English · Première générale · LVA · B1 towards B1+

Session 7: Final task: a cross-border radio debate

Recap check
  1. Give one fact about the USMCA.
  2. Make a likely hypothesis with if and might.
  3. Name one painting of Bingham's Election Series and what it shows.
Answer key
  1. For example: in force since 1 July 2020; joint review on 1 July 2026; the United States did not agree to renew it in its current form.
  2. For example: If the new Congress opposes tariffs, prices might fall.
  3. Stump Speaking (the campaign), The County Election (the vote), The Verdict of the People (the results).
Axe 6. Les aires anglophones américaines · Axe 3. Art et pouvoir
Tâche finale

Question: What does the verdict of the people of 3 November 2026 change, for the United States and its neighbours?

The situation

Tâche finale · Interaction orale · Médiation

An English-language radio station in Canada invites four young reporters for a round table: The verdict of the people: what does 3 November 2026 change, for the United States and its neighbours? The programme opens with Bingham's painting, described by the host.

Roles

RoleWhat you do
The hostintroduces the topic and the painting, asks questions, keeps time, sums up.
A political reporter from Washingtongives the results found by the class, with sources, and explains divided government or not.
A Canadian or Mexican business reporterexplains the USMCA and what the new Congress might change for trade.
A reporter from Puerto Ricoexplains how the island is represented and what the midterms mean there.

Preparation

  1. Groups of four: choose your roles.
  2. Each reporter prepares five facts with their sources (results from your table in session 5, documents of sessions 2, 3 and 6).
  3. The host prepares an introduction with the painting and four questions.
  4. Rehearse once: eight minutes in total, with notes on one card only.

Written option

Expression écrite

An opinion piece (about 250 words) for a student newspaper in the Americas: The verdict of the people: what 3 November 2026 changes for us. Use your own results with sources, the painting, two facts from the documents, three connectors of concession and two hypotheses.

Assessment grid

CriterionInsufficientSatisfactoryVery good
Content: facts, results with sources, documents of the sequence1 pt3 pts5 pts
Argument: clear point of view, nuance, hypotheses1 pt2 pts4 pts
Interaction: listens, reacts, asks and answers1 pt2 pts4 pts
Language: passive, reported speech, hypotheses, connectors1 pt2 pts4 pts
Pronunciation and fluency: few notes, clear voice1 pt2 pts3 pts
Total/ 20

Expanding your vocabulary

Lexique
To ...Useful phrases
introduceWelcome to the programme. Tonight, we are looking at ...
give the floorOver to you, ... What is your take on ...?
agree, disagreeI see your point, but ... / I could not agree more.
concedeAdmittedly, ... / Even so, ...
sum upAll in all, ... / To wrap up, ...

Grammar

Utiliser une gamme étendue de connecteurs logiques

Add: moreover, besides, what is more. Consequence: consequently, as a result. Concession: admittedly, even so, nevertheless. Illustration: for instance, such as.

  1. The Senate confirms judges; ______, it approves treaties. (add)
  2. Congress regulates trade; ______, Canada follows the results closely. (consequence)
  3. ______, Puerto Ricans are citizens; ______, they cannot vote for president. (concession)
Answer key
  1. moreover / besides
  2. consequently / as a result
  3. Admittedly ... even so / nevertheless

Homework

Self-assessment: fill in the grid for your own performance and write two things to improve in your next oral.
Key points

Check: one criterion of the grid for each point; precise targets, for example: use fewer notes; use two connectors of concession.