German elections – BBC News Review reviews

May 27, 2022



Germany elections: Centre-left claim narrow win over Merkel’s party:
Germany’s centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) have claimed victory in the federal election, telling the party of outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel it should no longer be in power. Rob and Neil discuss the news story and teach you some related vocabulary so you can talk about it as well.

Related stories:
News Review: Brexit – deal or no deal

English Class: Phrasal verbs

Video chapters:
0:00​​​​​​​​​​ – Introduction
0:26 – Story
2:00 – Headline 1: CNBC: ‘I’ll be darned’: Biden reacts to pivotal German election result’
5:00 – Headline 2: BBC News online: German elections usher in political change with a small ‘c’
8:25 – Headline 3: The Guardian: Germany election: what happens next as parties vie to form government.
11:10 – Language summary

The story:
It was an election night on a knife edge, with Germany’s two main political parties jostling for pole position as the ballots were counted. The race was so tight that the leaders of Germany’s Social Democrats and the Conservative CDU-CSU union each now claims the right to try to form a government.

Whoever is successful will become Germany’s next Chancellor. “Let the poker game begin” declared the widely-read Bild newspaper in a headline this morning.

Both parties are wooing Germany’s Greens and the business- focused liberal FDP party.

Key words and phrases:
pivotal
important and influential
-Angela Merkel played a pivotal role in shaping the European Union.
-Cutting greenhouse emissions is a pivotal idea in tackling climate change.

usher in
make something important start to happen
-The Covid pandemic ushered in a new way of working for many employees.
-The invention of the jet plane ushered in a golden age of travel.

vie
compete with others to gain superiority
-The two teams are vying to be top of the table.
-Staff have to vie with each other to get the one promotion on offer.

To download the audio and a transcript and test your understanding, go to our website:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/course/newsreview/unit-20/session-213

For more English videos and English lessons to help you learn English: www.bbclearningenglish.com

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22 Comments
  1. I didn't know 'usher' can be a job position

  2. We speak it….how about learning german…..for a better understanding….and not calling our language harsh. Gutteral. Hard to learn….propaganda? Haloooo….hollywood. I heard that for 50. Yyyyeaarrrs

  3. BBC Learning English is so useful. Thanks for everything. Greetings from Azerbaijan. 😊

  4. Reply
    hetal manish Thakrar May 27, 2022 at 5:17 pm

    Pivotal- important and influential ( adjective )
    Election victory is a pivotal moment.
    He has played role in football.
    Rex it played a pivotal role in history of UK
    USHER IN -changed at that point new direction
    The COVID pandemic has ushered in so many changes in our life.
    Technology has ushered. Great change the way we leave.
    VIE- compete with others to gain superiority
    Vie to become something
    The two teams are vying to be top

  5. Reply
    Maxamed Cabdifataax May 27, 2022 at 5:17 pm

    Things

  6. This channel plays a pivotal role to improve my language

  7. Story great but the explanation of words a load of nonesence

  8. Shout out to Bleckley County High School in Cochran, Georgia…recently awarded a National Blue Ribbon School! We have been watching faithfully for over 2 years! Go Royals and GA Bulldogs!

  9. She has been a counselor for over 16 years

  10. @BBC Learning English: You refered to an English class with Dan. By the way where is Dan? Does he still work for the BBC Learning English team? His lessons were really helpful.

  11. Excellent video, I learnt much from it. Thank you Sirs, thanks BBC.

  12. BBC plays a vital role in my english learning.

  13. I am a dedicated follower of BBC English teaching programs. I am now 70 years old. But to my wonder very lesson I find new English words. What a language! I started following English by Radio in 70s. When internet was not known to our part of world. I used to be a subscriber to English by Radio magazine. I became an English teacher because of learning English by Radio. Thanks to BBC English. Learning. I don't understand why students pay a lot of money on private tuition, without learning.English from BBC which is free and most effective of all.

  14. It is a great broadcast to learn English.

  15. Reply
    Alexandre Simões May 27, 2022 at 5:17 pm

    Thank you for this class !

  16. BBC learning English is really pivotal for learner who are eager to speak English and BBC vie any other English teaching platform,

  17. Awesome 👏

  18. Reply
    Neville Longbottom May 27, 2022 at 5:17 pm

    The SPD is far left, the CDU is nowadays center-left.

  19. Thanks for teach important word

  20. Vie is a verb that gave me some headaches when I was a English beginner learner … Which, thank Godness, I'm not anymore.. 🌸🌸🌸

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