Global trade: analysing influence and strategic goals

Summary

This 90-minute ESL lesson for C1 learners explores Global trade: analysing influence and strategic goals through a real video. Across 9 interactive exercises, you'll develop listening comprehension, vocabulary, speaking skills — all built around authentic English content.

What you'll practise:

• 5 key vocabulary items with definitions and usage notes
• Gap-fill and cloze exercises to test vocabulary in context
• Matching exercise to connect terms with their meanings

Lesson activities (9 exercises)

Each exercise builds on the previous one. Work through them in order for the best learning experience.

1. Warm-up — Discussion questions to activate what you already know about the topic.
2. Watch — Watch the video and note the main arguments and examples.
3. Comprehension — Answer questions to check your understanding of the main ideas and supporting details.
4. Vocabulary — Learn key words and expressions from the video, with definitions and usage notes.
5. True / False — Test your detailed understanding — decide if each statement matches the source.
6. Fill the gaps — Complete sentences with the correct vocabulary. Drag and drop or type your answers.
7. Multiple choice — Choose the correct answer from four options — testing comprehension and language use.
8. Matching — Connect words, phrases, or concepts to their correct counterparts.
9. Discussion — Reflect on the topic and share your opinions using the language you've learned.

Vocabulary

This lesson introduces 5 key terms drawn directly from the video:

• Sphere of influence — a country or area in which another, more powerful country has the power to affect developments despite having no formal authority.
• To gain a foothold — to establish a secure position in a new market, area, or activity, from which further progress can be made.
• Debt-trap diplomacy — a strategy where a creditor country lends excessive amounts to a debtor country, allegedly to leverage the resulting debt for strategic advantages when the borrower cannot repay.
• To have strings attached — to have special conditions or restrictions that limit or complicate an offer, agreement, or loan.
• On the face of it — used to say that something seems to be true based on first impressions, but that the real situation may be different.

Grammar

This lesson includes a grammar focus with clear explanations and practice exercises.