B2 – Upper Intermediate
International organizations help countries work together to solve global problems. Some are created by governments to promote peace, trade, or public health. Others are started by private citizens and focus on things like human rights or disaster relief. These groups play an important role in making the world more stable, fair, and safe.
To learn more about how these organizations work and the history behind the symbol of the Red Cross, watch the full video:
Vocabulary Questions
- What does “at the cost of someone/something” mean? “Their end goal is free trade between each and have received criticism for being single-minded and not worried about the environment at the cost of trade.” Use it in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
- What does “veto power” mean? “These five countries have the veto power over the other ten members who change every two years.” Use it in a sentence.
- What does “to have someone’s voice heard” mean? “This does not mean you have to always agree with the decisions being made, but you do get to have your country’s voice heard.” Use it in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
Discussion Questions
- What are some jobs international organizations do?
- Why do you think countries create organizations together?
- Do you think it’s better for organizations to be run by governments or private citizens? Why?
- Have you heard of any international organizations before? What do they do?
- If you could join an international organization, which one would you choose and why?