After episodes about the Hong Kong protests, Chinese authoritarianism, and the Israel/Palestine conflict, we turn our attention to Europe and the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union.
Other than the word, spork, Brexit might be the world's current favorite portmanteau*, or combination of two words to make a new word. When the British-Exit, or Brexit, from the EU became a possibility, the messy divisiveness of how to accomplish the exit became evident.
We discuss the parliamentary vote this week that gave Boris Johnson and the conservative party control in the UK. Their platform was, "GET BREXIT DONE" so that will be happening sooner rather than later. What does this mean for Ireland and Scotland? What does it mean for Europe? Can the UK stay together? England hasn't been this divided in hundreds of years. All will be discussed.
To prepare for this episode, we began by learning as much vocabulary around the issue as possible. We read several articles about the past and present and looked closely at the upcoming parliamentary elections which happened to be December 12, one day before our recording/editing date.
We prepared for several different outcomes depending on who won. We watched documentaries, made spidea webs, studied maps, used the question formulation technique and countless sticky notes to organize our thinking and learning. We hope that you find this episode clear, concise, and informative. We worked to stay objective, fair, but also insightful about the implications and their causes. We hope you enjoy this episode.
*Other popular Portmanteaus:
- podcast = iPod + broadcast
- email = electronic + mail
- smog = smoke and fog
- sitcom = situational + comedy
- clasp = clutch + grasp
- splatter = splash + spatter
- snark = snide + remark
- taxicab = taximeter (tax) + cabriolet (carriage)
- electrocute = electric + execute
- biopic = biography + picture
- avionics = aviation + electronics
- Velcro = velvet + crochet (small hook in french)
- breathalyzer = breath + analyzer
- frankenfood = frankenstein + food
- bromance = brother + romance
- shopaholic = shop + alcoholic
- romcom = romance + comedy
- brunch = breakfast + lunch
- spork = spoon + fork
- emoticon = emotions + icons
- alphanumeric = alphabetic + numberic
- favicon = favorite + icon
- phablet = phone + tablet
- netizen = Internet + citizen
- freeware = free + software
- malware = malicious + software
- webisode = web + episode
- Wifi = wireless + fidelity
- mobisode = mobile + episode
- webinar = web + seminar
- netiquette = Internet + etiquette
- wikipedia = wiki + encyclopedia
- Yelp = Yellow pages + help
- frenemy = friend + enemy
- ginormous = gigantic + enormous
- chillax = chill + relax
- bollywood = bombay + hollywood
- mockumentary = mock + documentary
- metrosexual = metropolitan + heterosexual
- cyborg = cybernetic + organism
- Spam = spiced + ham
royalty-free music by bensound.com
Thank You for listening to THE GETTING INTO GOOD TROUBLE PODCAST, a project of the Innovation Diploma program of The Mount Vernon Upper School in Atlanta, Ga.
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