What 'globalization' covers: Globalization is part of the theme Sharing the planet. You need vocabulary to talk about international trade, global brands and chains, cultural exchange, and the loss of local identity — and to give your opinion about them.
The words below are common English B vocabulary. Treat the list as a glossary: learn each term with its meaning and a synonym, then reuse them in the reading and writing sections.
- globalization
- the way the world's economies and cultures become connected and more alike
- (international) trade
- the buying and selling of goods between countries
- (global) brand
- a product name sold and recognised all over the world
- (fast-food) chain
- a group of identical shops or restaurants owned by one company
- local business
- a small shop or company run by people in your own area
- cultural exchange
- people sharing customs, food and ideas between different cultures
- identity
- what makes a person or place who or what they are; their distinct character
- diversity
- the existence of many different kinds of people, cultures or things
- inequality
- an unfair gap between richer and poorer people or countries
- consumption
- the buying and using up of goods and services
- the environment
- the natural world — air, water, land and living things
- to support (local)
- to choose to buy from and help local shops and producers
- the global village
- the idea that the whole world is connected like one small community
| Useful expression | What it means |
|---|---|
| We live in an increasingly globalized world. | Countries and cultures are more and more connected. |
| The same brands are everywhere. | You see identical global brands in every city. |
| I try to support local businesses. | I choose to buy from small, local shops. |
| Globalization encourages cultural exchange. | It helps people share customs, food and ideas. |
| We shouldn't lose our identity. | We should protect what makes our place distinctive. |
Why this matters: This vocabulary turns up in every skill — a reading text about global brands, a listening interview about local food, a Paper 1 article about globalization, or your oral. Reusing precise topic words is how you score Criterion A (Language).
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Have something to say: Examiners reward developed ideas, not just vocabulary. Around globalization, the common debates are: global brands vs local businesses, cultural exchange vs the loss of local identity, and whether a more connected world is fairer or more unequal. Take a position and back it up.
Opinion phrases (use these to introduce a view)
- In my opinion… / From my point of view… — to introduce what you think
- It seems to me that… / I believe that… — a slightly softer way to give a view
- The most important thing is… — to highlight your main point
- On the one hand… on the other hand… — to weigh up two sides
- I (completely) agree that… / I'm not convinced that… — to react to an idea
Drawbacks of globalization
- Big chains make local businesses disappear.
- Many cities end up looking exactly alike.
- People can lose their own culture and identity.
Benefits
- We can get to know and enjoy other cultures.
- Trade creates jobs and makes many products cheaper.
- Technology connects us with the whole world.
Link your ideas: Connectors lift your answer from a list into an argument: moreover (to add), however (to contrast), therefore (to conclude), although (to concede). Use at least two or three in any written answer.
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Read like Paper 2: Here is a short blog post — the kind of text Paper 2 (Reading) gives you. Read it once just for the general idea; don't worry about every word. Then we'll work through one exam question together.
The Corner is gone: In the neighbourhood where I grew up there was a family restaurant called The Corner. They served traditional dishes there and everyone knew one another.
Two years ago it closed, and in its place a fast-food chain opened, just like the ones you find in any city in the world. At first it seemed convenient: it was cheap and quick. However, little by little I realised that the neighbourhood was losing its character, because the same chains were everywhere. Now I try to support local businesses whenever I can. Globalization brings us closer, but it is also worth looking after what makes us different.
- neighbourhood
- the area around where you live
- traditional
- long-established; passed down over time
- to lose its character
- to stop feeling special or distinctive
- everywhere
- in every place
- to realise
- to become aware of something you hadn't noticed
IB-style task — one Paper 2 question
One question, step by step
- The question — "According to the text, what opened in the place of the restaurant The Corner?"
- Find it in the text. Look for the words "in its place": "Two years ago it closed, and in its place a fast-food chain opened."
- The answer — A fast-food chain opened. The words are right there in the text, so no outside knowledge is needed.
Reading technique: For an "according to the text" question, find the exact line that proves your answer — don't rely on memory or general knowledge.
The task: Your school is running a week about the global and the local world. Write a blog post for other students: describe how your neighbourhood or city has changed and give advice for enjoying globalization without losing what is local.
Use an informal, friendly register. Write 450–600 words.
Blog structure — 5 steps
1
Catchy title
A title, often a question. "Do you eat the same things as a young person on the other side of the world?"
2
Greeting + topic
Greet the reader and say what the post is about. "Hi everyone! Today I want to talk about globalization…"
3
Your experience
Describe how things used to be, in the past. "When I was little, my neighbourhood was full of local shops…"
4
Two or three tips
Give advice using imperatives. "Support local businesses", "find out where things come from", "enjoy other cultures without losing your own".
5
Motivating close
Finish with an encouraging line. "Start with one small change this week — you'll make a difference."
Title → Greeting → Experience → Tips → Close
Model: the 5 steps in action
The blog post, step by step
- Do you eat the same things as a young person on the other side of the world?
- Hi everyone! I'm Maya, and today I want to talk about something we rarely stop to think about: globalization in our daily lives.
- When I was little, my neighbourhood was full of local shops and restaurants, and almost everything came from the area. Little by little, the international chains changed everything.
- So here are three tips. First, support local businesses. Second, find out where the things you buy come from. And third, enjoy the best of other cultures without losing your own.
- The most important thing, though, is to find a balance. Globalization has real advantages, but our identity is worth protecting too. Start with one small change this week and you'll make a difference.
Why it scores: This answer hits all three Paper 1 criteria — here's what earns each one:
A — Language /12
- Range of tenses: past "my neighbourhood was full of", imperatives "support", "find out"
- Connectors: "so", "though", "first/second/third"
- Topic vocabulary, used accurately
B — Message /12
- Task fully done: describes the change AND gives advice
- Ideas developed with concrete examples
C — Conceptual /6
- Blog conventions: a catchy title
- Direct address: "Hi everyone", "you'll make a difference"
- A persuasive, personal tone
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How listening is tested: Paper 2 also tests listening: you hear short clips, each played twice, and you never see the words. Read the questions first, listen for the key idea, then answer.
Here we'll use a transcript so you can practise the technique on the page. Read the questions, then find the answer in the speaker's words.
Transcript — Lucia's market: Hi, I'm Lucia. In my town we've always had a market on Saturdays, where farmers sell local fruit and vegetables. A little while ago a big supermarket belonging to an international chain opened, and a lot of people stopped going to the market. It worries me, because the market gives work to the town's families and the produce is fresher. That's why I try to shop there whenever I can. I think it's worth looking after what's ours.
IB-style task — two listening questions
Two questions, step by step
- Q1 — Why does it worry Lucia that people are no longer going to the market? Listen just after "It worries me, because": "the market gives work to the town's families and the produce is fresher." That is your answer.
- Q2 — What does Lucia do whenever she can? She says it near the end: "That's why I try to shop there whenever I can." Answer: she shops at the local market.
Listening technique: Read the questions before the clip plays. Each question usually points to one short part of the recording — listen for the words around it, not the whole thing.