One Page Discussion: What is Liberation Day?

One Page Discussion – Trump’s “Liberation Day” and Global Tariffs

On April 2, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump officially declared “Liberation Day” 🎉, signing an executive order that slapped new tariffs on almost every country. This bold move has ignited debates worldwide. Some see it as a strong stance in America’s promise to “Make America Great Again”, while others view it as a bully tactic that could harm both domestic and global markets.

No matter your opinion, one thing is clear: it’s a hot topic worth discussing! 🔥

What’s Inside?

This One Page Discussion has enough material to fuel a 90-minute conversation class 🕒—or stretch it to two hours with deeper discussions. Use it as a printable in class 📄 or an online-friendly PDF 💻 for Zoom breakout rooms.

How to Use This Worksheet

💡 1. Warm-up Question – Start by asking students to define a key word, like “reciprocal.”

🎥 2. Watch the Video – Play it as a class.

📖 3. Review Key Vocabulary – Go over the words in the top right corner of the worksheet. Use sample sentences to help:

• The new law will kick in next month.

• That store ripped me off with high prices!

• The team lost last time, so now they have a score to settle.

• His record comes with an asterisk. He was caught cheating.

• The bottom line is the company needs to make more money.

🎥 4. Watch the Video Again – This time, add subtitles for clarity.

📝 5. Listening Comprehension – Students work in pairs to answer factual and opinion-based questions. ⏳ Give them about 20 minutes.

🔄 6. Class Discussion – Bring everyone back together to share their answers. (Stretch for time? Ask if anyone had a favorite question or struggled with an answer!)

💬 7. Speaking Activity – Students respond to controversial statements in new pairs.

🗣️ 8. Group Activity – Split students into small groups (3-4 people) for a task-based discussion.

🤝 9. Final Discussion – Groups share their findings. Compare solutions, discuss differences, and analyze why people thought differently.

✏️ 10. Delayed Error Correction – During breakout sessions, pop in and listen 👂. At the end, review key errors with the class and provide feedback.

🎯 Why Use This Worksheet?

✅ Engages students with real-world events
✅ Encourages critical thinking & debate
✅ Works for both in-person & online lessons
✅ Easy to follow, with clear steps & structured activities

And that’s it! Want to keep the conversation going? Check out another One Pager on Trump here:

ESL Discussion: Trump’s First Day in Office