Introduction: Exploring Society, Community, and World Issues
Welcome to the study notes for Society, community and world issues! In this chapter, we will learn how to use English to understand what is happening in our local communities, our country, and the wider world. Whether it is reading a news update, discussing community projects, or sharing your point of view on topics of public interest, English gives you the voice to connect with others.
Note on related themes: For topics focusing strictly on environmental science, nature, and weather, please refer to the chapter Environment, weather, science and technology.
Don't worry if talking about big world events feels intimidating at first! We will break everything down into simple vocabulary, easy sentence patterns, and step-by-step reading and speaking techniques tailored to the upper secondary level (CEFR B1).
1. Key Vocabulary for Community and World Issues
At the ม.4–6 level, our cumulative target is between 3,600 and 3,750 words. To talk about society and news, we use words that describe social conditions, community actions, and public events.
A. Community Life and Local Action
• Community (ชุมชน): A group of people living in the same area or sharing common interests.
• Society (สังคม): A large group of people living together in an organised way.
• Volunteer (อาสาสมัคร): A person who offers to do work without being paid.
• Public interest (ความสนใจของสาธารณชน): Topics, events, or issues that affect or concern many people in society.
• Publicise / Announce (เผยแพร่ / ประกาศ): To share news or information with people in the school, town, or country.
B. Social and Economic Conditions
• Social conditions (สภาพทางสังคม): The general situation of people's lives, safety, and well-being in a community.
• Economic conditions (สภาพทางเศรษฐกิจ): The state of money, business, trade, and living costs in a region.
• Development (การพัฒนา): The process of improving living standards, facilities, and systems.
• Challenge / Issue (ความท้าทาย / ปัญหาหรือประเด็น): A difficult situation that requires collective thought or action to solve.
C. News and Media Types
• News report (รายงานข่าว): A spoken or written account of recent events.
• Announcement (ประกาศ): A formal public statement giving information or instructions.
• Non-linear media (สื่อที่ไม่ใช่ความเรียง): Visual displays of facts and data, such as charts, graphs, tables, diagrams, and signs.
Quick Memory Aid: Remember the 3 C's of this unit: Community (local people), Conditions (how people live), and Connection (how we share information with the world).
2. Reading Skills for News and Public Announcements
When you read a news story (ข่าว) or an announcement (ประกาศ) about community or world events in tests and classroom tasks, you will see unseen texts. You do not need to understand every single word to answer questions correctly. Use these four syllabus strategies:
Strategy 1: Skimming (กวาดสายตาหาใจความสำคัญ)
Read the title, the first sentence of each paragraph, and the concluding sentence very quickly. Ask yourself: What is the overall topic? This gives you the main idea (จับใจความสำคัญ).
Strategy 2: Scanning (กวาดสายตาหาข้อมูลเฉพาะ)
Move your eyes across the text looking only for specific information, such as dates, times, names of places, or numbers. Do not read every word when you scan.
Strategy 3: Context Clues and Guessing (การเดาความหมายจากบริบท)
If you meet an unfamiliar word, look at the words immediately before and after it. Look for punctuation clues (like commas or dashes) and linking words (like because or however) to guess whether the word is positive, negative, an action, or an object.
Strategy 4: Interpreting Non-Linear Media (สื่อที่ไม่ใช่ความเรียง)
School tests frequently combine short texts with tables, bar charts, or community maps. Follow these steps:
1. Read the title of the chart or table to understand what is being measured.
2. Check the labels and units (e.g., percentages, number of people, years).
3. Look for the highest, lowest, or changing numbers.
4. Match those numbers directly to the written statements in the question.
Key Takeaway: Read the questions first so you know whether you need to skim for the main idea or scan for a specific detail.
3. Expressing Opinions on World and Community Events
Under indicator ต 1.2 ม.4-6/4 and ต 1.3 ม.4-6/1, you are expected to give reasoned opinions (แสดงความคิดเห็นพร้อมเหตุผล) and share your views on local, national, and world events.
Useful Opinion Openers
• In my opinion, ... (ในความคิดเห็นของฉัน...)
• I believe that ... (ฉันเชื่อว่า...)
• I agree with ... because ... (ฉันเห็นด้วยกับ... เพราะ...)
• I agree with ... , but ... (ฉันเห็นด้วยกับ... แต่...)
• I disagree because ... (ฉันไม่เห็นด้วยเพราะ...)
• I have no idea about ... (ฉันไม่มีข้อมูลหรือไม่ทราบเรื่อง...)
Asking for Other People's Views
• What do you think of / about ...? (คุณคิดอย่างไรเกี่ยวกับ...?)
• What's your opinion about ...? (คุณมีความคิดเห็นอย่างไรเกี่ยวกับ...?)
Giving Reasons and Examples
An opinion is much stronger when you support it with a reason or an example. Use simple patterns such as:
• In my opinion, community clean-up projects are helpful because they build strong teamwork.
• I believe local libraries are important; for example, they provide quiet study spaces for students.
4. Essential Grammar for Social and Community Topics
To write clear compound and complex sentences about social issues, master these key grammar patterns named in the national syllabus.
A. Modal Verbs for Advice, Necessity, and Rules
We use modal verbs to talk about what people in a society should or must do. Remember: modal verbs are followed by a bare infinitive (base verb without to), except for ought to and have to.
• should / ought to: Used for advice and good recommendations.
Example: Citizens should support local markets.
Example: We ought to respect different community traditions.
• must / have to / need to: Used for strong duty, laws, or urgent necessity.
Example: Drivers must stop at red traffic lights.
Example: The town has to build safer footpaths.
Active vs. Passive Voice with Modals
In social reports, the focus is often on the action or the receiver rather than who performs it. We form the passive voice with modals using: modal + be + past participle (V.3).
• Active: The committee must repair the bridge.
• Passive: The bridge must be repaired.
• Active: People should clean public parks.
• Passive: Public parks should be cleaned.
B. Cause and Effect Connectives
When discussing community challenges and solutions, we need to show why things happen.
• because + subject + verb (clause):
Example: Traffic delayed the bus because the main road was closed.
• because of / due to / owing to + noun phrase:
Example: The community fair was postponed because of heavy rain.
Example: The delay was due to road construction.
• caused by:
Example: Many traffic problems are caused by careless driving.
C. Contrast Connectives
Community debates often involve two different viewpoints:
• but / however:
Example: The plan is ambitious, but it will take time.
Example: The town wanted a new library. However, the budget was limited.
• although / in spite of:
Example: Although the project was difficult, the volunteers finished it.
Example: In spite of the rain, the community parade continued.
• on the other hand:
Example: New roads improve transport. On the other hand, they can increase noise.
D. Additional Correlative and Paired Conjunctions
• both ... and ...: Both local leaders and residents attended the meeting.
• not only ... but also ...: The project helped not only the school but also the whole village.
• as well as: The hospital needs modern equipment as well as dedicated staff.
E. Result and Degree Connectives
• so ... that / such ... that:
Pattern 1: so + adjective/adverb + that
Example: The town hall was so crowded that some people stood outside.
Pattern 2: such + (a/an) + adjective + noun + that
Example: It was such an important issue that everyone joined the discussion.
• too ... to / enough to:
Example: The path was too narrow to walk through safely.
Example: We have gathered enough donations to finish the shelter.
F. Sequencing Connectives
When presenting steps for a community project or reporting a sequence of events, use clear order markers:
• First, ... (ขั้นแรก)
• Second, ... / Third, ... (ขั้นที่สอง / ขั้นที่สาม)
• Next, ... / Then, ... (ต่อมา / จากนั้น)
• Finally, ... (ในที่สุด / ขั้นตอนสุดท้าย)
5. Presenting and Publicising Community Information
Under Strand 4 (ภาษากับความสัมพันธ์กับชุมชนและโลก), students learn to communicate about their school and community to outsiders or visitors in English.
Creating a Simple Community Announcement or Notice
A good public notice or announcement covers the essential Wh-questions:
1. What: What is the event or topic? (e.g., Annual School Charity Fair)
2. When: Date and time (e.g., Saturday, 15 November, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.)
3. Where: Exact place (e.g., Main Community Hall)
4. Who: Who is invited or organising? (e.g., Open to all residents and students)
5. Action: What should the reader do? (e.g., Please bring reusable bags)
Register and Politeness (ความสุภาพและระดับภาษา)
When communicating with community leaders, visitors, or writing formal notices, use appropriate formal expressions:
• Making polite requests: Would you please sign your name here? / Could you please provide more information?
• Offering assistance: Would you like me to help you with that box? / May I help you find the office?
• Polite refusals or softening bad news: I'm afraid the hall is fully booked today. / I'm sorry, but we cannot accept plastic containers.
6. Common Mistakes to Avoid
• Mistake 1: Writing a full clause after because of.
Incorrect: We stayed home because of it was raining.
Correct: We stayed home because of the rain. OR We stayed home because it was raining.
• Mistake 2: Adding to after modal verbs like should or must.
Incorrect: We must to follow the community rules.
Correct: We must follow the community rules. (Remember: only ought to and have to use to).
• Mistake 3: Confusing so... that and such... that.
Incorrect: It was so busy day that we could not rest.
Correct: It was such a busy day that we could not rest. OR The day was so busy that we could not rest.
• Mistake 4: Forgetting be in passive modals.
Incorrect: The road should repair soon.
Correct: The road should be repaired soon.
7. Chapter Summary & Quick Revision
Here is your final checklist for Society, community and world issues:
• Skills: Use skimming for gist, scanning for specific details, and context clues for unfamiliar words in news texts and announcements.
• Non-linear media: Always check titles, axes, and legends when reading community data tables or charts.
• Modals: Use should / ought to for advice; must / have to for rules and duties; and modal + be + V.3 for passive forms.
• Connectives: Pair causes with effects (because, due to, caused by) and balance arguments with contrast linkers (although, however, on the other hand).
• Interaction: Share your point of view politely using standard phrases (In my opinion..., I agree with... but...) and use polite forms (Would you please...?, I'm afraid...) when interacting in community settings.