Media Guide
Film and series guidance to extend the unit through authentic language exposure.
Lesson objectives
- Use authentic audiovisual material to deepen the unit theme.
- Notice how advanced language works in real public media.
- Extend vocabulary and discussion around climate policy & international agreements through film and series.
Cine & Series — Climate Policy & International Agreements
Utilizar producciones audiovisistas de alta calidad te permite familiarizarte con el léxico especializado y los debates de alto nivel necesarios para el examen C1. Al analizar discursos políticos y debates científicos en pantalla, desarrollarás la capacidad de comprender matices de registro y estructuras complejas de forma natural.
Recommended title
- Title: The Diplomat (2023–present), Netflix
- Accent/dialect: Primarily American (with various international accents in diplomatic settings)
- Why it's perfect for C1: Although it is a political thriller, the series revolves around international relations, high-stakes negotiations, and the fallout of global crises. It is perfect for C1 learners because it uses a sophisticated, high-level register, nuanced vocabulary regarding policy, and demonstrates how language is used to manipulate or clarify complex political situations.
- Episodes to start with: Season 1, Episodes 1–3.
Language focus
1. "The administration is facing a crisis of credibility regarding its environmental commitments." - Vocabulary note: Commitment /kəˈmɪtmənt/ (Compromiso/Obligación) - Grammar spotlight: Nominalisation. Instead of saying "The administration committed to something," the noun "commitments" is used to create a more formal, objective tone suitable for policy discussions.
2. "We need to reach a consensus that satisfies all signatories of the accord." - Vocabulary note: Signatory /ˈsɪɡnətəri/ (Signatario/Parte firmante) - Grammar spotlight: Academic Register. The use of "reach a consensus" instead of "agree" demonstrates the formal collocation required in C1-level diplomatic English.
3. "The implications of this policy shift could be catastrophic for international stability." - Vocabulary note: Implication /ˌɪmplɪˈkeɪʃn/ (Implicación/Consecuencia) - Grammar spotlight: Nominalisation. The phrase "policy shift" (the shift of policy) turns an action into a concept, allowing the speaker to discuss abstract ideas—a key requirement for the C1 Writing and Speaking papers.
Viewing task (active watching)
- Vocabulary Log: Note down at least 10 new words or collocations per hour (e.g., treaty, mandate, stakeholder, mitigation).
- Register Tracking: Identify moments where characters shift from "corridor talk" (informal/colloquial) to "official briefing" (formal/academic). Note the difference in sentence structure.
- Nominalisation Hunt: Listen for instances where verbs are turned into nouns (e.g., "The implementation of..." instead of "When they implemented...") and write them down to see how they add weight to an argument.
- Oral Summary: After the episode, record a 2-minute voice note on your phone summarising the main conflict of the episode using at least three of the new vocabulary words you learned.
Similar titles (2 alternatives)
- Succession (HBO/Sky): Excellent for mastering high-level corporate vocabulary and complex power dynamics.
- Our Planet (Netflix): Perfect for scientific vocabulary and formal narration regarding climate change and global ecology.