EC1 2025-2026:
Unit10: Sport, Politics and Big Money:
Let's now focus on the intermingling between sport, politics and big money! We will try here not only to reflect on the "magic" of sport but also to consider the other side of the coin, and especially the biggest controversies sport is steeped in, especially as the football world cup is drawing near.
Unit8: Politics, Scandals, Populism and the Rise of Techno-fascism in the US and in the UK:
In this unit, we will reflect on the main political scandals the US and the UK have been faced with. This will lead us to find out more about journalists and whistleblowers, not to mention modern campaigning and the rise of populism, authoritarianism and techno-fascism. As we will be working on politics, try and keep an eye on political news in other English-speaking countries too!
Unit9: Welcome to the New Economy: "Business @T the Speed of Thought":
In this unit, we will reflect on recent economic trends - especially the rise of tech giants or the emergence of the sharing economy and the gig economy - and consider how these changes have reshaped the lives of consumers and the strategies of companies, not to mention the impact of the AI revolution.
Unit6: The Climate Crisis: "The Clock Is Ticking":
Climate change has become one of the most pressing issues. What with a growing number of natural disasters and scientific evidence of climate change, politicians are being forced to to take a stand on the matter. We will thus try and reflect on the recent natural disasters the US and the UK have been faced with, and consider the climate change debate through various approaches, from climate summits to preppers' techniques!
Unit7: Food, Health and Science, or "Food for Thought":
In this unit, we will focus on food-related issues, and especially on the way food, health and science often mingle. As usual, you will find here some of the documents studied in class, but also others to help you go further. This unit will also be a way to introduce a few notions that will be useful next year when we work on Unit19 and healthcare.
Unit4: US Politics: "Stranger than Fiction"/ "Anything goes"?
One year after the 2024 presidential election, the stakes are still high. In this unit we will try to get a better understanding of the US political system and of the key issues in the 2024 campaign and in US politics right now. We will also reflect on the "stranger than fiction" and "anything goes" slogans which have recently been associated with US politics and the Trump administration.
Unit5: UK Politics: Political Turmoil and Key Issues in the British Political Sphere:
Here you will find out more about the UK political system and have a better grasp of the main political parties and leaders in the UK, not to mention the principal issues at stake right now, especially the current crisis and the various challenges the country has been faced with. This unit should help you review what you learned in Unit1 and go even further!
Unit2: A Brief History of The United States and The Race Issue in America:
In this unit, we will study American history through the lens of the race issue. After reviewing a few landmarks in American history and culture, we will try and see what the situation is like for African-Americans (and other ethnic minorities) today. In other words, we will reflect on the following question: has MLK's dream come true at last?
Unit3: Welcome to the Digital Age/Era!
Social networks, PCs, tablets, apps... Two decades ago, the world entered the digital age and this has had a tremendous impact on everybody's way of life. In this unit, we will try and reflect on the ways social media make the world a better place to live in. Are new technologies a force for good or a curse? This unit will also help us consider other aspects of today's society, especially education, advertising and politics, and their ties with technology.
Unit1: The British Monarchy, The Royals and The Media after Queen Elizabeth's passing:
In this unit, we are just getting started! We will focus on the royal events which have taken place in the UK in the last few years (and months!) and consider the way the media report on the Royals. We will also study the repercussions of the Queen's passing. Basically, we will reflect on the monarchy debate and find out more about the British political system, not to mention the Commonwealth.