Unit 24: Innovative Solutions for a Greener Future
Warm-up and Vocabulary
Welcome to Unit 24! Today, we are looking at ‘Green Influencers.’ You probably know YouTubers like MrBeast and Mark Rober who raise millions of dollars to plant trees or clean the ocean. These projects are amazing! But… are they enough to save the planet? In this Speaking unit, we will learn how to be critical thinkers. You will read about a viral project and then listen to an expert’s opinion about it. Your job is to compare these two ideas using your voice. Let’s speak up for nature!
Vocabulary List
Read the list below carefully. You will need these words to compare the reading and listening.
- Sustainable: Able to continue for a long time without damaging the environment.
- Fundraising: Collecting money for a good cause (charity).
- Viral: Spreading very quickly on the internet.
- Solution: An answer to a problem.
- Criticize: To say what is wrong or bad about something.
- Root Cause: The main or original reason for a problem (the source).
- Temporary: Lasting for only a short time; not permanent.
- Impact: The effect or influence of an action.
- Awareness: Knowledge or understanding of a subject.
- Skeptical: Not believing something easily; having doubts.
Activity 1: Let’s Discuss
Look at the questions below. Think about your answers or discuss them with a partner.
- Have you ever watched a video by MrBeast or Mark Rober? What did they do?
- If you had 1 billion Rupiah to help the environment, would you plant trees or clean the river? Why?
- Do you think “viral challenges” on the internet can really change the world, or is it just for entertainment?
Connecting Two Sides of A Story
In the TOEFL Integrated Speaking task, you will often Read about a plan (The Ideal) and Listen to a critique (The Reality). You must build a Bridge between them using special words.
1. The T-Chart Note-Taking
Divide your paper into two.
- Reading (Left): What is the plan? What is the goal? (Keywords: Plan, Goal, Benefit)
- Listening (Right): What is the problem? Why does the speaker disagree? (Keywords: However, Problem, Expensive, Temporary)
2. The “Bridge Words” (Transitions)
You cannot just list facts. You must connect them. Use these words to show contrast:
- BUT (Simple, easy to use).
- HOWEVER (Formal, very good for TOEFL).
- ON THE OTHER HAND (Good for showing a different side).
- ALTHOUGH (Advanced: “Although the plan is good, it is expensive”).
3. The Speaking Template (Memorize This!)
If you don’t know what to say, use this structure:
- Step 1 (The Reading): “The reading passage describes [Project Name], which aims to [Goal]…”
- Step 2 (The Bridge): “…However, the speaker in the audio disagrees with this idea.”
- Step 3 (The Listening): “He/She explains that [The Problem]. Therefore, he/she thinks the project is [useless/temporary/expensive].”
Model Example:
- Reading: Banning plastic straws saves fish.
- Listening: Fishing nets are the real problem (50% of trash).
- Your Answer: “The reading suggests banning straws to save fish. However, the speaker criticizes this. He says that straws are small, but fishing nets are the real problem.”
Skill Practice
Complete the following 4 exercises.
Exercise 1: Word Search
Exercise 2: Matching Antonyms
Exercise 3: Identifying the Source
Read the statements below about a “Beach Cleanup Project”. Decide if the statement is likely from the Promotional Text (Positive) or the Critical Audio (Negative).
Exercise 4: Record and Speak
You will see two sentences (Idea A and Idea B). Record your voice combining them into ONE sentence using the linking word in parentheses.
Example:
- Idea A: Solar panels create clean energy.
- Idea B: They are very expensive to install. (Use: but)
- Your Answer: “Solar panels create clean energy, but they are very expensive to install.”
Now, Record These 5 Questions:
- Idea A: MrBeast planted 20 million trees.
Idea B: We cut down 15 billion trees every year.- (Use: However)
- Idea A: The beach cleaning robot is fast.
Idea B: It costs too much money for small countries.- (Use: Although)
- Idea A: Viral videos raise awareness quickly.
Idea B: People forget the message after one week.- (Use: On the other hand)
- Idea A: Electric cars reduce smoke in the city.
Idea B: Making the batteries damages the earth.- (Use: But)
- Idea A: Recycling plastic is a good habit.
Idea B: Reducing plastic use is much better.- (Use: However)