Citizenship and Engagement
Fiche anglais Seconde sur citoyenneté et engagement : activisme, droits civiques, bénévolat et engagement citoyen dans le monde anglophone.
Programme officiel
Axe Citoyenneté et engagement — Formes d'engagement citoyen et responsabilité sociale dans les cultures anglophones.
Cours complet
I. Youth Activism
Young people are increasingly active citizens. Greta Thunberg (Sweden/UK) launched Fridays for Future (2018), inspiring millions of students to strike for climate action. Malala Yousafzai (Pakistan/UK) was shot for defending girls' education and became the youngest Nobel Prize winner (2014). Emma González and the March for Our Lives (2018) demanded gun control in the US. Social media enables young activists to reach global audiences instantly.
II. Civil Rights Heroes
The fight for equality has produced iconic figures. Martin Luther King Jr.: non-violent resistance, "I Have a Dream" speech (1963), Civil Rights Act (1964). Rosa Parks: refused to give up her bus seat (1955), sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Nelson Mandela: fought apartheid, imprisoned 27 years, became South Africa's first Black president. Emmeline Pankhurst: led the British suffragette movement for women's right to vote. These heroes show that ordinary people can change history.
III. Everyday Citizenship
Citizenship is not just about voting or protesting. Everyday forms of engagement: volunteering (food banks, charity shops), recycling and sustainable living, being informed and voting, respecting rules and laws, helping neighbours, paying taxes. In the UK, the Duke of Edinburgh Award encourages young people to volunteer, learn skills, and challenge themselves. In the US, community service is often required for school graduation.
IV. Democracy and Participation
In democratic countries, citizens have the right and responsibility to participate. Voting age: 18 in most countries (16 in Scotland for local elections). Voter turnout varies: ~66% in the UK (2019), ~66% in the US (2020). Young people vote less than older generations — why? Reasons: disillusionment, feeling unrepresented, practical barriers. Ways to engage beyond voting: contacting your MP/representative, signing petitions, joining organisations, peaceful protest, running for office.
Key Vocabulary
Méthode
Pour parler d'engagement en anglais, maîtrisez : les modaux d'obligation (should, must, ought to) et de conseil (could, might), les expressions d'opinion (I strongly believe that..., It is essential to...), et le vocabulaire de la citoyenneté (rights, duties, responsibility, democracy).
Exercices d'entraînement
Q1 : Why is Greta Thunberg an important figure?
Answer: Greta Thunberg is important because she demonstrated that one person, even a teenager, can start a global movement. Her school strikes for climate (starting August 2018, alone outside the Swedish parliament) inspired millions of students worldwide to join Fridays for Future. She spoke at the UN, met world leaders, and forced climate change into mainstream political debate. She shows that young people are not "too young" to make a difference.
Q2 : What did Martin Luther King Jr. achieve?
Answer: Martin Luther King Jr. led the American Civil Rights Movement (1950s-60s) using non-violent resistance inspired by Gandhi. Key achievements: the Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-56), the March on Washington and "I Have a Dream" speech (1963), the Civil Rights Act (1964) ending legal segregation, the Voting Rights Act (1965), and the Nobel Peace Prize (1964). He was assassinated in 1968, but his legacy continues to inspire equality movements worldwide.
Q3 : Why do young people vote less than older generations?
Answer: Reasons include: disillusionment with politics (feeling that politicians don't represent them), lack of information about candidates and issues, practical barriers (registration, work schedules), feeling that one vote doesn't matter, preferring other forms of engagement (protests, social media activism). Solutions: lowering voting age to 16, automatic voter registration, political education in schools, making voting easier (postal votes, online registration). When issues directly affect young people (climate, education costs), turnout increases.
Q4 : Is volunteering important? Why?
Answer: Yes, for multiple reasons. For the community: volunteers fill gaps in social services (food banks, homeless shelters, mentoring), creating stronger, more connected communities. For the volunteer: it develops skills (teamwork, communication, organisation), builds confidence, looks good on CVs, creates social connections, and provides a sense of purpose. For society: it promotes empathy, reduces isolation, and strengthens the social fabric. In the UK, 16 million people volunteer at least once a month.
Q5 : Compare two civil rights heroes from different countries.
Answer: Martin Luther King Jr. (US) and Nelson Mandela (South Africa): both fought racial segregation and injustice. MLK used exclusively non-violent methods (marches, boycotts, speeches); Mandela initially supported armed resistance before turning to negotiation. MLK achieved legal equality (Civil Rights Act); Mandela achieved the end of apartheid and became president. Both were imprisoned for their beliefs. Both received the Nobel Peace Prize. Both showed that persistence and moral courage can overcome systemic injustice.
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