Englisch Listening & Comprehension
How to Elect a President
Anna explains to Ben how the United States elects a president using the Electoral College system, including how electors work, the number needed to win, and why this system is used instead of a simple popular vote.
Englisch Listening & Comprehension · B1 · Unterrichtsmaterial
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Anna: Do you know how people choose the president in the United States?
Ben: I think they vote for the person they like the most, right?
Anna: Yes, but it’s a bit more complicated than that. It’s called the Electoral College system.
Ben: Electoral College? What is that?
Anna: Well, instead of just counting all the votes from everyone, each state has a certain number of electors. These electors then vote for the president.
Ben: Oh, so the candidate who gets the most votes in a state wins all the electors from that state?
Anna: Exactly! Most states give all their electoral votes to the candidate who wins the popular vote in that state.
Ben: How many electors are there in total?
Anna: There are 538 electors. To become president, a candidate needs at least 270 electoral votes.
Ben: That sounds like a lot. What happens if no one gets 270 votes?
Anna: Then the House of Representatives chooses the president. But that hasn’t happened very often.
Ben: Why do they use this system instead of just counting all the votes from the whole country?
Anna: It’s because the United States is made up of many states with different sizes and populations. This system tries to balance the influence of smaller states with bigger ones.
Ben: I see. So, it’s not just about who has the most votes overall, but also about which states they win.
Anna: Yes, that’s why candidates often focus on so-called "swing states" where the vote could go either way.
Ben: Thanks for explaining! Now I understand better how the president is elected in the USA.
Ben: I think they vote for the person they like the most, right?
Anna: Yes, but it’s a bit more complicated than that. It’s called the Electoral College system.
Ben: Electoral College? What is that?
Anna: Well, instead of just counting all the votes from everyone, each state has a certain number of electors. These electors then vote for the president.
Ben: Oh, so the candidate who gets the most votes in a state wins all the electors from that state?
Anna: Exactly! Most states give all their electoral votes to the candidate who wins the popular vote in that state.
Ben: How many electors are there in total?
Anna: There are 538 electors. To become president, a candidate needs at least 270 electoral votes.
Ben: That sounds like a lot. What happens if no one gets 270 votes?
Anna: Then the House of Representatives chooses the president. But that hasn’t happened very often.
Ben: Why do they use this system instead of just counting all the votes from the whole country?
Anna: It’s because the United States is made up of many states with different sizes and populations. This system tries to balance the influence of smaller states with bigger ones.
Ben: I see. So, it’s not just about who has the most votes overall, but also about which states they win.
Anna: Yes, that’s why candidates often focus on so-called "swing states" where the vote could go either way.
Ben: Thanks for explaining! Now I understand better how the president is elected in the USA.
Vokabelhilfe
Electoral College · Ein System, bei dem Vertreter (Wahlmänner) die Präsidentenwahl entscheidenElector · Eine Person, die in der Electoral College für einen Kandidaten stimmtPopular vote · Die Gesamtanzahl der Stimmen aller WählerSwing state · Ein Bundesstaat, in dem die Wahl unentschieden sein kannHouse of Representatives · Das Repräsentantenhaus, ein Teil des US-Kongresses
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Listening & Comprehension
Arbeitsblatt zu: How is a president in the US elected?
Englisch B1
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Intro
Anna explains to Ben how the United States elects a president using the Electoral College system, including how electors work, the number needed to win, and why this system is used instead of a simple popular vote.
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1. Predict the Topic
Look at the title 'How to Elect a President'. What do you already know about how presidents are chosen in the USA? Write down two things you think you will hear in the listening.
2. What is the name of the system used to choose the president in the United States?
Kreuze die richtige Antwort an.
3. How do states decide who gets their electors?
Kreuze die richtige Antwort an.