Globalisation

Try to explain the meaning of the words in bold

1. It is often said today that we live in a global village, not least because it is so easy to
communicate with anyone around the world.
2. Coca cola and MacDonald's are almost ubiquitous throughout the world.
3. Many people fear that our world is being run by the plutocrats who own most of the world’s
wealth.
4. Travel television provides us with a window on the world.
5. Capitalism and competition force us to live in a dog eat dog world.
6. Many people follow global trends not for any practical reason but more as a way to jump on
the bandwagon.
IELTS speaking part III: Questions about Globalisation
1. What do you think about globalisation and its effect on businesses?
2. Will big multinational companies replace smaller companies?
3. Is globalisation good or bad for friendships? Why or why not?
4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of globalisation? Is it a good or a bad
thing?

Globalisation
How does it affect your everyday life?
A. Which of the things below have you
experienced personally? Describe what
happened and what you found interesting
about the experience.
1. Visiting another country to go shopping,
for a sporting event, to visit a theme
park, etc.
2. Making online contact with someone
from another country.
3. Using English as a lingua franca to
communicate with other non-native
speakers.
4. Working / studying with someone from
another country.
5. Following an international celebrity on
Twitter, etc.
6. Participating in international conference
calls, webinars, etc.
B. In your opinion, which of the following have
happened in your country as a result of
globalisation?
1. There is more immigration / emigration.
2. There is a greater tolerance of cultural and
religious diversity.
3. People mix more with people of other races
and cultures.
4. Our way of life has changed considerably.
5. There is a clash of cultures within our society.
6. We have become a multi-ethnic society.
7. Our culture has become very Americanised.
8. There’s more freedom and choice.
9. There are more multinational corporations and
fewer local businesses.
10. Mass tourism from abroad has really changed
some parts of the country.
11. People eat more imported food rather than
local produce.
12. People have a higher standard of living.
13. There has been a ‘brain drain’ of talented
people going to work abroad.
14. Many of the goods we buy are made in
sweatshops in other parts of the world.
15. We are more vulnerable to global financial
crises.
16. People have become obsessed with global
brands.
VOCABULARY: 1. Try to categorise the words on the left into
Online contact the following categories (some fit into more
Lingua franca than one category):
International conference calls Culture / society
Webinars
Immigration / emigration Travel
Cultural and religious diversity Food
Race
Way of life Shopping
Clash of cultures Business / money
A multi-ethnic society
Americanised Communication / language
Multinational corporations
Mass tourism 2. Describe the difference between each pair of words /
Imported products phrases:
Local produce a) emigration, immigration
A higher standard of living b) Multinational, multi-ethnic
Brain drain c) Cultural diversity, a clash of cultures
Sweatshops d) A business, a corporation
Global financial crises e) Your standard of living, your way of life
Global brands
3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of globalisation? For homework, write a short
essay detailing the advantages and disadvantages and say whether you think it is a good or a
bad thing overall.
 Globalization is such a commonly used term in the twentieth century. It
simply means that the world has become integrated economically, socially,
politically and culturally through the advances of technology,
transportation and communication. It is undeniable that globalization has
resulted in both positive and negative effects which must be addressed
accordingly.
To begin with, globalization has contributed to the world’s economies in
many beneficial ways. The advances in science and technology have
allowed businesses to easily cross over territorial boundary lines.
Consequently, companies tend to become more productive and
competitive thereby raising the quality of goods, services and the world’s
living standard.

3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of globalisation? For homework, write a short
essay detailing the advantages and disadvantages and say whether you think it is a good or a
bad thing overall.
Secondly, several companies from the more developed countries have already
ventured to establish foreign operations or branches to take advantage of the low cost
of labor in the poorer countries. This kind of business activity will provide more influx
of cash or investment funds into the less developed countries.

However, one cannot deny the negative effects which have derived from globalization.
One crucial social aspect is the risk and danger of epidemic diseases which can easily
be spread as the transportation becomes easier and faster in today’s advanced society.
This is evidenced in the recent birds flu disease which has infected most Asian
countries over a short period of time.

As large corporations invest or take over many offshore businesses, a modern form of
colonization will also evolve which may pose certain power pressure on the local
governments of the less developed countries. Unemployment rates in the more
developed regions such as Europe may also escalate as corporations choose to
outsource to the cheaper work force from Asian countries.

In conclusion. I like to reiterate that globalization is inevitable and we must urge

individuals, companies and governments to use a more balanced approach by taking
the appropriate steps to deal with matters relating to the financial or economical gains
verses the social, political or ecological concerns of the world.

3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of globalisation? For homework, write a short
essay detailing the advantages and disadvantages and say whether you think it is a good or a
bad thing overall.