Tag: Social Issues

B2 – Upper Intermediate

After the popular TV show Squid Game ended, many people around the world were left shocked by its story. The show showed people struggling with debt, poverty, and unfair treatment. However, for many South Koreans, these problems are not just part of a TV drama. They are real-life challenges that some people still face every day.

Read this article to learn more.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg665pyn82o

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does “cut-throat” mean? “Squid Game was born against the backdrop of cut-throat competition and widening inequality in South Korean society – where people are too stressed to have children and a university placement exam is seen as the defining moment of a person’s life.” Use this in a sentence.
2. What’s the meaning of “to be brushed to the side“? “Those darker messages seemed to be brushed to the side on Saturday night, as a massive parade celebrated the release of the blockbuster’s final season.” Make a sentence with this.
3. Define “eponymous”. “In the show’s later seasons, viewers follow Gi-hun’s quest to bring down the eponymous games, which are packaged as entertainment for a group of wealthy VIPs.” Use this in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you think entertainment like Squid Game can help people understand serious social problems better than news stories? Why?
2. Do you think the global popularity of shows that address social issues (like Squid Game) can influence real social change? Why?
3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using fiction to highlight real problems like poverty and inequality?
4. The show includes characters such as a laid-off factory worker whose story is inspired by real events. How does this make the drama more powerful or meaningful?
5. In your country, what are the biggest financial pressures people face today?
6. What changes would you like to see in your country to reduce inequality or unfair competition?
   

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Urbanization is one of the most significant trends shaping the world today. As people move from rural areas to urban centers in search of better jobs, education, and services, cities are growing rapidly and becoming home to a large share of the global population. This expansion brings many advantages, such as economic opportunities and cultural exchange. However, it also creates serious challenges that affect the daily lives of millions of urban residents and the environment they live in.

Modern cities often struggle to meet the needs of their expanding populations. High housing demand leads to overcrowding and rising prices, while transportation systems become overwhelmed with traffic and congestion. At the same time, environmental problems like pollution and loss of green spaces threaten public health and quality of life. To build sustainable and equitable urban areas, governments and planners must find solutions that balance growth with social and environmental well-being.

Read this article about challenges of urbanization in modern cities.

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does “social unrest” mean in this sentence? “At the same time, inequality in cities can create further divisions between different social groups. As the rich and poor live in separate areas, tensions can rise, contributing to social unrest.” Use it in a sentence.
2. What does the word “disparity” mean? “While urbanization brings economic opportunities, it also creates significant disparities between different social groups.” Construct a sentence featuring this word.
3. What does the term “informal settlement” mean? “This leads to the rise of informal settlements or slums, where people live in substandard conditions with limited access to basic services like clean water and sanitation.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are the biggest advantages and disadvantages of living in a large city?
2. How does the high cost of living affect young people and families?
3. In your opinion, what should city leaders prioritize to make urban life better?
4. Do you think future cities will be better or worse than those of today’s? Explain your opinion.

B2 – Upper Intermediate 

Farmers took to the streets of central Madrid to demonstrate against European Union’s agricultural policies and the Mercosur deal.

Farmers believe that allowing an influx of goods from countries that have lower health and environmental guarantees will have an impact on the country’s agricultural sector.

Read the article about farmers protesting against the EU-Mercosur deal.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-11/farmers-tractors-gather-in-madrid-to-protest-eu-mercosur-deal

Vocabulary Questions:

1. Define “free trade agreement”. “Thousands of farmers marched into central Madrid on Wednesday to protest against European Union’s agricultural policies and a free trade agreement with a group of South American nations.” Use the term in a sentence. Give a synonym.
2. What does “politically charged” mean? “In Spain, farmer protests have become politically charged, with far-right nationalist party Vox having made large inroads among farmers in recent years by denouncing that the country’s largest parties – the governing Socialists and the conservative People’s Party – aren’t doing enough for the agricultural sector.” Use the phrase in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
3. What does “to make inroads” mean? “In Spain, farmer protests have become politically charged, with far-right nationalist party Vox having made large inroads among farmers in recent years by denouncing that the country’s largest parties – the governing Socialists and the conservative People’s Party – aren’t doing enough for the agricultural sector.” Use the idiom in a sentence. Give a similar expression.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are the farmers protesting against?
2. Share your thoughts about this protest.
3. Share your thoughts about the Mercosur deal.
4. Talk about everything you know about your country’s agricultural policies.
5. What are your thoughts on this, “Farmers aren’t seeking a monopoly, but they want food products produced in other countries to be produced under the same conditions that are required of them.”

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The Spanish Government has approved a new package of measures that combines a pension increase for 2026 with the extension of key social protection policies, reinforcing its commitment to protect purchasing power and support vulnerable groups. The decision was adopted by the Council of Ministers as part of broader efforts to respond to inflation and rising living costs.

The measures include pension revaluations in line with inflation and the continuation of the so-called “social shield”, which covers protections against evictions, safeguards for essential utilities, and targeted aid for low-income households. Together, these actions aim to strengthen social cohesion and ensure economic stability for millions of residents across Spain.

Read the article and know more about the news.

https://www.lamoncloa.gob.es/lang/en/gobierno/councilministers/paginas/2025/20251223-council-press-conference.aspx?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does “foreclosure” mean? “Furthermore, the suspension of evictions and foreclosures for vulnerable families without alternative housing is extended throughout 2026, as are the compensation payments from the affected landlord or property owner.” Use the word in a sentence.
2. What does “unwavering” mean? “With this measure, Saiz said, ‘the government is fulfilling an unwavering commitment: to offer the more than 9.4 million pensioners in our country the certainty that if prices rise, their pensions will also rise to help them cover their daily expenses’.” Use the word in a sentence. Give a synonym.
3. What does “purchasing power” mean? “We will continue to increase the purchasing power of citizens and, at the same time, we will continue to reduce the inequality gaps that still exist.” Use the word in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

1. How do you think the pension increase will impact the daily lives of retirees in Spain?
2. In what ways could the government’s “social shield” measures help families who struggle with housing and energy costs?
3. Why do you think the government chose to give early retirement options to firefighters and environmental agents? How could this affect public safety?
4. How could the combination of pension increases, social measures, and public transport improvements improve the overall quality of life for different groups in Spain?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Spain has once again extended its eviction freeze, keeping protections in place for people in vulnerable situations as part of its ongoing “social shield.” The measure aims to prevent households from being evicted without alternative housing, continuing policies first introduced during the pandemic.

The extension mainly protects vulnerable tenants and occupants, such as families with children or those facing financial hardship, for a limited period while social services assess each case. Knowing who qualifies, how long the protection lasts, and what steps to take next is key for anyone affected by the rules.

Read the article and know more about this news.

https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/01/17/evictions-put-on-hold-again-in-spain-who-is-protected-for-how-long-and-what-to-do-next/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does “at the heart of something” mean? “At the heart of the measure is a principle that has remained unchanged since 2020: no vulnerable household should be evicted if it has nowhere else to go.” Use it in a sentence.
2. What does  “breathing space” mean here, “For families who were approaching the previous deadline with growing anxiety, the new timeline provides some much-needed breathing space.”? Use it in a sentence.
3. What does “to step in” mean? “Once that request is filed, the court handling the case steps in and asks local social services to assess whether the household meets the vulnerability criteria.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

1. What basic household supplies are protected until 2026, and what discounts apply to vulnerable households?
2. Why might the government describe these measures as “exceptional and temporary”?
3. Spain has extended eviction protections and social support for vulnerable households, but the underlying housing crisis remains. Do you think temporary measures like this are enough to address housing insecurity, or should the government focus on long-term solutions? Why?
4. Should governments prioritize temporary protections for vulnerable households or focus more on creating long-term solutions to housing shortages? Support your answer with examples or reasoning.
5. Imagine a family meets the vulnerability criteria but the local authority cannot find alternative housing. How should the family, landlord, and government handle this situation?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has defended his government’s plan to regularise around 500,000 undocumented migrants, calling it a pragmatic and humane response to Spain’s social and economic realities. The proposal would grant legal status and work permits to migrants already living in the country, with Sánchez arguing it will help address labour shortages and promote integration.

The plan has sparked political controversy, with opposition parties accusing the government of electoral opportunism and warning of pressure on public services. Sánchez, however, insists the measure is lawful, necessary, and reflects Spain’s commitment to a more inclusive migration policy, even as much of Europe moves in the opposite direction.

Read this article and learn more about this news.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/02/pedro-sanchez-spain-defends-plans-regularise-migrants?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does “to go against the current” mean? “Some say we’ve gone too far, that we’re going against the current.” Use it in a sentence.
2. What does “to be woven into the fabric of” mean? “Sánchez said the plans would offer an orderly path to residence for those whose lives were already woven into Spain’s social fabric.” Use it in a sentence.
3. What does  “to strike a deal” mean? “The initiative had languished for months until the leftwing Podemos party said last week that it had struck a deal with the Socialists to approve the plans in exchange for parliamentary support.”  Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

1. What reasons does Pedro Sánchez give for regularizing undocumented migrants and asylum seekers?
2. Do you think regularizing undocumented migrants strengthens or weakens a country’s social cohesion? Why?
3. How convincing is the criticism that migration regularization is a form of “electoral engineering”? Share your insights.
4. Is there a moral obligation for states to regularize people who have already built lives within their borders? Why?