À propos de cette page
Ce cours de anglais (lva) en terminale sur « Mondialisation et échanges » suit le programme officiel de anglais (lva) de terminale. Il présente les définitions, les propriétés et les méthodes essentielles, accompagnées d'exemples résolus pour bien comprendre. Au programme : Globalisation: defining a connected world, The flows of globalisation (people, goods, ideas), Benefits and tensions of a global world, Migration and diasporas in the English-speaking world. Chaque notion est expliquée pas à pas, puis mise en pratique grâce à des exercices interactifs, un QCM et une évaluation corrigée. Idéal pour réviser à son rythme, combler ses lacunes et progresser, en autonomie ou avec un professeur. Cours rédigé par un professeur particulier à Marseille pour aider les élèves de terminale à réussir en anglais (lva).
Au programme
1 · Globalisation: defining a connected world
2 · The flows of globalisation (people, goods, ideas)
3 · Benefits and tensions of a global world
4 · Migration and diasporas in the English-speaking world
5 · Cultural exchange, soft power and identity
6 · Key vocabulary of globalisation
7 · Grammar in context: present perfect, passive, comparison
8 · Building an argument on globalisation
1Globalisation: defining a connected world
Globalisation (US: globalization) is the process by which countries, economies and cultures become increasingly interconnected and interdependent. It belongs to the axis Identities and exchanges: how do exchanges shape who we are?
Definition. Globalisation = the worldwide movement of people, goods, capital, information and ideas across borders, made faster by transport, trade and digital technology.
Three dimensions are usually distinguished:
- Economic globalisation — free trade, multinational companies, global supply chains.
- Cultural globalisation — the spread of languages, music, food, films (e.g. Hollywood, English as a lingua franca).
- Political / social globalisation — international organisations (UN, WTO), migration, global issues (climate, health).
Caption: the three interconnected dimensions of a globalised world.
2The flows of globalisation (people, goods, ideas)
Globalisation is best understood through the flows it generates. Nothing stays local: people, products and information circulate constantly.
| Flow | Example in the English-speaking world |
|---|
| People | Migrants, students, tourists, expatriates (e.g. Indian engineers in the USA, EU nurses in the UK). |
| Goods | Smartphones designed in California, assembled in Asia, sold worldwide. |
| Capital | Investment from London or New York into emerging economies. |
| Ideas & culture | Pop music, social-media trends, the spread of English. |
Example. A pair of trainers can be designed in Oregon, manufactured in Vietnam, advertised by a British footballer and bought online in Australia — a single object embodies the global value chain.
Tip. To describe a process, use the passive: The phones are assembled in China and are shipped all over the world.
3Benefits and tensions of a global world
Globalisation is a double-edged sword: it creates opportunities but also deep tensions. A balanced essay must weigh both sides.
| Benefits | Tensions / drawbacks |
|---|
| Economic growth, cheaper goods | Inequalities between rich and poor countries |
| Access to global culture and knowledge | Cultural uniformity ("Americanisation") |
| Innovation, cooperation on global issues | Exploitation of cheap labour, sweatshops |
| Mobility, opportunities abroad | Environmental cost, carbon footprint |
Watch out! Avoid clichés. Don't write "globalisation is good/bad": nuance with connectors — on the one hand… on the other hand…, however, whereas, nevertheless.
Caption: globalisation has not erased inequalities — wealth remains very unevenly shared (illustrative figures inspired by global wealth reports).
4Migration and diasporas in the English-speaking world
Migration is one of the most visible faces of globalisation. The English-speaking world is shaped by waves of arrivals.
Key terms. A migrant moves to live in another country; an immigrant arrives, an emigrant leaves. A diaspora is a community living far from its homeland but keeping cultural ties (e.g. the Indian or Irish diaspora).
- The USA — historically a "melting pot" (assimilation) or a "salad bowl" (cultures coexisting).
- The UK and Canada — models of multiculturalism.
- Australia — built on successive migrations, from British settlers to recent Asian communities.
Example. London is one of the most cosmopolitan cities on Earth: over 300 languages are spoken, and more than a third of its residents were born abroad.
People migrate for push factors (war, poverty, persecution) and pull factors (jobs, safety, family, education).
5Cultural exchange, soft power and identity
Globalisation circulates not only goods but culture. The diffusion of English-speaking culture is a form of soft power.
Soft power. The ability of a country to influence others through attraction (culture, values, media) rather than force. Hollywood, pop music and global brands spread American and British influence.
But cultural exchange raises the question of identity:
- Hybridisation — cultures mix and create new forms (e.g. British-Asian cuisine, Afrobeats reaching global charts).
- Cultural appropriation vs. appreciation — borrowing can enrich or offend.
- Resistance — communities defend local languages and traditions against uniformity.
Tip. The phrase "think global, act local" ("glocalisation") sums up how people combine global trends with local identity.
6Key vocabulary of globalisation
Mastering precise vocabulary is decisive for the Bac. Revise these essential terms.
| English | Français |
|---|
| a borderless world | un monde sans frontières |
| trade / free trade | le commerce / le libre-échange |
| a multinational company | une multinationale |
| a supply chain | une chaîne d'approvisionnement |
| to outsource / offshoring | externaliser / délocalisation |
| inequalities / the wealth gap | les inégalités / l'écart de richesse |
| a melting pot | un creuset (de cultures) |
| to broaden one's horizons | élargir ses horizons |
Caption: flip the cards to revise the core vocabulary of the unit.
7Grammar in context: present perfect, passive, comparison
Three grammar points are especially useful to talk about globalisation.
Present perfect. Form: have/has + past participle. Used for a process that started in the past and is still relevant now. Globalisation has transformed the way we trade. With since (point) / for (duration): The world has become more connected since the 1990s.
The passive. Form: be + past participle. Ideal to describe global processes where the agent is unknown or unimportant. Millions of products are exported every day. / Jobs have been outsourced to Asia.
Comparatives & superlatives. more connected / the most powerful; richer / the richest; as fast as; far more / much less. Useful to compare countries and eras.
| Idea | Sentence |
|---|
| Ongoing change | English has spread across the globe. |
| Process / agent hidden | The trainers are made in several countries. |
| Comparison | Today's economy is far more interdependent than in 1950. |
8Building an argument on globalisation
For the written expression, structure your answer like a mini-essay.
Method. 1) Introduce the issue. 2) Give arguments for. 3) Give arguments against. 4) Nuance and conclude with your own opinion.
Useful connectors:
- Adding: moreover, furthermore, in addition, what is more.
- Contrasting: however, on the other hand, nevertheless, whereas, although.
- Cause/consequence: because of, due to, therefore, as a result, consequently.
- Concluding: all in all, to sum up, on balance.
Watch out! Always illustrate with a concrete example (a country, a company, a personal experience). A general claim without illustration loses marks.
★À retenir
To remember:
• Globalisation = growing interconnection of economies, cultures and societies (people, goods, capital, ideas).
• It brings benefits (growth, exchange, innovation) but also tensions (inequalities, uniformity, exploitation).
• Migration & diasporas shape the English-speaking world: melting pot, multiculturalism.
• Soft power spreads English-speaking culture; identities hybridise and sometimes resist.
• Grammar tools: present perfect (ongoing process), passive (global processes), comparatives.
• Argue with nuance: on the one hand… however… all in all…