Lesson 2. IMMIGRATION

Glossary:

delighted - zachwycony, uradowany

distinguished - wybitny

enlarged - rozszerzony

to attach particular importance to sth - przywiązywać szczególną wagę do czegoś

freedom of movement - swoboda przemieszczania się

fundamental human rights - podstawowe prawa człowieka

to introduce restrictions - nałożyć ograniczenia

strict - surowy, ostry

to impose - nakładać

cheap workforce - tania siła robocza

to flood - zalewać, zatapiać

tax payer - podatnik

ratio - współczynnik

unfounded - nieuzasadniony, bezpodstawny

labour market - rynek pracy

to depress - obniżać, zmniejszać

net burden - obciążenie netto

groundless - bezpodstawny

health benefits - świadczenia zdrowotne

favourable - korzystny

overall - całkowity, ogólny

decline - spadek

labour shortage - niedobór siły roboczej

concern - sprawa, troska

comprehensive - obszerny, wyczerpujący

refugee - emigrant, uchodźca

economic growth - wzrost gospodarczy

resettlement - przesiedlenie

pull factor - czynniki powodujące imigrację

push factors - czynniki powodujące emigrację

Now read to the lecture.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am delighted to be here amongst so many of my distinguished colleagues. Being here gives me a perfect opportunity to present to you my remarks about immigration within the enlarged European Union. I attach particular importance to this issue because freedom of movement is one of our fundamental human rights, though it is not always respected. The freedom to move around the EU and work in any EU state has led many member states to introduce strict restrictions on immigrants. Such restrictions are imposed to prevent cheap workforces flooding the Western European labour markets in search of employment, welfare and health benefits. There are three main fears relating to immigrant workers: 1. that immigrants will take jobs and opportunities away from native-born workers; 2. that immigrants will depress the wages of low-skilled native residents; 3. that immigrants will present a net burden on the taxpayer.

Facts and figures prove that these fears are totally groundless. Western European countries need immigrant workers to fill the existing gaps in the labour market. Put simply, immigrants take jobs that most citizens do not want.

Furthermore, the ratio between immigrant use of welfare benefits and the amount of taxes they pay is favourable for the countries in which they work. We must realize that as a result of the demographic changes in the European Union, we can expect an overall decline in employment after 2010. Already, unemployment and labour shortages can easily be seen in a variety of sectors. Immigration is one cause, but not the only one. Immigration is a global concern and, as such, it requires a global response. Therefore, I am certain that the Commission will soon work out a pragmatic and comprehensive approach to immigration issues.

Thank you for your attention, and thank you for being here today.

Exercise I.

Answer the following questions according to what you've read.

Why have some countries imposed restrictions on immigrants' rights?_______________________________________________________

Why do EU countries need immigrant workers?_______________________________________________________

What jobs do immigrant workers take? _______________________________________________________

What benefits are immigrant workers entitled to?_______________________________________________________

Exercise II.

Read and answer the questions.

What is one of the fundamental human rights according to the recording?_______________________________________________________

Why are the restrictions imposed on immigrants?_______________________________________________________

According to the author, why do Western European countries need an immigrant workforce?_______________________________________________________

What kind of jobs do immigrants usually get?_______________________________________________________

Why is the need for labour not going to grow?_______________________________________________________

Exercise III.

Match the words to get collocations.

welfare / labour x2 / human / net / cheap

____________ rights

____________ shortage

____________ burden

____________ workforce

____________ markets

____________ benefits

Exercise IV.

Fill in the gaps with the words listed below.

restrictions / welfare / burden / labour

The elderly are often afraid of being ___________ on their relatives.

Workers who have no special skills are called 'unskilled __________'.

Because of many social problems, the _________ services have been developed in this area.

The government has introduced some ___________ on the unskilled workforce.

Exercise V.

Find the antonyms to the words below. There are some extra words given.

increasing / thrilled / comprehensive / based / conductive / hostile / rejecting / extended /restricted / disgusted

delighted - _______________

groundless - _______________

declining - _______________

enlarged - _______________

favourable - _______________

Exercise VI.

Match the words with their definitions.

economic growth / push factors / refugee / pull factors / resettlement

_______________ : reasons people immigrate.

_______________ : reasons people migrate.

_______________ : someone who has been forced to leave a country.

_______________ : moving to another country or place.

_______________ : the increase of production and investment.

Odpowiedź >>>

Lesson 1. Globalisation

Glossary:

individual - jednostka

to maximize profits - maksymalizować zyski

fair - sprawiedliwy, obiektywny

constrained - ograniczony

boundary - granica

to expand - powiększać, rozszerzać zasięg

to enter the foreign market - wejść na zagraniczny rynek

blinkered - zaślepiony

consumerism - konsumeryzm

economic entity - jednostka gospodarcza

to challenge - tutaj: podważyć, prowokować

notion of democracy - idea demokracji

to have power over sb - mieć nad kimś władzę

acquisition - przejęcie firmy

free trade - wolny handel

sweatshop - wytwórnia zatrudniająca niskopłatnych pracowników

abuse of human rights - nadużycie praw człowieka

inequality - nierówność

trade of goods - handel towarami

to exploit workers - wykorzystywać pracowników

Read this interview concerning globalisation.

- What do we understand by the word 'globalisation'?

- In a popular sense nowadays, it refers to the battle between the individual and big business. Under such conditions the individual is usually portrayed as being an innocent who exists to be exploited. Big business, of course, is a collective organization interested in maximizing profits by selling us a lot of things we don't need. Big business is also responsible for the pollution of both our planet and our minds.

- Is this popular representation a fair one?

- Globalisation, as the word might suggest, is not a political creation. It's rather a neutral word which was first used to describe a developing economic trend. In this original sense, the term refers to trade and the way in which it has become less constrained by national boundaries. Originally, companies grew up and operated in local areas. As things have developed, those companies have grown and markets have expanded. Once the conditions become favourable, a company may enter one or more foreign markets. From this point on, once a model for such trade has been established, more and more companies move into more and more foreign markets and become global operators.

- What are the good sides of globalisation?

- The anti-globalisation lobby would have us believe that there are none. This view is rather blinkered though. A good example of the benefits of globalisation is the worldwide spread of technology. People have been brought closer together and we are allowed to both enjoy and understand other cultures. Look at the anti-globalisation lobby - where would they be without their international networks and modern technology!

- What are the bad sides of globalisation?

- What are often considered to be the evils of globalisation, things such as pollution, a fast food lifestyle and the like, are better thought of as evils of consumerism. For me, one of the hardest things to accept about globalization is the way economic entities have the power to challenge governments in many cases.

- Why should that be such an issue?

- It's generally understood that governments of countries represent the views of their people, as they are elected by them, though this is not always the case of course. Thus if a multi-national company has more power than a government in certain issues, the notion of democracy is challenged. Put another way, a non-elected group of people have too much power over us.

Exercise I.

Answer the following questions according to what you've read.

1. Globalisation is a term which originated in:

a) sport,

b) politics,

c) business.

2. Global trade:

a) has always existed,

b) has developed from more local trade,

c) is only now beginning to affect us.

3. The role of technology in globalisation:

a) has caused a lot of damage,

b) has produced benefits for many parties,

c) is not very important.

4. Which sentence best describes the relationship between governments and global companies?

a) Global companies are controlled by governments.

b) Global companies sometimes hold more power than governments.

c) Global companies dictate the directions of governments.

5. Which sentence best sums up the author's views?

a) Globalisation is generally bad.

b) Globalisation is a positive force in our world today.

c) Globalisation has its pluses and minuses.

Exercise II.

Answer the questions.

1. What are the two benefits of globalisation?

a) _________________________________________________________

b) _________________________________________________________

2. What does the anti-globalisation lobby say about the globalisation process?

a) _________________________________________________________

b) _________________________________________________________

3. What is the most difficult question to answer about globalisation?

a) _________________________________________________________

Exercise III.

Match the words to form the collocations.

profits / view / markets / conditions / lifestyle

favourable _______________

blinkered _______________

maximizing _____________

fast-food _______________

foreign _________________

Exercise IV.

Fill in the gaps with the collocations from exercise III.

The government has proposed big companies _____________ ______________ for development.

The main issue for this year is to ________________ ____________ from the sales department.

Globalisation makes people prone to _____________ ________________

Our company thinks of the expansion on ______________ ________________.

His subjective opinion can give a _____________ ______________ of the facts.

Exercise V.

Finish the phrases to make a coherent text.

In my opinion globalisation ___________________________________________________.

Under such circumstances ___________________________________________________.

Once the conditions are favourable ___________________________________________________.

As things develop ___________________________________________________.

From this point of view ___________________________________________________.

Exercise VI.

Solve the crossword.

ACROSS

1. a purchase of one company by another 2. a dividing line 3. opposite to eqaulity 8. appearing forced or overly controlled 9. to make full use of 10. to become larger

DOWN

1. to make excessive use of something 2. having a limited outlook 4. single 5. test the abilities 6. a company where workers are employed at very low wages 7. trade left to its natural course without tariffs

Odpowiedź >>>

Odpowiedzi

PART 1 NEWS AND SOCIETY

Lesson 1. Globalisation

I.

1. c), 2. b), 3. b), 4. b), 5. c)

III.

1. conditions,

2. view,

3. profits,

4. lifestyle,

5. markets

IV.

1. favourable conditions,

2. maximize profits,

3. fast-food life style,

4. foreign markets,

5. blinkered view

VI.

Across:

1. acquisition,

2. boundary,

3. inequality,

8. constrained,

9. exploit,

10. expand.

Down:

1. abuse,

2. blinkered,

4. individual,

5. challenge,

6. sweatshop,

7. free trade

<<< Powrót

Lesson 2. Immigration

I.

1. They are afraid of cheap workforce flooding the Western Europe labour markets.

2. They need immigrant workers to fill the existing gaps in the labour market.

3. They take jobs that most citizens don't want.

4. Welfare and health benefits.

II.

1. Freedom of movement.

2. To prevent cheap workforce flood.

3. To fill the existing gaps in the labour market.

4. Jobs that most citizens don't want to.

5. Because of demographic changes.

III.

1. human,

2. labour,

3. net,

4. cheap,

5. labour,

6. welfare

IV.

1. burden,

2. labour,

3. welfare,

4. restrictions

V.

1. disgusted,

2. based,

3. increasing,

4. restricted,

5. hostile

VI.

1. pull factors;

2. push factors;

3. refugee;

4. resettlement;

5. economic growth

<<< Powrót