Speaking: Vocabulary for Speaking B2 - Lesson 1: Current Affairs & Social Issues

Speaking: Vocabulary for Speaking B2 - Lesson 1: Current Affairs & Social Issues

Welcome to a new series on building your vocabulary for speaking! To engage in deeper, more meaningful conversations about the world, you need the right words. This lesson will equip you with essential B2-level vocabulary to discuss current affairs¹ and social issues² with greater precision and confidence.

Thematic Vocabulary Clusters

Learning words in related groups is more effective than memorizing a random list. Here are three key areas for discussion.

Cluster 1: The Economy & Development

Use these words to talk about how a country is growing and changing.

Keywords: `economic growth`, `infrastructure`, `foreign investment`, `cost of living`, `urbanization`.

Example: "Rapid economic growth is leading to increased urbanization in Phnom Penh. The government needs more foreign investment to improve public infrastructure, but many people are worried about the rising cost of living."

Cluster 2: The Environment

Use these words to discuss topics related to nature and our planet.

Keywords: `climate change`, `sustainability`, `conservation`, `pollution`, `renewable energy`.

Example: "To combat climate change, we must focus on sustainability. This means reducing pollution and investing in renewable energy like solar power. Forest conservation is also critical."

Cluster 3: Society & Well-being

Use these words to talk about issues that affect people in a society.

Keywords: `inequality`, `access to education`, `public health`, `digital divide`, `raise awareness`.

Example: "A major challenge is social inequality, especially in access to education. We need to bridge the digital divide and improve our public health system. It's important to raise awareness about these issues."

Scenario: A University Seminar

Listen to this discussion between a student and a professor about modern challenges. Notice how they use the target vocabulary to express their ideas clearly.

Professor: "Sophea, in your opinion, what is the most pressing issue that results from rapid urbanization?"

Sophea: "I believe the biggest challenge is the strain on public infrastructure³. And this, of course, creates environmental problems like waste and air pollution. To achieve long-term sustainability⁴, the city must invest in better systems."

Professor: "That's an excellent point. How does this connect to social problems?"

Sophea: "Well, it can increase inequality⁵. For example, as the cost of living goes up, poorer families might have less access to quality education and public health services. We need to raise awareness about this connection."

Sounding Natural: Common Word Pairings (Collocations)

Vocabulary is often best learned in "chunks." These words frequently go together and using them will make your English sound more natural.

• To tackle / address an issue (meaning, to try to solve it)
• To raise awareness about a problem
• To promote sustainability
• Economic growth / development
• Foreign investment
• A pressing / urgent issue

Practice Quiz: Fill in the Blank

Choose the word or phrase that best completes the sentence.

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1. Many NGOs in Cambodia work on forest __________ to protect rare species and natural habitats.

A) pollution
B) conservation
C) urbanization

→ Answer: B. Conservation is the protection of animals, plants, and natural resources.

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2. A major goal for the country is to reduce its dependency on fossil fuels by investing in __________ like solar and wind power.

A) renewable energy
B) the digital divide
C) the cost of living

→ Answer: A. Solar and wind are types of renewable energy.

Your Mission: Express Your Opinion

Your mission is to use this new vocabulary to talk about an issue that is important to you.

1. Choose one issue from the lesson (e.g., pollution, the cost of living, access to education).
2. Prepare to speak for 60 seconds. Plan to use at least four words or phrases from the lesson.
3. Structure your opinion:
   • 1. State the issue and why it's important.
   • 2. Give an example or explain its effect.
   • 3. Suggest a solution or express a hope for the future.
4. Record yourself speaking. For example: "I'd like to talk about the issue of plastic pollution in Cambodia. I think we need to raise awareness about this because it affects our public health. For a long-term solution, we need better infrastructure for recycling..."

Vocabulary Glossary

1. Current Affairs: (Noun Phrase) - ព្រឹត្តិការណ៍បច្ចុប្បន្ន / កិច្ចការបច្ចុប្បន្ន - Political, social, and economic events that are happening in the world now. ↩
2. Social Issue: (Noun Phrase) - បញ្ហាសង្គម - A problem that affects a large number of people within a society. ↩
3. Infrastructure: (Noun) - ហេដ្ឋារចនាសម្ព័ន្ធ - The basic systems and services, such as transport and power supplies, that a country or organization uses. ↩
4. Sustainability: (Noun) - និរន្តរភាព - The quality of being able to continue over a period of time, especially without causing damage to the environment. ↩
5. Inequality: (Noun) - វិសមភាព / អសមភាព - The unfair situation in society where some people have more opportunities, money, etc. than others. ↩