Trump Presidency Changes The WorldWere you surprised by Donald Trump’s election win? How do you think his presidency will change America’s relationship with the rest of the world?

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Read the article and compare your ideas to the journalist’s.B

The Times November 2016

Five ways a Donald Trump presidency changes the world

Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential contest could change America’s relationship with the rest of the world in some important ways. Here are five of them.

Nato faces a shake-upMr Trump has been hugely critical of Nato (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization), a cornerstone of American foreign policy for more than 60 years.

He has attacked the organisation as obsolete and characterised its members as ungrateful allies who benefit from US largesse. He says America can no longer afford

to protect countries in Europe - and in Asia - without adequate compensation, suggesting he would withdraw American forces unless they pay up.

In one sense, he is simply voicing longstanding US concerns about most Nato members not meeting their goal of spending at least 2% of GDP on defence, while US defence spending is the largest in the world. He also stressed in a presidential debate he was “all for Nato”.

But his stance has sparked alarm, particularly in eastern Europe which sees the alliance as a bulwark against Russia.

New cosier ties with Russia?As for Russia itself, Mr

Trump has said he believes he can ease tensions with President Vladimir Putin,

and has praised him as a strong leader with whom he would love to have a good relationship.

Barack Obama began his presidency calling for a “reset” with one of the US’ long-term rivals. Since then Russia-US ties have been strained, no more so than over the two countries backing rival sides in Syria’s civil war.

Mr Trump has said little about what better relations might involve beyond a desire for a joint fight against the militants of so-called Islamic State.

But he intends to find out if the Russians would be “reasonable”, confident that he could better command Mr Putin’s respect than Hillary Clinton or President Obama.

Free trade deals may be cannedDonald Trump’s trade policies would amount to the single biggest change to the way America does business with the rest of the world in decades.

Specifically how could the following things change?America’s relationship with Nato America’s relationship with Russiafree trade deals the Iranian nuclear accord nuclear weapons in Asia

Trump Presidency Changes The World reading

He has threatened to scrap a number of existing free trade agreements, including the North American Free Trade Agreement between the US, Canada and Mexico, which he blames for job losses. He has even suggested withdrawing the US from the World Trade Organization.

He is also in favour of taxing imports, and has talked about imposing tariffs of 45% on China and 35% on goods shipped from Mexico, in an effort to prevent companies moving jobs south of the border.

Iran nuclear accord could be rethoughtFor President Obama, the deal that saw sanctions against Iran lifted in exchange for guarantees it would not pursue nuclear weapons was a “historic understanding”.

But for Donald Trump,

echoing Republican concerns, it was “the worst deal I think I’ve ever seen negotiated”. He has said dismantling it would be his “number one priority”.

Doing so would potentially have a huge impact on the Middle East, with Iran a key player in the Syrian conflict and a rival of Saudi Arabia and Israel, for instance.

Already Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif has urged Trump to stay committed to the nuclear deal. He suggested the US would have to respect the accord given that it was thrashed out with several world powers.

More nuclear weapons in Asia?A Donald Trump presidency raises major security questions in Asia. China is largely thought to welcome a Donald Trump presidency, perhaps anticipating a more isolationist US foreign policy.

Japan and South Korea have both been singled out by Mr Trump for relying too much on the US. He has even said they would benefit from having their own nuclear arsenals.

Then there is the region’s renegade state, North Korea, which is currently developing its own nuclear weapons.

Mr Trump faces the task of curbing those ambitions, something that has eluded successive US leaders.

How he might do this is unclear - in the past year Mr Trump has both called North Korean leader Kim Jong-un a “bad dude” but also said he would directly negotiate with him.

Either way, US politics’ most unpredictable presidential candidate tackling the world’s most unpredictable state makes North Korea a likely flashpoint in the coming years.

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Which of the predictions do you think are the most likely to happen and which do you think are the most dangerous for the world? How do you think America’s relationship with your country will change under a Trump presidency?

b

Find synonyms in the article for these words and expressions:V1 an important quality or feature on which something depends or is based2 generosity; money or presents given generously to a large number of people3 a clearly stated attitude or view about an issue 4 reject or discard

Trump Presidency Changes The World reading

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5 seek or try to attain (some object, desire, etc.)6 advise someone very strongly (to do something) 7 control or limit something that is harmful8 try to deal with (a problem or difficulty)

1 What are the cornerstones of your country’s democracy?2 Which is the greatest example of largesse you have seen?3 What is your stance on Nato and the United Nations?4 Which of your current government’s policies would you scrap?5 Which is the most important goal you are pursuing?6 What would you urge Americans to do now?7 Do you have any habits that you’d like to curb?8 Which problems do you think your government should be tackling?

Discuss these questions including the highlighted words in your answers:f

What tense is the highlighted verb in this extract from the article?E

The Times November 2016

Mr Trump has been hugely critical of Nato (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization)...

Complete the following rule about the tense:V

The present perfect is formed with the auxiliary verb ________ + the ________ _________.

Think about places you’ve been to, people you’ve met and food you’ve tried. Think about recent changes in your company and country. Think about your job and where you live.

The present perfect has different uses:To focus on the action, not the timeThe action happened sometime in the past, but we don’t know or are not interested when. For example, to talk about life experiences: I’ve been to three European countries, but I have never been to an Asian country.To focus on the result of a finished actionThe action happened in the past, usually the recent past, with results in the present.For example: John has broken his leg.

To express an incomplete action or state The action began in the past and continues in the present.For example: I have lived in France for two years.

Which use is seen in the extract from the article? Find other examples of the present perfect in the article.

Write sentences about yourself demonstrating the different uses of the present perfect.V

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I’ve been to Paris and seen the Eiffel Tower, but I’ve never visited Rome.

Trump Presidency Changes The Worldstudent pages 3Teacher’s notes 1 intermediate+ (B1+)

week of 14.11.16

reading

Find synonyms in the article for these words and expressions:V1 cornerstone 2 largesse 3 stance 4 can / scrap 5 pursue 6 urge 7 curb 8 tackle

Complete the following rule about the tense:V

The present perfect is formed with the auxiliary verb HAVE + the PAST PARTICIPLE.

Which use is seen in the extract from the article? = to focus on the action, not the time

Follow-up activity In pairs, get the students to ask each other questions using the present perfect. e.g. How long have you lived in this city?

Remind the students that we use FOR for a period of time and SINCE for a specific point in the past. e.g. I’ve lived here for 10 years. / I’ve lived here since 2006.

The difference between: gone to / been toe.g. She’s gone to Rome. (She is there now or on her way there.)e.g. She’s been to Rome. (She was there, but she has come back.)

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