NON SABES COMO FACER FRENTE A O EXAME DE C1 E C2 DE INGLÉS? LIA, PROFESORA DE INGLÉS, ÁVIDA LECTORA, DEIXA ESTAS RECOMENDACIÓNS PARA AXUDARCHE.

 

Ideas for your C1 and C2 production:  Sapiens and Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari

                                                THEY ARE AT THE SCHOOL LIBRARY

                                                                 

I know the feeling. You sit down for the dreaded Oral Production exam, glance at the topic—the impact of artificial intelligence on society—and your mind goes as blank as the exam paper in front of you. Or maybe it's the Written Production task, asking for a well-structured essay on the role of historical revolutions in shaping modern democracy. Panic mode: activated. But fear not! Yuval Noah Harari’s Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind and Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow are here to rescue us. Packed with fascinating ideas and the kind of vocabulary that’ll make examiners nod approvingly, these books will change the way you see your world and also give you the knowledge to tackle tricky C1 and C2 topics with confidence.

Yuval Noah Harari’s Sapiens (443 pages) explores the past, while Homo Deus (448 pages) speculates on the future.

Sapiens is structured around historical turning points, making it highly relevant for students interested in history: The Cognitive Revolution; The Tree of Knowledge; A Day in the Life of Adam and Eve; The Flood; History’s Biggest Fraud; The Discovery of Ignorance; The Capitalist Creed; and more. The topics align well with C1.1 and C2 exam themes, offering useful background knowledge for writing and speaking tasks.

In contrast, Homo Deus dives into abstract themes like AI, biotechnology, and human purpose: The New Human Agenda; The Anthropocene; The Time Bomb in the Laboratory; The Data Religion; making it ideal for students interested in technology and philosophy in the 21st century.

Linguistically, Sapiens is easier to process, with a mix of narrative storytelling and academic explanation. It uses many Latin-based terms (cognitive, revolution, imperial, capitalism), which Spanish-speaking learners will recognize due to L1 similarity.

Homo Deus is more complex, with longer sentences and philosophical discussions. Its academic tone includes abstract Latinised words (anthropocene, algorithmic, existential). It’s a tougher read but valuable for students tackling advanced exam texts. If nothing else, just take a look at the chapters on Work and Liberty concerning AI. You’ll never see things the same!

Both books offer ideas, vocabulary, and real-world knowledge—perfect for students who feel unprepared for C1-C2 topics. If you’re worried about lacking content in your exams, these books will sort you out!