Try not to look at the transcript while doing these exercises! Always read the instructions and all the information in the tasks before listening. Listen as many times as you like.
Brexit
1 Before listening: a The word 'brunch' is a portmanteau, a new word made from joining two others and combining their meanings. It comes from 'breakfast' and 'lunch'. What do these words come from? _____________ + ___________ = smog _____________ + ___________ = motel _____________ + ___________ = Brexit _____________ + ___________ = Eurocrat
b How much do you know about the EU? Do the extra worksheet Business: EU from the 'extras' page.
2 Listen for general meaning: watch the whole video or listen to the whole podcast. a Michael Hobbes is an American who lives in Germany, in his video he asks the question 'Should Britain leave the EU?' What is his answer? Yes / No
b He gives three scenarios and compares them with three countries
and their relationship with the EU. Put the three countries in the correct order, from 1 (first) to 3. Republic of Ireland _____ Turkey _____ Norway _____ The US _____ Switzerland _____ Monaco _____
3 Listen for detail: listen again and choose the correct answer. a Complete David Cameron's quote: We will give the British people a referendum with a very __________
'in or out' __________.
b Which two problems does total independence bring? More competition Increase in costs Loss of sales Individual trade negotiations
c There are three problems for leaving the EU but staying in the European Economic Area. Write in the verbs: Members of the European Economic Area still have to __________ to the EU budget... and they still have to follow EU regulations on everything they __________ in Europe. Britain would still have to ___________ all those [weird] rules.
d What did Switzerland want?
To trade with the EU and have EU migrants to work for them. To increase the number of migrants coming to Switzerland to work. To trade with the EU but restrict migrants entering.
e Did Switzerland get what it wanted?
Yes, it is a wealthy country. No, it was alone against all the other EU members. No, so it decided to join the EU. f Write in the two adjectives: Most people who want Britain to leave the EU want __________ trade and __________ immigration
g At the end Michael says: Maybe the exact thing it [the EU] needs is a big, liberal, pragmatic member to push it in that direction and do it from the inside. I wonder who that could be?
Which country is he referring to?
Britain France Germany
4 After listening: now do the vocabulary worksheet.
5 After listening: what do you think? How important is it to keep the EU as it
is? What reforms could be made to improve it? Complete the following sentences:
Good things about the EU include...
Bad things about the EU include...
The EU would benefit from...
Overall, I think the EU is / isn't working because...
Turn each sentence into a paragraph and write a short article outlining your views. Compare your writing with other English language learners, do you agree?
motor (car) + hotel = motel Britain + exit = Brexit This is the term used to talk about the campaign for Britain to leave the EU. European + bureaucrat = Eurocrat This is a staff member of the administrative commission of the European Union b Don't forget to do this!
2 a No b Republic of Ireland _____ Turkey _____ Norway __2___ The US __1___ Switzerland __3___ Monaco _____
3 a We will give the British people a referendum with a very simple
'in or out' choice. (Do you think that's a simple choice?) b Increase in costs Individual trade negotiations c Members of the European Economic Area still have to contribute to the EU budget... and they still have to follow EU regulations on everything they sell in Europe. Britain would still have to follow all those [weird] rules. d To trade with the EU but restrict migrants entering. e No, it was alone against all the other EU members. Most people who want Britain to leave the EU want freer trade and stricter immigration g Britain
5 Of course do send your writing to thepieteam@podcastsinenglish.com and
tell us what you think, we'd love to hear from you!
An alternative to "alternativeless": Alternative solutions to the current political problems in Germany and Europe, with special regard to the current economic, currency and financial crisis!
