Justice

Le cours

1. Topic Presentation\n\nStarter dialogue\nClub Leader: Here's a leaflet from the Ministry of Justice. Let's read about 'La Justice en Côte d'Ivoire'.\nStudent 1: It says everyone has the right to a fair trial (un procès équitable).\nStudent 2: But what if someone is too poor to pay a lawyer?\nLeader: Good question. That's why there is legal aid (l'aide juridique). Let's discuss.\n\nKey vocabulary\nJustice, law, court, judge, lawyer, police officer, trial, right, fair/unfair, evidence, witness, corruption, bribe, prison, cell, sentence, innocent, guilty.\n\n## 2. Listening & Reading Comprehension\n\n### 2.1 Authentic text\nA simplified public information leaflet (real or simulated) titled 'Know Your Rights if Arrested'.\n- Comprehension: What are two rights a person has if arrested by the police?\n- Reflection: Why are these rights important for protecting citizens?\n\n### 2.2 Listening activities\nAudio: A short, clear description of the steps in a small civil case (e.g., a consumer complaint) from filing to judgment.\nExercises: Listen and put the steps in the correct order.\n\n## 3. Speaking & Writing Expression\n\n### 3.1 Guided practice\n- Practice discussion language: 'I agree because...' / 'I disagree, I think...' / 'Could you clarify what you mean by...?' / 'So, to summarize...'.\n- Model dialogue: A citizen reporting a theft at a police station.\n- Role-play: A community mediation session between two neighbors arguing over a tree.\n\n### 3.2 Free production\n- Debate: 'Is the death penalty ever a just punishment?' (Focus on respectful expression of differing views).\n- Short writing: Write a 6-line dialogue between a lawyer and a client meeting for the first time.\n\n## 4. Grammar in context\n\n### 4.1 Clear and simple explanation\n- Question Tags: Short questions added to statements to check information or seek agreement.\n - Positive statement → negative tag: 'It's a serious problem, isn't it?'\n - Negative statement → positive tag: 'You don't agree, do you?'\n - The auxiliary verb in the tag matches the main statement.\n- Negative Questions: Used to express surprise or expectation of a 'yes' answer. 'Didn't you know that was illegal?'\n- Common mistake: Using wrong auxiliary or positive/positive tag ('You're coming, are you?' is incorrect).\n\n### 4.2 Application exercises\n- Recognition: Identify question tags in model dialogues.\n- Production: Add appropriate question tags to statements about justice: 'Corruption is wrong, ?' 'We should respect the law, ?'\n\n## 5. Cultural aspects\n\n### 5.1 English-speaking cultures\n- Focus on Common Law systems (e.g., Ghana, Nigeria, UK, USA): Compare with Ivory Coast's Civil Law system (based on written codes). Discuss the role of juries vs. panels of judges.\n- Similarities/Differences: All systems aim for fairness, but procedures differ. The fight against corruption is a global challenge.\n- Stereotype to avoid: Not all police or judicial officials are corrupt. Many work with integrity under difficult conditions.\n\n### 5.2 English in Ivory Coast\n- English is useful for Ivorian law students or legal professionals interested in international law, human rights law, or working with ECOWAS Court of Justice.\n- In cross-border legal matters with Ghana or Liberia, English is the lingua franca.\n- Understanding English allows access to global debates and resources on legal reforms, anti-corruption measures, and prison reform.\n\n## 6. Formative assessment\n\n### 6.1 Self-assessment\n- I can use at least two phrases to agree or disagree politely. [ ] Yes [ ] Not yet\n- I can form correct question tags for simple statements. [ ] Yes [ ] Not yet\n- I understand the basic roles of a judge, a lawyer, and the police. [ ] Yes [ ] Not yet\n\n### 6.2 Final project\n- In pairs, write and perform a short (2-3 minute) role-play. Scenario: Two friends find a lost wallet. One wants to keep the money inside, the other insists on taking it to the police. Use phrases for agreement/disagreement and at least one question tag.\n- Rubric: Scenario & dialogue (4pts), Use of target language (3pts), Performance & pronunciation (2pts), Teamwork (1pt).\n\n## 7. Additional resources\n\n### 7.1 For practice\n- TV Series: Clips from courtroom dramas (e.g., 'Law & Order') with subtitles - note the procedural differences.\n- Website: Simplified explanations of legal terms on 'Justice.gov' or similar sites.\n\n### 7.2 To go deeper\n- Document: The Ivorian Constitution (simplified articles on rights).\n- Organization: Learn about the work of Ivorian NGOs like LIDHO (Ligue Ivoirienne des Droits de l'Homme).