Political Power in TV Shows:

The president of a country has the authority to rule over the people.

The president of a country has to be compassionate for the population of their nation.

There are lots of conflicts between the politicians.

The plot of “House of Cards” is about the president of the USA.

He is in prison because he had threatened a police officer.

The Senate and the House of Representatives form American Congress.

One of the most popular rules for the American President is to live in the White House.

Sometimes, we can ask ourselves if the president is trustworthy.

Populations should denounce the abuse of power.

 Homework: Learn the new vocabulary.

 Vocabulary

The impact of a presidential power is very decisive on the people.

A political agenda is what politicians plan on doing during their mandates.

Obama is wiling to run for office for the next presidential.

A lawyer advocates for their clients.

High school students are advocating for better conditions in their schools.

I just saw the trailer of a new TV series on Netflix.

This teaser ends on a cliffhanger but also heightens public awareness.

Homework: Learn the new vocabulary.

Unit 2: The Greater the Power…

How does the representation of politics in TV shows impact our understanding of power?

Axis: Art and Power

The Top Five White House TV Shows

The document under study is a video about the top five TV shows/ TV series that take place in the White House.

The first one is entitled “The West Wing”. It deals with how people work in the White House and how the juggle with their personal and professional lives. Moreover, it explores the balance between political strategy and public perception.

Homework: Watch the video again and complete the lesson.

Why do you think so many TV shows take place in the White House?

 Language in Progress

The Modal Expressions

1. Choose the option that best fits from the two choices.

a) I must stop speaking before I say something I'll regret. (a personal decision)

b) You ought to brush your teeth more than once a day! (a collective opinion)

c) She should read that book. (a word of advice)

d) They don’t have to finish that piece of cake. (a lack of obligation)

2. Complete the following sentences using the appropriate modal verb.

a) You should/must wash your hands before dinner.

b) You must not experiment on people!

c) You don’t have to come if you're tired.

d) You should/ought to change your eating habits.

Relative Pronouns

1. Complete the following sentences using the appropriate relative pronoun.

a) Do you know the lady whose daughter won the prize?

b) Look at the cute cat which is playing with string!

c) Roy is the name of the android which/whom I talked to you about.

d) This is the house where it happened.

e) Let me show you the place where the magic happens.

f) October 6th was the day   she had her first exhibition.

Vocabulary in Progress

1. Complete the following sentences with the appropriate idiom.

a) My grandmother is still active and healthy; she is truly in the prime of life. 

b) He almost drowned, but luckily he cheated death.

c) That old car finally kicked the bucket after years of use.

d) She had a serious accident, but she managed to live to tell the tale.

e) After eating that super spicy chili, I got so sick, thought I might bite the dust.

Homework: Learn the lesson.

Extended Life

The document under study is an article from Time magazine, published in 2023. It deals with/ it is about a documentary on Netflix about a man named Bryan Johnson who does not want to die. To do so, he has spent more than $4 million to develop a life-extension system. The name of this method is called “Blueprint”. Algorithms are used to outsource every decision linked to his body to doctors. He has to through a strict diet and a precise sleep schedule to reduce his “biological age”.

There are some benefits through this method; his body and his face look younger. Moreover, his bones and organs are about ten years healthier than they should be. Nevertheless, there are risks to be considered: his skin could change through the treatments. Furthermore, this type of method will only be accessible to rich people. On top of that, his life style is heavily restricted and he is not even sure that he would be able to reach his goal. In addition, experts say that death is not optional, everybody has to go through it since it is written in our genes.

Homework: Learn the lesson.

 Be ready for the reading Comprehension Evaluation: Friday October 2nd on the theme of the chapter.

Science or Fantasy: Uploading the mind

The document under study is a press article published in 2023 in Daze magazine. It deals with the possibility to upload one’s mind into a computer to extend life digitally/ to achieve digital immortality.

The method used to extend life is digitalization of the human into a computer, humanoid or avatar. The benefits of such breakthrough are that one can live forever digitally and one can choose a new shell to keep on living in. Nevertheless, the risks are that it could be difficult to adapt in a non-human body. Indeed, we would lose our human senses and therefore our humanity. Eventually, scientists cannot achieve a perfect replica of the human brain.

This innovation seems to be a fantasy because they are not sure they could do it even if they wish it could become possible in the future.

Homework: Learn the lesson.

Science or Fantasy: Uploading the Mind

The document under study is a press article published in Dazed magazine in 2023. It is about a scientific breakthrough that can make possible the uploading of the mind into a computer.  The method to upload a brain in a computer is to upload a replica of a brain that has its minimal functions. Then, the scientists will have to create hardware to give the subject the ability to think or imagine. Nevertheless, the potential risks could be that we do not know how the human brain will adapt to no physical form. One benefit could be to be able to choose another “shell” as a body (a robot for instance).

Nonetheless, this method does not seem realistic because we  would not have the same way of thinking and the same emotions as we can feel in our human body. Eventually, this type of innovation looks more like a fantasy than science.

Homework: Laarn the lesson.

 (At the following of what we did last time)

To sum up on Karmazin’s idea and company, he tried to reverse aging by turn the ancient myth of the “fountain of youth” into a modern business by selling expensive young blood to old and rich people. Eventually, the government banished/banned his company as there was no scientific proof as it could be dangerous for people’s lives.

On top of that, his innovation raised several ethical questions: for donors, it raises the risk of child exploitation and child abuse. Indeed, young people could feel pressured and manipulated to sell their blood to the rich. For the society, the selling of young blood was part of the economy which was unethical eventually. Moreover, it raises another social issue as the selling of young blood would be for the profit of the rich only creating a biological divide. For medicine, the transfusion of blood should remain only to heal or help wounded people. It should not be used for cosmetic reasons.

Homework: Learn the lesson.

Over to you!

Young Blood, Old Dreams

The document under study is an article from Popular Mechanics magazine, published in 20. It deals with how some scientists tried to use blood to improve human health. For example, the start up Ambrosia was created by Jesse Karmazin, a former Stanford Medical student. He promised that his blood plasma infusions would help people look younger, would strengthen them, would improve sleep and even would treat Alzheimer disease. One infusion of blood plasma cost $8,000, which shows that this treatment was targeting at only rich people. Eventually, the US authorities did not accept his treatment. They even stopped his activity because they had no scientific proof that it could work.

This concept of using young blood to stay young is not new, for instance Pope Innocent VIII a thousand years ago drank the blood of young boys to try to heal himself. Moreover, in ancient Rome, blood was used for rejuvenating purposes. In fact, they would take the blood of wounded gladiators to capture their “life force”.

Nevertheless, in the 1920s, A. Bogdanov gave himself young blood transfusions to be healthier. However, on his twelfth transfusion, he caught diseases: malaria and tuberculosis that killed him at the age of 54. This shows that this type of experiment are very dangerous for human bodies. To conclude, the fact that J. Karmazin refused to say where the plasma came from. It highlights that there is a lack of transparency and that this type of procedure cannot be trustworthy.

Homework: Learn the lesson.

The Science of Frankenstein

The document under study is an article from a website called Curam-ai.com, published in 2025. It deals with the famous novel written by Mary Shelley entitled “Frankenstein”, published in 1818. Shelley used the scientific idea of galvanism (the use of electricity to stimulate the muscles of a body). In her novel, doctor Frankenstein assembled/gathered body parts from corpses to create his creature. Eventually, upon seeing his creation, he felt disgusted and horrified. On the other hand, his creation is seen as a “monster” who ends up alone and eventually kills those Victor loves. Shelley’s novel serves as a warning against scientists “playing God” without considering the consequences.

To conclude, this document shows that immortality is a paradox. Indeed, as our humanity is tied to / linked to our finitude (the fact that we are all meant to die). The promises might be that one can live forever, however, the dangers are numerous such as boredom, memory loss, loneliness, unethical…

Homework: Learn the lesson.

The Science of Frankenstein

The document under study is an extract from a web article, Curam.ai.com, published in June 2025. It deals with the scientific theories and discoveries Mary Shelley based her story on. Her novel entitled “Frankenstein”, published in 1818 is about a scientist whose name is Victor Frankenstein who managed to spark life into a person he created out of body parts from corpses. Indeed, he used electricity to do so. Shelley was inspired by galvanism. This vision is overwhelmingly negative because Victor is eventually disgusted and horrified by his creation. On top of that, for the creature, it creates a lot of sorrow as he is rejected, and loneliness. In addition, the creature ends up killing Victor’s loved ones. Shelley’s message to the scientists is that one cannot play God without considering the consequences.

To conclude, immortality is a concept that is beyond the human’s mind. Indeed, the willingness to become immortal is too big for humans to master it. Our humanity is tied to our finitude as everyone is meant to die at some point.

 Homework: Learn the lesson.

Imagine the Possibilities

The document under study is an extract from an animated video created by Ted-ed and published on their YouTube channel on September 11^th 2025. It deals with the immortality paradox. As a matter of fact, there are positive and negative aspects to immortality. For instance, as for the positive parts, you can try dangerous activities. Moreover, you are not scared of death any more. Besides, you could pursue any goals no matter how unrealistic they might be. On top of that, you can travel all over the world. Furthermore, you would be free to explore whatever and enjoy life to the fullest. You can choose the age in which your body stays frozen for eternity.

On the other hand, the negative parts would be finding yourself in a boring loop. In addition, even if you regret your choice you cannot reverse it.

To conclude, even though you could physically pursue anything you would still need to have money or the means to do so. On another hand, the argument of not being bored is interesting because it show that you will always do something in your life.

Homework: Learn the lesson.

Vocabulary mind map.

I am a scientist for a company that/which makes robots with AI.

In my job, I do a lot of predictions on the future.

The evolution of the world gives me a lot of emotions.

With AI scientists are pushing back the limits to create immortal humans.

With the new technology, robots can even have emotions.

Progress made for the future justifies the new technology.

Scientists have created robots that can predict the future.

Through the new technology, robots can feel empathy towards humans or even other robots.

Scientists have achieved a breakthrough in math with the resolution of Navier Stroke equation.

Scientists experiment humanoids to fight death and live forever.

Immortality could give humans a vast amount of knowledge.

It is important to spread awareness about AI to protect humanity.

Scientists feel like humanoids can have emotions, keep our memories and be exactly like humans.

 Homework: Learn the lesson.

Unit 1: Immortality 2.0

How far should we chase after perfection and immortality?

Axis: Scientific Innovations and Responsibility.

1. The artist used floppy disks to create his artwork. Back then, in the 1980s and the 1990s,  these items were used for data storage. Indeed/in fact/As a matter of fact, people would save their personal information such as pictures, videos, texts, music… The message of the artist could be that even though this hardware device is obsolete, the data inside remains forever. On top of that/Moreover/Furthermore, seeing a human face painted on these items suggests that our identities and memories are “stored” like data. It illustrates the concept of immortality 2.0.

2. The document under study is a trailer for a documentary entitled A.rtificial I.mmortality, published in 2021. It deals with how AI is used to improve people’s lives. Indeed, scientists found a way to fight death and live forever. To do so, they created humanoids in which they can upload people’s memories and emotions. It is seen as a new evolution for mankind. However/nevertheless, scientists fear that these humanoids can take control over mankind in the future if they are careful enough.

3. Living forever may not be a good idea because seeing all your friends and family die one by one would be too difficult. On top of that, it would be boring, because you would find yourself alone.

On another hand, living forever could be a good way to see how the world evolve.

Unit 1: Immortality 2.0

How far should we chase after perfection and immortality?

Axis: Scientific Innovation and Responsibility.

1. On this piece of art we can see the face of a woman drawn on floppy disks. Back then, in the 1980s and 1990s floppy disks were used for data storage. Indeed, people would store personal information, such as picture, videos, texts… Even though the hardware has become obsolete, the memories inside still remain. Therefore, this artwork illustrates the concept of immortality 2.0 as people survive through a virtual immortality.

2. This document under study is a trailer for a documentary entitled “A.rtificial I.ntelligence”, published in 2021.

It deals with a new technology/ a breakthrough (a ground breaking discovery) that can reproduce humans through AI to create humanoids. In fact, the goal is to fight against death and to keep all the memories and emotions of a person forever by uploading them into a machine/an android. Some say that it is a type of human evolution, because through AI people can live longer. Nevertheless, some scientists fear that AI can rule over mankind.

3. Some would want to live forever because it is an endless source of knowledge and life is far too short to complete all your dreams.

On another hand, living forever could be boring because the interactions won’t be the same between real people and robots. On top of that, you will see all your friends and relatives die, therefore you can find yourself alone. Eventually, you may less enjoy life.

Besides, if you are a robot, you will be immune to all the diseases.

Dear Students, 

The summer vacation is definitely over, now is the time to go back to school, to come back to your studying habits and set yourselves new goals in order to succeed in everything you will undertake this new academic year! I will be happy to teach you new things and curious to see what you will bring me back through our collaboration! I am looking forward to meeting you and seeing you evolve and improve your language skills throughout the year!

I wish you all to enjoy your new classes, and here is a little quotation to inspire you as an encouragement to start the year! :-)

"Learn as much you can while you are young, since life becomes too busy later."                                                                                           

Dana Stewart Scott 

Sincerely,

Miss Wagnac