aiMOOC

ABI - Globalisation – Opportunities and challenges

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ABI - Globalisation – Opportunities and challenges

Mini description: Explore the economic, technological, social and cultural dimensions of globalisation through current data and concrete case studies. You will identify opportunities and challenges, analyse sources and visuals, and practise Abitur-relevant English. This course is designed for a shared Basisfach (BF) / Leistungsfach (LF) setting in the Baden-Württemberg Kursstufe.

Media starter – Look before you read: What has to happen before one product reaches you? Name at least five places, people, technologies or decisions that may be involved.

Current Abitur context: Baden-Württemberg 2027

For the 2027 Abitur, the official Baden-Württemberg Facherlass states that English is based on the competencies and content of the Bildungsplan 2016. The current focus topic is On the Move: Migration and Cross-Cultural Encounters. In the Leistungsfach, the two additional fields are Politics, culture, society – between tradition and change with reference cultures USA and UK. In the Basisfach, the same focus topic applies, but the scope and depth are reduced appropriately. The Facherlass also requires the sociocultural orientation topics of the Bildungsplan to be covered before the written examination. This aiMOOC therefore treats globalisation as an important cross-topic framework, but it does not replace the official focus topic or required works.

Official check, accessed 03 October 2026: Facherlass Abitur 2027, Baden-Württemberg

The Bildungsplan distinguishes BF and LF by the complexity and abstraction of texts and topics and by the breadth, depth and differentiation of task work. The learning orientation for continued English in the Kursstufe is B2, in parts C1. Bildungsplan Baden-Württemberg – Basisfach/Leistungsfach English

I can ...

I can define globalisation and distinguish economic, technological, social and cultural dimensions.
I can read data by checking title, unit, date, source and limitations before interpreting a trend.
I can analyse a case study by linking evidence to opportunities, challenges and affected groups.
I can compare perspectives without reducing an issue to a simple pro-versus-contra list.
I can speak and write at B2 level and move towards C1 when I connect several sources independently.
I can check sources and AI output for evidence, date, bias, missing context and invented claims.

Activate prior knowledge

Create a quick four-part mind map with the headings economy – technology – society – culture. Add one example from your everyday life to each heading. Then mark each example with O for opportunity, C for challenge or B for both.

Help ladder: first use context, then word formation, then an image or diagram, then an English definition, then a monolingual dictionary. Use German help only after these steps.

Input: Four dimensions of globalisation

Globalisation is the increasing cross-border interconnectedness of economies, technologies, people and cultures. It is not one single process. The same development can create benefits for one group and costs or risks for another. Good analysis therefore asks: Who gains? Who carries the risk? In which place? Over what time period? Based on which evidence?

Dimension	Core idea	Typical opportunity	Typical challenge
Economic	Production, trade and investment are organised across borders.	Larger markets, specialisation, lower costs, new jobs.	Dependency, unequal bargaining power, supply-chain shocks.
Technological	Digital networks connect people, firms and information.	Faster communication, knowledge access, remote services.	Digital divide, cyber risks, infrastructure dependency.
Social	People, work, income and families are connected across borders.	Mobility, remittances, skills exchange, transnational networks.	Exploitation, inequality, brain drain, insecure migration routes.
Cultural	Media, language, food, fashion and ideas circulate globally.	Exchange, hybrid forms, wider audiences.	Cultural dominance, commercial concentration, loss of visibility for smaller markets.

Think: Why is it misleading to describe globalisation only as “more international trade”?

Case study 1: Global value chains and shipping

A global value chain splits design, components, production, logistics, marketing and sales across different countries. This can reduce costs and connect firms to global markets, but it also creates interdependence.

UN Trade and Development reported in 2025 that shipping carries over 80% of world merchandise trade. Its 2025 review also described fragile growth and longer routes caused by geopolitical disruption. The point for analysis is not to memorise one percentage but to understand why transport chokepoints and rerouting can affect prices, delivery times and emissions. UNCTAD, Review of Maritime Transport 2025

Mini task: Use the Ever Given image as evidence for the sentence: “Efficiency and vulnerability can exist at the same time.” Write three analytical sentences.

BF focus: Explain one opportunity and one challenge of global value chains using the image and one source.

LF extension: Add a second source and distinguish between short-term disruption, structural dependency and resilience strategies such as diversification or regionalisation.

Case study 2: Digital connectivity and the digital divide

Globalisation increasingly depends on digital infrastructure: data centres, mobile networks, satellites and especially undersea fibre-optic cables. Connectivity can expand access to education, finance, work and information, but access is highly unequal.

The ITU estimated that in 2025 about 6 billion people, 74% of the world population, were online, while 2.2 billion remained offline. Internet use was about 94% in high-income countries but only 23% in low-income countries. These figures show why “the world is connected” is only partly true. ITU Facts and Figures 2025

Historical visual alert: The map above deliberately shows older 2017 data. Do not present it as current. Compare it with the 2025 ITU figures and explain what changed and what the old visual still helps you see.

Data challenge: Write one sentence that describes the ITU figures and one that interprets them. Do not mix description and interpretation.

Case study 3: Labour, clothing and Rana Plaza

Global production can create employment and export income, but labour rights and workplace safety depend on regulation, enforcement, worker voice and buyer practices.

The collapse of Rana Plaza in Bangladesh on 24 April 2013 killed at least 1,132 people and injured more than 2,500, according to the International Labour Organization. The disaster became a global reference point in debates about garment supply chains, corporate responsibility and workplace safety. The ILO also documents later improvements in factory safety and state oversight while stressing the need for continued protection. ILO, 2024

Viewing task: Note two improvements mentioned in the ILO video and one question that remains open. Then separate evidence from evaluation.

BF focus: Build a cause–consequence chain with four steps.

LF extension: Discuss how responsibility may be distributed among factory owners, governments, international brands, consumers and regulators. Use careful language such as may contribute to, is linked to, the evidence suggests.

Case study 4: Migration and remittances

Migration links labour markets, families and economies. One measurable connection is a remittance: money sent by migrants to people in another country.

The World Bank estimated that officially recorded remittances to low- and middle-income countries would reach about 685 billion US dollars in 2024, exceeding foreign direct investment and official development assistance combined. Remittances can support household income, education and health, while migration can also create social costs, dependence or skill shortages in countries of origin. World Bank, 18 December 2024

Source question: Why does a map showing remittances as a share of GDP tell a different story from a map showing the absolute number of migrants?

Case study 5: Cultural globalisation, English and K-pop

Cultural globalisation is not simply “Americanisation”. Cultural products can move in many directions, and local audiences adapt global forms. The term glocalisation describes the interaction between global circulation and local adaptation.

UNESCO reported that the value of exports of cultural goods and services roughly doubled between 2005/2006 and 2019, but participation remained highly unequal. In its analysis, developed countries accounted for an average of about 95% of cultural-service exports, while least developed countries represented less than 0.5% of global cultural-goods trade. These are pre-pandemic period figures, so use them as evidence about structural imbalance rather than as a current 2026 snapshot. UNESCO, Re|Shaping Policies for Creativity

Fehler beim Erstellen des Vorschaubildes:

Analysis prompt: K-pop is produced in a specific national and linguistic context but marketed and discussed globally. Explain how this example complicates the idea that cultural globalisation always makes cultures more similar.

Listening and Viewing

Use short, purposeful viewing rather than passive watching. Stop, replay and verify key claims.

Source	First viewing	Second viewing	BF / LF
WTO explained	Identify the WTO's stated purpose.	Note one function and one limitation or unanswered question.	BF: summary in 60 words. LF: connect to one trade case study.
World Bank: global value chains	Identify the main claim.	Note evidence, examples and assumptions.	BF: one opportunity + one challenge. LF: evaluate how convincing the framing is.
ILO: garment safety after Rana Plaza	Identify changes since 2013.	Separate measurable improvements from broader claims.	BF: evidence table. LF: source evaluation plus counter-question.

Reading: Source cards instead of text walls

Do not copy full articles into your notes. Work with short teacher-selected excerpts, charts or key paragraphs and record the source.

Source card	What to extract	Key question
UNCTAD – maritime transport	One transport statistic, one risk, one response.	How does infrastructure create both efficiency and dependency?
ITU – connectivity	Online/offline figures and income-group difference.	Who benefits from digital globalisation, and who may be excluded?
World Bank – remittances	Scale, trend and one limitation of officially recorded data.	How can migration create both private benefits and public challenges?
ILO – Rana Plaza	Casualties, safety changes, remaining labour-rights issue.	Which actors have influence over working conditions?
UNESCO – cultural flows	One growth figure and one inequality figure.	Does more cultural exchange automatically mean more cultural diversity?

Reading routine: source → date → claim → evidence → limitation → connection.

Context vocabulary and word formation

Word family	English meaning in context	Example
global – globalise – globalisation	relating to worldwide connections and processes	Globalisation links markets and cultures.
connect – connected – connectivity	the ability to access and use networks	Connectivity can expand access to services.
migrate – migrant – migration	movement of people across places or borders	Migration may create transnational family networks.
remit – remittance	money sent, often by a migrant, to another country	Remittances can support household income.
depend – dependent – dependency – interdependence	a condition in which actors rely on one another	Supply chains create interdependence.
resilient – resilience	able to absorb disruption and recover	Firms may diversify suppliers to increase resilience.
exploit – exploitation – exploitative	use someone unfairly for advantage	Weak labour protection can enable exploitation.
equal – equality – unequal – inequality	relating to fair or uneven distribution	The digital divide reflects global inequality.
local – localise – localisation – glocalisation	adapting a global product or practice to local conditions	Glocalisation combines global reach with local adaptation.
outsource – outsourcing	move tasks to an external supplier	Outsourcing can reduce costs but weaken direct control.

Deutsch-Hilfe erst am Ende: Wenn Du einen Begriff nach Kontext, Wortfamilie, Visualisierung, englischer Erklärung und Wörterbuch noch nicht verstehst, notiere eine knappe deutsche Bedeutung daneben.

Analysing data and visuals

Use the T-A-U-S-L check before making claims:

Step	Question
T – Title	What exactly is being measured?
A – Axes	What do the axes or categories represent?
U – Units	Percent, people, dollars, tonnes, index?
S – Source	Who produced the data and for what purpose?
L – Limits	Which year, population, estimate, missing data or methodological issue matters?

Then move through three language levels:

Describe: “The share rises from … to …”
Interpret: “This may indicate …”
Evaluate: “However, the figure does not show …”

Speaking

Prompt: “Globalisation creates opportunities, but they are distributed unevenly.”

Prepare a two-minute response using one case study and one data source.

BF structure: claim → evidence → explanation → short qualification.

LF structure: thesis → two linked sources → competing interpretation → qualification → conclusion.

Useful phrases: The data suggests … / This example illustrates … / A limitation of this evidence is … / From the perspective of … / In contrast … / This does not necessarily mean …

Writing

Write a comment or discursive essay on the question:

To what extent should globalisation be judged by its overall gains rather than by how gains and risks are distributed?

Do not use a generated replacement essay. Build your own argument from evidence.

BF: 300–400 words, two case studies, clear paragraph structure and one counterargument.

LF: 450–650 words, at least three sources, explicit source linking, nuanced counterargument and a qualified conclusion.

Self-check: Have you separated factual description from evaluation? Have you given a date for statistics? Have you identified the affected group? Have you avoided absolute claims such as always, everyone or proves when the evidence is limited?

Mediation

A German youth organisation wants a short English briefing on the digital divide for an international partner school. Mediate the key points from a German-language source selected by your teacher.

Do not translate sentence by sentence. Select, reorganise and explain what the target audience needs.

BF: 120–160 words with a clear purpose and simple contextualisation.

LF: 180–240 words with prioritisation, register control and one explicitly signposted limitation of the source.

BF / LF differentiation

Area	Basisfach	Leistungsfach
Material	1–2 manageable sources, shorter excerpts, clear guidance.	3–4 linked sources, greater text complexity and source tension.
Analysis	One main perspective plus qualification.	Multiple perspectives, source relationships and methodological limits.
Language	Secure B2, precise connectors, clear paragraphing.	B2 with parts of C1 as learning orientation, greater lexical and syntactic flexibility.
AFB	Strong support for AFB I/II, selected AFB III.	More independent AFB II/III and material synthesis.
Output	Structured response with sentence starters if needed.	Independent line of argument and source integration.

Feedback and error analysis

Use feedback to revise, not only to correct.

Error type	Diagnostic question	Revision move
Content	Did I answer the exact task?	Rewrite the thesis or topic sentence.
Evidence	Is my claim supported by a source?	Add evidence, date and source or weaken the claim.
Analysis	Did I explain why the evidence matters?	Add a link sentence beginning with This suggests …
Language	Is the wording precise and appropriately cautious?	Replace vague words and check collocations.
Source use	Did I confuse a forecast, estimate and observed value?	Label the data correctly.

Peer-feedback code: C = content, E = evidence, A = analysis, L = language, S = source handling. Give one code and one actionable revision suggestion, not a complete rewrite.

Responsible use of AI and digital tools

AI may support brainstorming, vocabulary checks or alternative formulations, but it must not replace your own analysis or writing. Check AI-generated claims against the original source, especially figures, dates and quotations. Record AI use if your teacher requires it.

Use only fictional or anonymised data for practice tasks unless personal data are genuinely necessary. Audio or video recordings are voluntary and should remain private unless everyone involved has agreed to a specific use. Do not upload classmates' work, voices, images or personal data without permission. Do not send school materials to external AI services unless this is explicitly authorised.

Abi-Check 2027

The 2027 Facherlass for English refers to the IQB operator base from the 2027 Abitur year onward and allows non-continuous material such as images, diagrams, tables and charts to be part of tasks. Practise distinguishing what an operator asks you to do.

Operator move	What you should show
summarise	relevant content in your own words
analyse	how features, structure or evidence create meaning or effect
compare	similarities and differences based on clear criteria
comment	a reasoned position supported by evidence
evaluate / assess	a judgement based on explicit criteria and evidence

Abi mini-check: Take one source from this course and create a three-part task covering AFB I, II and III.

Follow-up course

Continue with migration, cross-cultural encounters, American ideals and realities, postcolonial perspectives and English as a global language. For Abitur 2027, connect globalisation especially to the official focus On the Move: Migration and Cross-Cultural Encounters rather than treating globalisation as an isolated topic.

Sources and media check

Source	Use in this aiMOOC
Ministry of Education Baden-Württemberg – Facherlass Abitur 2027	Current official exam context, BF/LF requirements, operator reference.
Landesbildungsserver Baden-Württemberg – Globalisation	Curriculum-related background and teaching context.
ITU – Facts and Figures 2025	Internet use and digital divide.
UNCTAD – Review of Maritime Transport 2025	Shipping, trade and supply-chain vulnerability.
World Bank – Remittances 2024	Remittance case study.
ILO – Bangladesh / Rana Plaza	Labour rights and workplace safety.
UNESCO – Global flow of cultural goods and services	Cultural globalisation and unequal cultural trade.

Media note: Wikimedia Commons files are embedded from their file pages, where licence and attribution information can be checked. YouTube material is embedded from the original platform and should be used through the official player. Do not download, cut or re-upload copyrighted film or video material for this course.

Interaktive Aufgaben

Quiz: Teste Dein Wissen

Which statement best defines globalisation? (Increasing cross-border interconnectedness of economies technologies people and cultures) (!A process that only concerns international trade) (!A system in which all countries become culturally identical) (!A policy that always removes national borders)

Which example belongs mainly to the technological dimension of globalisation? (Submarine fibre optic cables connecting digital networks) (!Remittances sent to family members) (!Garment workers producing clothes) (!K-pop adapting to international audiences)

According to UNCTAD which transport mode carries over 80 percent of world merchandise trade? (Shipping) (!Aviation) (!Rail) (!Road transport)

About what share of the world population was online in the ITU estimate for 2025? (74 percent) (!23 percent) (!50 percent) (!94 percent)

How many people did the ITU estimate remained offline in 2025? (2.2 billion) (!220 million) (!6 billion) (!740 million)

What does the Rana Plaza case mainly illustrate in this course? (The connection between global supply chains labour rights and workplace safety) (!The disappearance of international trade) (!The end of clothing production in Bangladesh) (!The replacement of shipping by digital networks)

What is a remittance? (Money sent by a migrant to people in another country) (!A tax placed on imported goods) (!A payment made only between governments) (!A fee for using an undersea cable)

What does glocalisation describe? (The interaction of global circulation and local adaptation) (!The complete replacement of local culture) (!The end of cultural exchange) (!The restriction of all media to one country)

How does the Leistungsfach differ from the Basisfach according to the Bildungsplan? (It requires greater breadth depth differentiation and text complexity) (!It uses only economic topics) (!It avoids source analysis) (!It has no speaking or writing tasks)

What should you do before interpreting a statistic? (Check title unit date source and limitations) (!Assume the newest number is always correct) (!Ignore the source if the chart looks professional) (!Translate every label into German first)

Memory

Global value chain	Production stages spread across countries
Digital divide	Unequal access to meaningful connectivity
Remittance	Money sent across borders by migrants
Glocalisation	Global form adapted to local context
Resilience	Capacity to absorb disruption and recover
Labour standard	Rule protecting working conditions

Drag and Drop

Ordne die richtigen Begriffe zu.	Thema
Global value chain	Economic dimension
Submarine cable	Technological dimension
Remittance	Social dimension
Glocalisation	Cultural dimension
Rana Plaza	Labour rights case study

Kreuzworträtsel

Globalisation	What term describes increasing cross-border interconnectedness?
Remittance	What do we call money sent by migrants to people in another country?
Resilience	What is the ability of a system to absorb disruption and recover?
Glocalisation	What term combines global circulation with local adaptation?
Connectivity	What term describes the ability to access and use digital networks?
Outsourcing	What term means moving tasks to an external supplier?

LearningApps

Lückentext

Globalisation describes increasing cross-border

.

A production process spread across several countries is a global value

.

The ITU uses connectivity data to examine the digital

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Money sent by migrants to another country is called a

.

The ability to recover from disruption is called

.

Rana Plaza is a key case study for global labour

.

The interaction between global circulation and local adaptation is called

.

Before interpreting data you should check the source and its

.

Offene Aufgaben

Leicht

Globalisation diary: Photograph or sketch three everyday objects and trace where their materials, design or production may come from. Do not include personal data in the image.
Data sentence: Choose one figure from ITU, UNCTAD or the World Bank and write one description sentence and one interpretation sentence.
Media freeze frame: Select one Commons image from this course and explain in 80–100 English words what it reveals and what it cannot reveal.
Vocabulary network: Create a word-family map for five key terms and add one original context sentence for each.

Standard

Supply chain case study: Map the stages of one product such as a T-shirt, smartphone or coffee and identify two opportunities and two vulnerabilities.
Source comparison: Compare how UNCTAD and the World Bank frame one aspect of globalisation. Focus on purpose, evidence and missing perspectives.
Mini debate: In pairs, argue whether resilience or efficiency should be the higher priority in global supply chains. Switch sides after three minutes.
Cultural glocalisation: Analyse one cultural product that combines global and local elements. Use only legally accessible images or links.

Schwer

Data investigation: Build a small evidence set from three official sources published in different years and explain what can and cannot be compared directly.
Stakeholder hearing: Simulate a hearing on garment supply chains with roles for workers, brands, regulators, consumers and factory owners. Support each role with evidence.
Globalisation essay plan: Create a thesis, counter-thesis and evidence matrix for the writing question in this course. Do not write the full essay with AI.
Transfer to On the Move: Connect two globalisation case studies to migration and cross-cultural encounters, then formulate an Abitur-style AFB II/III task.

Lernkontrolle

Interdependence transfer: A company moves from one global supplier to three regional suppliers. Explain how this may change cost, resilience and dependency.
Digital divide transfer: A country reaches 95 percent mobile coverage, but many low-income households still use little internet. Explain why coverage alone does not prove meaningful connectivity.
Remittance evaluation: Assess why rising remittances can be both a sign of opportunity and a sign of structural economic dependence.
Cultural flow analysis: Explain how a cultural product can spread globally without erasing its local identity. Use the concept of glocalisation.
Source conflict: Two credible sources give different figures for the same topic. Develop a procedure for checking definitions, dates, populations and methods before deciding whether the figures actually conflict.
Abi transfer: Create a short oral response that links one image, one statistic and one case study. Include a limitation of your evidence and a qualified conclusion.

Lernnachweis

For a successful learning record, you should be able to:

define globalisation and distinguish its four dimensions;
explain at least three case studies with accurate source references;
analyse one chart or map using title, unit, date, source and limitations;
compare opportunities and challenges for different stakeholders;
use core vocabulary and word families accurately in context;
distinguish description, interpretation and evaluation;
produce a structured spoken or written argument at BF or LF level;
document sources and identify outdated, estimated or forecast data correctly;
explain how your own work was produced and, where relevant, disclose AI support according to teacher rules.

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