1. ENGLISH 4 HAVE YOUR SAY
RELATIONSHIPS
WHAT’S WRONG WITH NEPOTISM?
FROM : BBC WORLD , HAVE YOUR SAY, WEDNESDAY 14 0CTOBER 2009 http://worldhaveyoursay.wordpress.com/
1 The French president's son is parachuted into a top job as boss of Europe's biggest business
2 district. He's 23 and still a student, but he and his dad insist, he's getting the job on merit. But
3 what's wrong with nepotism?
QUESTIONS
Asking someone for their opinion
1. What do you think of Jean Sarcozy? (= asking about a specific person, thing)
2. What do you think about nepotism? (= asking about a general topic)
3. How do you feel about having the son of the president as boss of Europe’s biggest
business district?
ANSWERS
Introducing your own opinion Agreeing with someone
1. (Personally),I think … 1. Yes, I agree (with you).
2. (Personally),I don’t think … 2. Yes, I think you’re (absolutely) right.
3. In my opinion …
Disagreeing with someone
Having strong opinions 1. Yes, possibly, but don’t you think …
1. I thought it was a brilliant 2. Yes, perhaps/maybe, but I’m not sure that …
idea. 3. Yes, you could be right, but don’t forget …
2. She thought it was ridiculous. Disagreeing with someone but not completely
4. Yes, I see what you mean, but …
Giving the opinion of others 5. Yes, I take your point, but …
1. According to Le Monde
2. Le Monde says … STRONG DISAGREEMENT
1. I totally disagree (with you).
2. I’m afraid I don’t agree (with you) at all.
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2. ENGLISH 4 HAVE YOUR SAY
RELATIONSHIPS
WHAT’S WRONG WITH NEPOTISM COMMENTS
Favour : give an advantage to someone or something, in an unfair way. A strong wind will
favour the bigger boats./She always felt that her parents favoured her brother.
Favouritism : unfair support shown to one person or group, especially by someone in
authority. A parent must be careful not to show favouritism towards any one of their children.
1. Jerry Cordaro Cleveland OH
October 14, 2009 at 14:48
Nepotism is okay to an extent – that is, if your family knows someone who can help you
get a job you’re qualified for, no problem. It’s when you’re given a job you’re clearly not
qualified for (Bush, anyone?) just because of your family that the problem comes in.
2. Sade
October 14, 2009 at 14:51
(…)
Perhaps it is his age because, like it or not, this sort of thing happens all the time. People
who hire, or who have influence over hiring, are very powerful people.
We may not like it but what can we do about it?
3. Joan Belfon
October 14, 2009 at 14:58
I don’t have a problem with parents helping their children to find jobs but when you’re
the president of a country you might want to give this a second thought. Additionally, I
would like to believe that he is being given the job because he is the best person for it
and that some more deserving person is not being denied this job to facilitate the
president’s son. Did he apply, submit his resume like everyone else and was interviewed
for the job? If everything was transparent about the application for the job and he’s the
best person for it then good luck to him. I just hope the president is also willing to give
his son the pink slip if he is not performing.
4. Jennifer
October 14, 2009 at 15:09
Do children of politicians really get a helping hand thanks to mum or dad? Or is it
actually harder to prove themselves? And if you could benefit from a family contact,
wouldn’t you use it?
I don’t see what is wrong with a politician’s child getting a “helping hand” because of
connections their parents have. The only people who seem to have a problem with that
are people who are not supporters of said politician. Can the child of a politician not have
talent and offer anything to a position? I think it’s just harder for them to prove
themselves by their own merits.
I don’t see why people are stating that at 23 someone has no experience or doesn’t have
ability to succeed at such a job. It would seem to me that having someone young; with
fresh ideas, determination, etc. could be more of an benefit than someone who was
older.
5. Timmy Gibson (Murfreesboro, TN)
October 14, 2009 at 16:01
A parent will naturally want the best for their child. However, I feel that it is the parent’s
responsibility to make sure that his or her child is well qualified for the position.
6. Luz Ma from Mexico
October 14, 2009 at 16:10
The thing is we will never know if those who got their jobs through their family
connections were the best qualified for the job. The doubt will be there forever.
I think nepotism is wrong, but it is very common and many people don´t see any
wrongness about it (usually those who benefit from it)
7. Chintan in Houston
October 14, 2009 at 16:18
There is nothing wrong with it and it exists at every level in the society, it is not the
privilege of the rich and the famous.
When you are in college career counselors advice you to start building your network
early. That is the reason you have peer lunches, conferences, presentations where you
get noticed and build connections that will last a long time.
After all in certain cases it’s not WHAT you know, it’s WHO you know!
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