Hello Future Linguist! Welcome to Social Issues

Welcome to one of the most interesting topics in the Language ab initio course: Social Issues! This topic is part of the larger theme Social Organization.

Why is this important? Language isn't just about ordering food; it's about discussing the world around you. By studying social issues, you learn the vocabulary needed to express opinions, talk about global challenges, and participate in conversations about making the world a better place. Don't worry if the vocabulary seems tough—we will break it down into simple, manageable pieces!

1. Understanding Social Issues (Context and Definition)

The guiding principle of the Social Organization theme is how groups of people live and organize themselves. A social issue is simply a problem that affects a large number of people within a society or community.

What Makes an Issue "Social"?


If a problem affects only one person (like forgetting your keys), it’s a personal problem. If the problem affects a whole neighborhood, a city, or a country (like pollution or homelessness), it is a social issue.

Analogy: Think of society as a large machine. If one small screw is loose, it might still work (personal problem). But if the fuel lines are clogged (social issue), the whole machine stops working correctly!

Key Areas of Social Issues (Ab Initio Focus)

At the ab initio level, you need to be able to recognize and describe simple, common problems.

  • Economic Issues: Poverty, homelessness, unemployment.
  • Environmental Issues (Links to Sharing the Planet): Pollution, waste, lack of recycling.
  • Equality Issues: Discrimination, unfair treatment.
  • Safety Issues: Crime, lack of security.

Quick Review:

Social Issue = A common problem affecting many people in a community.

2. The Language Toolkit: Essential Vocabulary

To discuss social issues, you need three types of vocabulary: Nouns (the problems), Verbs (the actions), and Adjectives (describing the severity).

Nouns: Naming the Problems

Memorizing these basic terms will allow you to identify issues in texts and during your oral assessment.

  • The poor / Poverty: (La pobreza)
  • Discrimination: (La discriminación)
  • The unemployed / Unemployment: (El desempleo)
  • Crime: (El crimen / La delincuencia)
  • The homeless: (Los sin techo / Los sin hogar)
  • Pollution: (La contaminación)
  • Waste: (Los desechos / La basura)

Verbs: Actions and Solutions

When you talk about solutions, you need action words. These verbs are crucial for the productive skills (writing and speaking).

  • To help: (Ayudar) – We must help the poor.
  • To volunteer: (Ser voluntario) – I want to volunteer at the shelter.
  • To fight / combat: (Luchar contra) – We must fight against pollution.
  • To donate: (Donar) – It is necessary to donate clothes.
  • To recycle: (Reciclar) – We should recycle plastic.

Adjectives: Describing Importance

When discussing social issues, you often need to stress how serious or critical they are.

  • Serious: (Grave / Serio)
  • Important: (Importante)
  • Difficult: (Difícil)
  • Necessary: (Necesario)

Memory Tip: Group words together when you study them. Example: (Poverty is grave. We must help the poor.)

3. Communicating Opinions and Solutions

The IB expects you to express your ideas clearly. Since social issues are opinion-driven topics, learning simple structures for agreement, disagreement, and suggestions is vital.

Expressing Your Opinion (Productive Skill Focus)

Start your sentences simply. Avoid complex grammar structures!

  • I think that... (Yo pienso que...)
  • In my opinion... (En mi opinión...)
  • It is a serious problem. (Es un problema grave.)
  • It is necessary to act. (Es necesario actuar.)


Common Mistake to Avoid: When expressing an opinion in English, you say "I think that pollution is bad." Make sure you use the equivalent connecting word (que) in the target language.

Proposing Simple Solutions (Modal Verbs)

You will use modal verbs (like must, should, can) a lot when suggesting solutions. These are often easy to conjugate or use impersonally.

  • We must... (Debemos / Hay que) – We must help.
  • We should... (Deberíamos / Se debe) – We should recycle more.
  • I can... (Yo puedo) – I can donate money.
Step-by-Step for Creating a Solution Sentence:
  1. State the problem: Poverty is very serious.
  2. Introduce the action: I think that we must...
  3. Add the verb + object: ...we must donate clothes.
  4. (Optional) Add the purpose: ...to help the homeless.

The Final Sentence: Poverty is very serious. I think that we must donate clothes to help the homeless. (Simple, direct, and effective communication!)

4. Social Issues in an Intercultural Context

Remember, the IB stresses international-mindedness. When studying social issues, you must recognize that problems and solutions vary across cultures and countries.

Perspective Matters

A problem that is a major social issue in one country might be minor or handled differently in another.

  • Example: Lack of clean water might be a critical social issue in a developing country (Global Issue), but pollution from plastic is a major social concern in highly industrialized areas (Environmental Issue).
  • Example: The way a country handles the workplace (another topic in Social Organization) is often a social issue. Some cultures prioritize family time (paid long holidays), while others prioritize efficiency and long working hours.

Did You Know? In many parts of the world, youth unemployment (a social issue) is extremely high, leading to significant conversations about the role of education (another topic in Social Organization) and whether it properly prepares students for the workplace.

Language for Comparison

You don't need complicated grammar (like the subjunctive) to make comparisons. Use these simple phrases:

  • In my country... (En mi país...)
  • In other countries... (En otros países...)
  • More important than... (Más importante que...)
  • Less serious than... (Menos grave que...)

Try to always ask yourself: "How do people in the target culture talk about their social problems?"

Final Takeaways: Mastering "Social Issues"

Key Skills to Practice for the Exam:

  1. Identify: Can you read a short text or look at an image (like in the Oral Assessment) and name the social issue shown (e.g., poverty, recycling)?
  2. Describe: Can you write or say 2-3 simple sentences explaining *why* it is a problem? (Example: Pollution is bad for the environment.)
  3. Propose: Can you suggest 1-2 simple solutions using modal verbs (We must, We should)?

Remember: Discussing social issues allows you to show off the full range of your acquired language skills—from understanding texts (receptive) to sharing your voice (productive). You've got this!