Impersonal Passive: Mexican Elections

Impersonal Passive Intro

• The unit focuses on the use of impersonal passive voice in the context of the upcoming Mexican presidential elections.
• The lesson explores the potential for the first female Mexican president.

Mexican Presidential Elections

• Presidential elections occur at regular intervals in Mexico.
• The president of Mexico serves a specific term length, and there are limits to how many terms one can serve consecutively.
• Understanding the process for electing the president in Mexico and how the president is officially inaugurated into office is vital.
• The next presidential elections are approaching.

Media Influence in Mexican Politics

• Consider how the media shapes public perceptions in Mexican politics.
• Evaluate the extent to which you trust the information from media sources.
• Analyze the role of corruption in Mexican politics and its impact on confidence in the political system.
• Assess whether diverse perspectives and voices are adequately represented in Mexican politics.
• Gauge the effectiveness of political institutions in addressing the needs and concerns of the Mexican population.
• Reflect on optimism or pessimism about the future of Mexican politics and the contributing factors.
• Consider engagement in Mexican politics and actions to enhance civic participation and political discourse.

Gender Balance in Mexican Politics

• The upcoming elections may signify a shift in gender balance and its implications for political representation.
• The altered gender balance may impact policy discussions and priorities when compared to the 2018 elections.

NPR Report on Mexican Elections

• Ari Shapiro, a radio host, interviews Eyder Peralta, an international correspondent for NPR, about the upcoming Mexican elections.
• The selection of Claudia Sheinbaum and Xochitl Galvez marks a potential shift in Mexican politics.
• Claudia Sheinbaum and Xochitl Galvez have distinct achievements.
• The selection of Claudia Sheinbaum and Xochitl Galvez as candidates isn't surprising.
• Historical events and milestones in Mexico are relevant to the upcoming elections.
• Mexico's progress in gender equality is compared to that of the United States.
• General sentiment in Mexico about the potential for a female president exists.

WION Report

• WION reports the country is expected to elect the first female president.
• The sentence "The country is expected to elect is first female president" is an example of Passive Voice described as Impersonal Passive.

Impersonal Passive Explained

• Impersonal passive reports what an unspecified group of people say or believe.
• It is used with reporting verbs such as allege, believe, claim, consider, estimate, expect, know, report, say, think, understand, etc.
• Impersonal passive has two forms.

Impersonal Passive Forms

• First form: It + be + past participle + (that) + subject + verb in infinitive, for example: It is estimated that millions of people visit Mexico every year.
• Second form: Someone/something + be + past participle + infinitive, for example: Millions of people are estimated to visit Mexico every year.
• The infinitive can be simple (as in the previous slide), perfect (for a past action) or continuous (for an action in progress).
• Example showing simple infinitive: Millions are estimated to visit Mexico this year.
• Example showing perfect infinitive: The walls of that building are believed to have been built in the third century BCE.
• Example showing continuous infinitive: Bats are reported to be transmitting the disease.

Impersonal Passive Exercises

• Sentences to rewrite using the two forms of impersonal passive
  • People know that she played a crucial role in drafting the new legislation.
  • Society recognizes that she led the initiative for gender equality.
  • Many believe that she implemented effective policies during her term as mayor.
  • The public acknowledges that she advocated for environmental conservation in her political career.
  • People discovered that they are addressing key social issues in their speeches.
  • Observers note that she initiated educational reforms during her tenure.
  • The community believes that she played a significant role in promoting healthcare initiatives.
  • Critics argue that she mishandled the foreign relations aspect of her political career.
  • The media reports that she championed human rights causes throughout her time in office.

News TV Show Script

• Create a news tv show script in teams.
• The script should address the upcoming presidential elections in Mexico
• Provide information about candidates, the election process, and public opinions.
• The hosts, reporters, and public should use impersonal passive while discussing the elections

Reflection

• Consider what steps might support women as candidates for the next presidential election.
• Reflect on the unique perspective women candidates bring to gender representation and leadership.
• Identify key issues when considering women as candidates for the next presidential election.