Answer the following questions

1. What do you know about the environmental problems? Which of them worry you most? Why?

2. Why do young people show much interest in the environmental matters?

3. What in your view are 4 major industrially created dangers facing the environment? Choose from the list below. Rank them in accordance with their importance/ Try to justify your choice.

- nuclear reactors

- industrial emissions

- destruction of the rain forest (deforestation)

- industrial wastes

- nuclear wastes

- carbon monoxide fumes from vehicles

- marine oil spills

- chemical effluence

- greenhouse effect

- consumption of non-renewable energy

- use of non-biodegradable materials

- stock pile of chemical weapons/

4. In what way public concern about green issues help save environment? Have you ever heard about Greenpeace, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and othe organizations of the kind? What are eco-warrious?

5. Is it true that what is good for business must always be bad for the nature? In other words, are the commercial gain and ecological balance incompatible?

6. What can you tell about the environmental problems in your country and in your city?

Role play

Background

A new factory wants to locate in a peaceful town. The management of the company behind the project has been reticent about their plans and this particular factory.

Rumor has it that the town is going to have a textile mill / a chemical factory / a junk yard for used car parts / a food processing factory / any other industry.

With unemployment rate going up, yet some townspeople object to the new factory, while others support the idea. In order to make citizens feelings known about this new factory, a local TV channel runs a talk show. Various townspeople are going to express their opinions concerning the new industry.

Task

As a group, you are supposed to structure this role play and then perform it. First, discuss the basics for this role play and come up with the decisions about:

1. country (Russia or the USA)

2. town's history and demographics

3. town's current social concerns and economic challenges

4. company behind the project: background, mission statement, current situation, and goals

5. type of industry and new factory

6. objectives set up by the TV channel (to disapprove or support the project)

7. format of TV show

8. background of the TV show participants, their concerns and opinions

Then, read some comments from various townspeople concerning the new industry:

ü Let's keep our town clean!

ü The new factory will help us build a new recreation center.

ü A new industry always raises the standard of living.

ü Crime rates are higher in industrialized areas.

ü The town needs the economic boost.

ü A new factory helps small businesses.

ü The people in this town are good workers.

ü Industries cause pollution of the environment.

ü Unemployment is particularly high right now.

ü Industrialization improves the economy.

ü The small stores will have more customers.

ü Industries should go to areas where there are a lot of people out of work.

ü New industry creates a need for new housing.

ü Small towns provide a good work force.

ü The factory will create a demand for the construction of many new apartments.

ü This industry might increase crime because of the many strangers in town.

Now, choose a role from the list (or come up with a character of your own):

TV host | company manager | mayor | high school teacher | physician | senior citizen | house wife | nurse | sanitation chief | local clergyman | social worker | local manufacturer | businessman | small business owner | housing inspector | judge | construction worker | environmentalist

While getting ready for the actual role playing think of visuals and props you are going to use. Spend some time on your language work (key words and phrases, formal and informal vocabulary, and grammar structures).

Also, discuss the script of the play and objectives that each character has to fulfill.

Role-play the TV talk show. After that, your BFR English instructor will conduct a short debriefing session. Make sure you share your observations and thoughts on the overall effect of this role play.