Future Aspirations, Social Issues Glossary & Grammar Notes

My Future Plans and Goals

In three months, I will be out of the San Jose de la Montaña school. I will graduate, and we will go to a hotel. I will pass all the subjects in June and will travel to London. When I am in Malaga, I will go to the beach with my friends. When summer ends, I will go to La Rosaleda, study, and pass my subjects. After finishing my studies, I will work in the National Police Corps. When I start working, I will buy my house, get married, and live with my husband. When I am 30 years old, I will have two children who will be called Hugo and Leire.

Vocabulary: Social Issues & Activism (English-Spanish)

Arms trade
comercio/tráfico de armas
Child labour
trabajo infantil
Diseases
enfermedades
Endangered animals
animales en peligro
Famine
hambruna
Global warming
calentamiento global
Climate change
cambio climático
Greenhouse effect
efecto invernadero
Homelessness
el estar sin hogar
Pollution
contaminación
Poverty
pobreza
Racism
racismo
War
guerra
Crime
crimen
Politics
política
Politicians
políticos
Unemployment
desempleo/paro
Strikes
huelga
Terrorism
terrorismo
Economic crisis
crisis económica
Real estate crisis
crisis inmobiliaria
Deforestation
deforestación
Natural disasters (earthquakes, drought, flood, tsunami…)
desastres naturales
Globalization
globalización
Cloning
clonación
Recycling
reciclaje
Low/High unemployment rates
tasas altas o bajas de desempleo
Get out of the crisis
salir de la crisis
Go into crisis
entrar en crisis
Go on a strike
ir a la huelga
Hunger strike
huelga de hambre
On strike
en huelga
Labour strike
huelga de trabajadores
To reduce CO2 emissions
reducir las emisiones de CO2
To recycle
reciclar
To save energy
ahorrar energía
Environment
medioambiente
To protect
proteger
To destroy
destruir
To be aware of sth
ser consciente de algo
A protest
protesta
To protest against
protestar contra
Leaflets
folleto
Join our protest against…!
¡únete a nuestra protesta contra…!
Calm down!
¡Tranquilízate!
Don’t panic!
¡Tranquilízate!
I’m sure
estoy seguro
To get worse
empeorar
To have an argument
discutir
To look embarrassed
parecer avergonzado
No way!
de ninguna manera
Peace
paz
Peaceful
pacífico
To be fed up with/of sth
estar harto de algo
A march
una marcha
To argue
discutir
To give out leaflets
repartir folletos
To go on a march
seguir una marcha
To put up a poster
poner posters
To sign a petition
firmar una petición
To make a donation
hacer una donación
To organise a protest
organizar una protesta
Headline
cabecera, titular
Murdered for + -ing
asesinado por + inf
Carpet-maker
fabricante de alfombras
Child exploitation
explotación infantil
To work hard against
trabajar duro contra…
World leaders
líderes mundiales
To raise more money
recaudar dinero
Supporters
defensores
Foundations
fundaciones
Company
compañía
Government
gobierno
To be concerned about
estar preocupado por
To get involved
tomar parte en/involucrarse en
To take action
hacer algo/pasar a la acción/tomar cartas en el asunto
Global issues
Problemas universales
Where is she/he? I’m not sure, she/he might be at…
¿Dónde está? No estoy seguro, puede que esté en…
She can’t be there
No puede estar allí
Her phone must be switched off
Su teléfono debe estar apagado
I doubt it
Lo dudo
She seemed a bit upset
Parecía un poco molesta
Power
Poder
Powerful
Poderoso
To recycle
Reciclar
Rubbish
Basura
Lorry
Camión
Life/Lives
Vida/Vidas
Atmosphere
Atmósfera
Sea level
Nivel del mar
To become extinct
Extinguirse
Volunteers
Voluntarios

Grammar: Future Tense Usage

Using ‘Will’ + Infinitive

We use “will” in the following situations:

  • When we decide to do something at the time of speaking (instant decision).
  • For predictions about the distant future (often expressing opinions).
  • For requests, invitations, offers, or promises.
  • With adverbs like: Perhaps, probably, certainly.
  • Generally for predictions with verbs and phrases like: Believe, expect, hope, think, wonder, I’m afraid…

Using ‘Be Going To’ + Infinitive

We use “be going to” in these cases:

  • To talk about a planned activity for the future (plans and intentions).
  • For predictions about the near future, especially when based on present evidence (what we can see).