What is the difference between 'el paro' and 'el desempleo'?

Both terms refer to unemployment. 'El desempleo' is the formal, technical term for the state of being without a job. 'El paro' is the more common, everyday term used in Spain to refer to the unemployment rate or the benefit payments received. In a WJEC exam, using 'el paro' sounds very natural and authentic.

How do I say 'homeless' in Spanish without sounding basic?

Avoid just saying 'personas pobres'. Use 'los sin techo' (the roofless) or 'las personas sin hogar' (people without a home). For a higher-level term, use 'los indigentes' or discuss 'la exclusión social' to show you understand the broader sociological context.

What are some high-level phrases for discussing poverty?

Try using 'la brecha entre ricos y pobres' (the gap between rich and poor) or 'vivir por debajo del umbral de la pobreza' (to live below the poverty line). You can also use 'recaudar fondos' (to raise funds) when discussing how to help.

How can I use the subjunctive mood for this topic?

The easiest way is to use impersonal expressions followed by 'que'. For example: 'Es importante que hagamos más' (It is important that we do more) or 'Es terrible que haya tanta desigualdad' (It is terrible that there is so much inequality). This is a guaranteed way to boost your grade in the WJEC marking criteria.

Why is 'Fair Trade' included in social issues?

In the WJEC specification, 'el comercio justo' is a social issue because it relates to human rights, fair wages, and the exploitation of workers. It links the environment (sustainability) with social justice, making it a perfect topic for a balanced exam answer.

What do I say if I get a photo card about a food bank?

Start by describing what you see: 'En la foto hay voluntarios dando comida'. Then, move to the social issue: 'Esto muestra el problema del hambre en nuestra sociedad'. Finally, offer an opinion: 'A mi ver, es esencial que apoyemos a los bancos de alimentos para ayudar a los necesitados'.

Global Sustainability – Social Issues

WJEC

GCSE

The Global Sustainability - Social Issues subtopic covers the understanding and discussion of humanitarian and societal challenges, including poverty, homelessness, war, famine, and the role of charitable organizations and government support in addressing these issues.

Objectives

Exam Tips

Pitfalls

Key Terms

Mark Points

Topic Overview

Global Sustainability – Social Issues is a core component of Theme 2 (Local, national, international and global areas of interest) in the WJEC GCSE Spanish specification. This topic requires students to move beyond basic environmental vocabulary and engage with complex societal challenges such as poverty (la pobreza), homelessness (los sin techo), and unemployment (el desempleo). It is designed to test your ability to discuss global problems, offer solutions, and express empathy using a sophisticated range of vocabulary and grammatical structures.

Mastering this topic is crucial because it often appears in the higher-tier writing and speaking exams, where examiners look for 'global citizenship' awareness. You aren't just learning words; you are learning how to argue for social justice and fair trade (el comercio justo). It fits into the wider subject by bridging the gap between everyday life and international affairs, demanding the use of the subjunctive mood and conditional tenses to discuss hypothetical improvements to the world.

To succeed, you must be able to identify these issues in listening and reading tasks and articulate your own views in the productive skills. The WJEC exam specifically looks for your ability to link social issues to personal responsibility and government action, making it one of the most intellectually demanding yet rewarding parts of the GCSE course.

Key Concepts

Core ideas you must understand for this topic

→La Pobreza y la Desigualdad: Understanding the gap between the rich and poor and the impact of the economic crisis on families.
→El Comercio Justo: The importance of ethical consumerism and supporting farmers in developing countries to ensure fair wages.
→El Desempleo y el Paro Juvenil: Discussing the high rates of youth unemployment in Spain and its social consequences, such as 'la generación ni-ni'.
→Los Sin Techo y la Exclusión Social: Examining the causes of homelessness and the role of charities (las organizaciones benéficas) in providing support.
→Responsabilidad Social: Using 'si' clauses and the subjunctive to discuss what 'should' or 'could' be done to alleviate social suffering.

What You Need to Demonstrate

Key skills and knowledge for this topic

Ability to identify and discuss social problems such as poverty, homelessness, and war
Understanding of humanitarian aid and the role of charities
Expressing opinions and justifications regarding social issues
Narrating events or accounts related to social challenges
Using appropriate vocabulary related to social issues and humanitarian efforts

Marking Points

Key points examiners look for in your answers

Ability to identify and discuss social problems such as poverty, homelessness, and war
Understanding of humanitarian aid and the role of charities
Expressing opinions and justifications regarding social issues
Narrating events or accounts related to social challenges
Using appropriate vocabulary related to social issues and humanitarian efforts

Examiner Tips

Expert advice for maximising your marks

💡Familiarize yourself with the specific vocabulary list for social issues provided in the specification
💡Practice expressing and justifying opinions on social topics to prepare for the Speaking and Writing units
💡Ensure you can use a range of tenses (past, present, future) to discuss how social issues have changed or might change
💡Use repair strategies during the Speaking assessment if you struggle to find a specific word for a social issue
💡Use the Subjunctive for Solutions: To hit the top bands in Writing and Speaking, use phrases like 'Es necesario que el gobierno ayude...' or 'Es una lástima que haya tanta pobreza'. This demonstrates high-level grammatical control.
💡Incorporate Idiomatic Expressions: Instead of just saying things are bad, use 'está por las nubes' (it's sky high) when talking about prices or 'estar sin blanca' (to be broke) to add authentic flair to your descriptions.
💡Structure with Connectives: Use sophisticated linkers like 'no obstante' (nevertheless), 'por lo tanto' (therefore), and 'a pesar de' (despite) to build a cohesive argument in your 150-word essay.

Common Mistakes

Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

Confusing vocabulary related to different social issues (e.g., poverty vs. homelessness)
Failure to justify opinions when discussing complex social topics
Inaccurate use of tenses when narrating past events related to social issues
Over-reliance on simple sentences instead of using complex structures to express abstract ideas
Using 'la gente' with a plural verb: Students often say 'la gente son' because they think of people as a group, but in Spanish, 'la gente' is always singular. Correct: 'La gente es pobre'.
Confusing 'el paro' with 'la parada': Students often use 'la parada' (a bus stop) when they mean 'el paro' (unemployment). Always use 'el paro' or 'el desempleo' when discussing social issues.
Misusing 'pobre': When 'pobre' comes after the noun (un hombre pobre), it means a man with no money. When it comes before (un pobre hombre), it means an unfortunate or pitiful man. Context is key for WJEC marks.

Revision Plan

How to revise this topic in 1–2 weeks

1Week 1, Day 1-3: Build a 'Social Issues' glossary. Focus on nouns (el hambre, la guerra) and verbs (recaudar fondos, apoyar). Use flashcards for 'el comercio justo' terminology.
2Week 1, Day 4-7: Practice listening and reading. Find authentic news snippets from 'El País' or 'BBC Mundo' regarding social protests or charity work to get used to the vocabulary in context.
3Week 2, Day 1-4: Focus on the Subjunctive and Conditional. Write five sentences starting with 'Si yo fuera el primer ministro...' (If I were the Prime Minister...) followed by a social solution.
4Week 2, Day 5-7: Past paper practice. Complete a WJEC-style photo card description and a 90/150 word writing task specifically on the topic of 'Los problemas globales'.

Exam Question Types

How this topic typically appears in the exam

📋Photo Card (Speaking): You may be shown a picture of a food bank or a homeless person. You will need to describe the scene and answer a surprise question about your opinion on social aid.
📋Extended Writing (90/150 words): A prompt asking you to write a blog post about a charity event you organized or an article about the importance of fair trade.
📋Reading Comprehension: A text, often a letter or an interview, discussing the difficulties of finding a job in Spain. You will need to answer questions in English or Spanish depending on the tier.
📋Role Play: A scenario where you are at a shop and must ask if the products are 'comercio justo' or discuss a donation to a charity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions students ask about this topic

Before You Start

Prior knowledge that will help with this topic

•Basic Theme 2 vocabulary related to the environment and local area.
•Mastery of the present, preterite, and future tenses.
•Familiarity with giving and justifying opinions using 'creo que' and 'porque'.

Likely Command Words

How questions on this topic are typically asked

Explica

Describe

Menciona

Justifica

Compara

Ready to test yourself?

Practice questions tailored to this topic

Global Sustainability – Social Issues

Topic Overview

Key Concepts

What You Need to Demonstrate

Marking Points

Examiner Tips

Common Mistakes

Revision Plan

Exam Question Types

Frequently Asked Questions

Before You Start

Likely Command Words

Ready to test yourself?

Related Topics in WJEC GCSE Spanish

Appendix A: Prescribed Vocabulary List (organised by theme/sub-theme)

Appendix B: Grammar Requirements – Foundation Tier

Current and Future Study and Employment

Current Study – School/College Life

How to Revise Global Sustainability – Social Issues — WJEC GCSE Spanish

Examiner Tips for Global Sustainability – Social Issues

Common Mistakes in Global Sustainability – Social Issues

Key Marking Points

Global Sustainability – Social Issues

Topic Overview

Key Concepts

What You Need to Demonstrate

Marking Points

Examiner Tips

Common Mistakes

Revision Plan

Exam Question Types

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'el paro' and 'el desempleo'?

How do I say 'homeless' in Spanish without sounding basic?

What are some high-level phrases for discussing poverty?

How can I use the subjunctive mood for this topic?

Why is 'Fair Trade' included in social issues?

What do I say if I get a photo card about a food bank?

Before You Start

Likely Command Words

Ready to test yourself?

Related Topics in WJEC GCSE Spanish

Appendix A: Prescribed Vocabulary List (organised by theme/sub-theme)

Appendix B: Grammar Requirements – Foundation Tier

Current and Future Study and Employment

Current Study – School/College Life