabulary needed for basic communication!
Part I: Essential Vocabulary – Describing Our World
To talk about the environment, we need words for nature itself, the problems it faces, and the positive actions we can take.
A. Nature and Natural Elements (Le Naturel)
- The environment: L'environnement (French) / El medio ambiente (Spanish)
- The earth/planet: La terre / El planeta
- A tree: Un arbre / Un árbol
- The water: L'eau / El agua
- The air: L'air / El aire
- The forest: La forêt / El bosque
- Nature: La nature / La naturaleza
Memory Trick: Think of the word "planet" in your target language. Everything else relates back to things found on the planet (water, air, trees).
B. Key Verbs for Action
You need these verbs to discuss solutions and commitments in your Paper 1 writing tasks or Oral Assessment (IOA).
- To protect: Protéger / Proteger
- To recycle: Recycler / Reciclar
- To save (conserve): Économiser / Ahorrar
- To pollute: Polluer / Contaminar
- To throw away: Jeter / Tirar
Part II: Identifying Environmental Problems (Les Problèmes)
We need simple vocabulary to identify the challenges faced by our shared planet. Focus on nouns related to pollution and waste.
1. Pollution (La Pollution / La Contaminación)
Pollution is often the easiest concept to discuss. Remember that pollution affects the air, the water, and the ground.
- Air pollution: La pollution de l'air
- Water pollution: La pollution de l'eau
- Noise pollution: La pollution sonore
- Global warming: Le réchauffement climatique (This links strongly to the 'Climate' topic)
2. Waste and Resources (Les Déchets et Les Ressources)
Understanding waste is essential for discussing recycling.
- Waste/Trash: Les déchets / La basura
- Plastic: Le plastique / El plástico
- The overuse of resources: La surconsommation (Overconsumption)
- Deforestation: La déforestation
Quick Tip for Struggling Students: When writing or speaking, you don't need complex sentences. A simple statement is enough: "There is too much plastic in the sea." (Il y a trop de plastique dans la mer.)
Part III: Taking Action – Solutions (Les Solutions)
This section is critical for productive skills (writing and speaking), as you will often be asked to suggest ways to help. Focus on personal actions.
The "3 Rs" Analogy for Ab Initio
Remember the three main ways we can help, and learn the corresponding vocabulary.
1. Reduce (Réduire / Reducir)
- We must reduce our waste. (Il faut réduire nos déchets.)
- How? Use less plastic bags (sacs en plastique).
2. Reuse (Réutiliser / Reutilizar)
- We can reuse bottles and containers. (On peut réutiliser les bouteilles.)
- How? Buy second-hand clothes (vêtements d'occasion).
3. Recycle (Recycler / Reciclar)
- It is important to recycle glass, paper, and plastic. (C'est important de recycler le verre, le papier et le plastique.)
Energy and Water Saving
These actions are common and easy to describe.
- Save energy: Turn off the lights (éteindre la lumière).
- Save water: Take shorter showers (prendre des douches plus courtes).
- Transportation: Use public transport or walk/cycle (utiliser les transports en commun ou marcher).
Key Takeaway: When discussing solutions, focus on simple, direct commands or suggestions (e.g., "We must recycle," "I use the bus").
Part IV: Expressing Commitment and Opinion (Grammar Focus)
When discussing the environment, you often need to express obligation (what we should do) or future intention (what you will do). This requires simple structures.
1. Obligation and Advice (Modal Verbs)
Use these phrases to tell others (or the community) what they must/should do.
- We must...: Il faut... / Hay que...
- We should...: Nous devrions... / Deberíamos...
- It is important to...: C'est important de... / Es importante...
Example: We must protect the animals. (Il faut protéger les animaux.)
2. Expressing Future Intention
You might be asked to commit to future actions. Use the simple near future (or a related structure) in your target language.
- I am going to...: Je vais + infinitive / Voy a + infinitivo
Example: I am going to save water every day. (Je vais économiser l'eau tous les jours.)
Common Mistake to Avoid: Avoid trying to use complex conditional sentences (e.g., "If the government invested more, we would recycle better"). Keep it personal and simple: "I recycle," or "We must recycle."
3. Expressing Opinions (Likes and Dislikes)
Use basic opinion structures to reflect on environmental issues.
- I think that...: Je pense que... / Pienso que...
- It is bad: C'est mauvais / Es malo
- It is necessary: C'est nécessaire / Es necesario
Example: I think that air pollution is a global issue. (Je pense que la pollution de l'air est un problème mondial.)
Quick Review Box: Communication Goals for "The Environment"
What you should be able to do:
- Identify: Name 2–3 major environmental problems (e.g., plastic waste, air pollution).
- Advise: Suggest 2–3 simple actions people can take (e.g., recycling, saving electricity).
- Commit: State 1–2 actions you personally will take (using simple future intention).
- Contextualize: Use vocabulary related to nature (water, air, trees).
Did You Know? Sharing the Planet is linked to international-mindedness because environmental issues cross all borders. When you discuss recycling efforts, you are connecting your local community to a global challenge! Keep practicing those simple sentences—you are doing great!