Political Show
POLITICAL SHOW
Practice English with your teacher
Warm-up
Talk about these questions with your teacher.
선생님과 이야기해 보세요.
- The passage describes political campaigning as a form of entertainment. Do you think modern elections have become more about showmanship than substance?
- The author mentions "facile solutions to complex problems." Can you think of a recent political promise that oversimplified a difficult issue?
Vocabulary
Listen and repeat after your teacher.
선생님을 따라 읽어보세요.
Reading
Read the passage with your teacher.
선생님과 함께 지문을 읽어보세요.
There are few forms of entertainment more enjoyable than watching a glib politician run for office. Most politicians have prepared speeches dealing with the prevalent topics of the day. They can maintain a fervid flow of rhetoric for hours at a time. In each locality where is to appear, the advance work is prepared by a clique of trustworthy aides. In preparation for the show, they have dispersed leaflets, put up posters, and sent out cars and trucks with loudspeakers to extol the erudite qualities of their candidate. Soon, the crowd gathers. Loyal party workers come forward to shake the hand of their mentor. Now, with the facile solutions to complex problems carefully memorized, the show is ready to begin. One moment facetious, the next moment profound, the candidate works to convince the incredulous among the voters.
Dialogue Practice
Practice the dialogue with your teacher.
선생님과 대화를 연습해 보세요.
Do you like watching political rallies?
Who is your favorite politician? Why?
Do you believe what the politicians say during the campaign period?
Why or why not?
From your experience,did those politicians deliver their promise? Why do
you say so?
What makes a campaign effective
What makes a politician click to the people?
What are the good qualities of a politician? Bad qualities?
Did you vote in the last election?
How old were you when you first voted?
What is the minimum voting age in your country?
What type of political system does your country have?
What different types of governments are there?
Who is your mayor?
What are the main political parties in your country?
How do you decide how you will vote?
Who represents you in your local and national government?
How long is the term of elected officials in your country?
Which party is now in power in your country?
When were they elected?
Who is the leader of this party?
How has your political views changed during your lifetime?
How can we get more people to vote?
Is voting a important responsibility of a citizen?
Why do you think voting is important?
How are elections financed?
Do you think too much money is spent on campaigns?
How can campaigns be better organized?
How could elections be more representative?
Korean Trap! / 한국인 실수 교정
Common mistakes Korean speakers make.
한국인이 자주 하는 실수를 알아봅시다.
'run for'는 직위/직책과 함께 쓰입니다 (run for office, run for mayor). 'run for a politician'은 틀린 표현입니다. 사람이 아니라 직위를 목적어로 쓰세요.
Discussion
Share your thoughts with your teacher.
선생님과 의견을 나눠보세요.
- The passage portrays politicians as performers with memorized "facile solutions." Is it possible for a genuinely honest politician to succeed, or does the system reward showmanship?
- The text describes a "clique of trustworthy aides" doing advance work. How much of political success depends on the candidate versus the team behind them?
- The author says politicians shift between being "facetious" and "profound." Is this versatility a genuine skill or a form of manipulation?
- The passage mentions convincing the "incredulous among the voters." In an era of widespread political cynicism, what would it take to restore public trust in politicians?
- How does Korean political culture compare to what is described in this passage? Are Korean elections also a form of entertainment?
Lesson Summary / 수업 요약
Today's Topic: POLITICAL SHOW
Level: Low Advanced (L.A)
Review this lesson before your next class! / 다음 수업 전에 복습하세요!