Vocabulary Focus: Social Issues (B2 Level)

Discussing social issues requires vocabulary related to society, community, common problems, and ethical considerations. At B2 level, you should be able to understand news and discussions about these topics and express your own views on them.

Key Vocabulary Areas for B2:

1. Society and Community:

• maatschappij (society), gemeenschap (community), burger (citizen), bevolking (population), minderheid (minority), meerderheid (majority), generatie (generation), jongeren (young people), ouderen/senioren (elderly/seniors), vrijwilliger (volunteer), samenleving (society/living together).

1. Equality and Discrimination:

• gelijkheid (equality), ongelijkheid (inequality), rechten (rights - e.g., mensenrechten human rights), discriminatie (discrimination), racisme (racism), seksisme (sexism), vooroordeel (prejudice), stereotype, tolerantie (tolerance), diversiteit (diversity), inclusie (inclusion).

1. Work and Economy:

• werkloosheid (unemployment), armoede (poverty), rijkdom (wealth), inkomen (income), salaris/loon (salary/wage), staking (strike), vakbond (trade union), eerlijke handel (fair trade), kinderarbeid (child labour).

1. Environment and Sustainability:

• milieu (environment), klimaatverandering (climate change), opwarming van de aarde (global warming), vervuiling (pollution), afval (waste), recycling, duurzaamheid (sustainability), natuurbehoud (nature conservation), energiebesparing (energy saving), hernieuwbare energie (renewable energy).

1. Health and Well-being:

• gezondheidszorg (healthcare), ziekte (illness), preventie (prevention), verslaving (addiction), geestelijke gezondheid (mental health), welzijn (well-being), levensverwachting (life expectancy), obesitas/overgewicht (obesity/overweight).

1. Education:

• onderwijs (education), school, universiteit (university), student, leraar/docent (teacher), kansengelijkheid (equal opportunities), leerplicht (compulsory education), diploma.

1. Migration and Integration:

• migratie (migration), immigratie (immigration), emigratie (emigration), vluchteling (refugee), asielzoeker (asylum seeker), integratie (integration), cultuurverschil (cultural difference).

1. Crime and Safety:

• criminaliteit (crime), veiligheid (safety), politie (police), justitie (justice system), gevangenis (prison), diefstal (theft), geweld (violence), preventie (prevention).

1. Verbs and Concepts:

• veroorzaken (to cause), bijdragen aan (to contribute to), oplossen (to solve), aanpakken (to tackle/address), verbeteren (to improve), verslechteren (to worsen), bewust maken van (to make aware of), ondersteunen (to support), protesteren tegen (to protest against), pleiten voor (to argue for/advocate).

Importance for B2:

• Enables understanding and participation in discussions about important societal challenges.
• Necessary for reading newspapers, opinion pieces, and reports on social topics.
• Allows expressing informed opinions on issues affecting the community and the world.

Learning Strategy:

• Follow news and current affairs focusing on social topics.
• Read background articles or watch documentaries about specific issues.
• Engage in discussions (online or in person) about social issues.
• Pay attention to how different viewpoints are expressed.
• Note down key terms and phrases related to recurring social themes.