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WEEK 10 · 3 HOURS
Formal Debate: Individual vs Government Responsibility
Focus: Refutation · formal debate · evidence
Participate in a formal debate comparing individual and government responsibility for climate action.
Hour 1Input, visual explanation, listening
Hour 2Analysis, dialogue, interactive practice
Hour 3PC challenge, quiz, reflection
HOUR 1 · Input & Critical Comprehension60 MIN
Goal: Understand vocabulary, the visual concept and the listening message before producing academic language.
1A · Vocabulary Lab
Listen to every word. Choose four and create one climate-related sentence for each.
responsibility
responsabilidad
Responsibility can be individual or institutional.
rebuttal
refutación
A rebuttal responds to an argument.
refute
refutar
Refute with evidence and logic.
concede
conceder
Accept part of the opposing point.
burden
carga
Do not place the entire burden on one group.
regulation
regulación
Government regulation can change systems.
behaviour
comportamiento
Individual behaviour also matters.
collective
colectivo
Climate action requires collective effort.
1B · Visual Explanation
Formal debate flow
OPENING states the position, ARGUMENT gives evidence, REBUTTAL answers the other team and CLOSING summarizes the strongest case.
Example 1
Team A: individual behaviour affects demand.
Example 2
Team B: governments regulate large systems.
Example 3
Balanced view: policy and public behaviour interact.
1C · Listening First, Transcript Later
Before listening: Predict three academic words you may hear.
Question: What does each team consider the main responsibility?
Team A argues that individuals must change daily habits because consumption patterns influence demand. Team B responds that governments have greater responsibility because they regulate transport, energy and industry. Team A concedes that policy is essential but argues that public support also affects whether policies succeed. The debate is strongest when both sides use evidence instead of blaming one group.
Hour 1 · Evidence & Submission
HOUR 2 · Analysis & Academic Interaction60 MIN
Goal: Analyze examples, interact with a partner and apply the unit concept through decisions rather than copying.
2A · Guided Dialogues
Listen, perform one dialogue, then replace one example with a climate issue from school, Villavicencio or Colombia.
Dialogue 1
Moderator: Team A, present your opening.
A: Individuals must change consumption habits because demand influences production.
Dialogue 2
B: However, governments control regulation and infrastructure.
A: We concede that policy matters, but public behaviour also affects implementation.
Dialogue 3
Observer: Which team used stronger evidence?
Student: Team B, because they connected policy to transport and energy systems.
2B · Interactive Practice
Debate move
Choose the best category. Then check your result before continuing.
2C · Pair Analysis & Submission
HOUR 3 · PC Challenge, Assessment & Reflection60 MIN
Goal: Apply the concept to a climate-action problem, complete the unit assessment and identify the next learning goal.
