Happy 2020 everyone!
We really hope you’ve had a lovely winter break and that you’re starting this 2020 as energised and excited about what is to come as we are! We have a lot of different posts coming up, including some special collaborations, and we can’t wait for you to see them!
But this is the first post of the year so, now that we’ve powered through the first Blue Monday of the decade, how about we start the year taking a look at what is happening in the UK? Yes, you’ve guessed it, I’m talking about what is becoming known as the #Megxit!
When prince Harry married the former actress and Hollywood star Meghan Markle just over twenty months ago, nothing indicated their public roles and their serving the United Kingdom, as Harry had been doing all his life, would come to such an abrupt and sudden end. Last week, the Sussexes announced their will to “step back” from their roles in the Royal Family and the world went mad.
Some blamed Meghan and others said that English tabloids (and even the press in general) were at fault, especially since the Sussex House had issued a statement after Harry and Meghan had taken legal action against some of the most popular British tabloids in which Harry expressed that “My deepest fear is history repeating itself. I’ve seen what happens when someone I love is commoditized to the point that they are no longer treated or seen as a real person. I lost my mother and now I watch my wife falling victim to the same powerful forces.”
But how did this happen? Why and how has the issue got this far? Can a member of the Royal Family, a prince no less, simply “step back” from their role?
Our ES teacher Christopher has shared with us a podcast he’s been using in some of his classes which will shed some light on this matter and its possible connection with some other issues the Queen has had to deal with over the past year. Bear in mind that this is a real podcast from The Guardian, one of the most popular newspapers (not tabloids) in the UK and, as a consequence, it includes day to day language and expressions that can be challenging. That’s why, Christopher has taken the time to go through the podcast and make a list of difficult or not-so-common words, take a look before you listen:
Glossary
to take a step back = to stop being involved in something
Aberfan = a disaster at a coal mine in Wales in 1966
Panorama = a BBC current affairs programme
to conform = to behave according to the usual standards of behaviour
to dragoon somebody into something = to force or persuade someone to do something unpleasant
to lump together = to put different groups together and think about them or deal with them in the same way
to pal around = to spend time with someone that you are very friendly with
bemused (adjective) = to be slightly confused
to carve out = to create or obtain something that helps you by skillful activities
to hammer out = to reach an agreement or solution after a lot of argument or discussion
to spur someone on = to encourage someone
an old fart = an old a boring, annoying, or unpleasant person
vindictive (adjective) = having or showing a wish to harm someone because they have harmed you
Now that we have the vocabulary, let’s listen to the podcast, you’ll be redirected to the website clicking here .
If you’d like to follow up this story, you can read the statement Buckingham Palace issued last Saturday to inform the public about the Queen’s decision on this matter. You can read this statement, and all of the previous ones, here.
What do you think about it? Who do you stand by?
We’re looking forward to reading your comments, scroll down and speak your mind!
Have a lovely end of January!
The Red Lobster 