Ada Colau was born in Barcelona in 1974 and grew up in a middle-class family. Before entering politics, she worked as an activist and became famous for defending people who were losing their homes during the economic crisis in Spain.

She studied philosophy at university but did not finish her degree. Instead, she became deeply involved in social movements. During the financial crisis of 2008, thousands of Spanish families could not pay their mortgages and faced eviction from their homes. Colau became one of the leaders of the Platform for People Affected by Mortgages (PAH), an organization that fought against unfair evictions.

Many people admired her because she seemed honest, energetic, and close to ordinary citizens. She often appeared on television criticizing banks and accusing politicians of protecting powerful financial interests instead of helping vulnerable families. Her speeches were emotional and direct, and she quickly became a well-known public figure.

In 2015, Colau entered politics and became the mayor of Barcelona as the leader of the left-wing political platform Barcelona en Comú. Her victory was considered historic because she was not a traditional politician. Supporters saw her as a symbol of social change and democratic renewal.

As mayor, Colau introduced policies designed to improve social equality and reduce pollution. One of her most famous achievements was expanding the idea of “superblocks,” areas where traffic was limited so residents could enjoy safer and quieter streets. She also increased investment in public housing and tried to regulate tourism, which many residents believed was damaging local neighborhoods.

Another important achievement was her effort to make Barcelona more environmentally friendly. Her government supported bicycle lanes, green spaces, and cleaner public transportation. International organizations often praised Barcelona’s urban policies during her time in office.

However, Colau was also an extremely controversial figure. Critics argued that some of her policies hurt businesses and created economic uncertainty. Many restaurant owners, shopkeepers, and tourism companies complained that restrictions on tourism and traffic damaged their income.

Her relationship with the police was another source of tension. Some people accused her of being too sympathetic toward protesters and anti-establishment groups. Others believed she failed to maintain public order in certain situations.

Colau was also criticized for her communication style. Her detractors said she was sometimes too ideological and confrontational. They argued that she preferred symbolic political gestures instead of practical solutions. Some opponents believed the city became dirtier, less safe, and more difficult to manage during her administration.

On the other hand, her supporters strongly defended her legacy. They said she modernized Barcelona, prioritized citizens over corporations, and tried to make the city more sustainable and humane. Many young progressive voters especially admired her focus on climate change, affordable housing, feminism, and social justice.

Another controversial topic was tourism. Barcelona receives millions of visitors every year, and Colau believed uncontrolled tourism was transforming the city into a place designed more for tourists than for residents. Her administration limited some hotel licenses and holiday apartments. Supporters said these measures protected neighborhoods, while critics argued they reduced economic opportunities.

During her years in office, Ada Colau became one of the most internationally recognized local politicians in Europe. Even people who disagreed with her often admitted that she changed the political conversation in Barcelona.

In 2023, she lost the mayoral election after eight years in office. Nevertheless, she remains an influential public figure in Spain and continues to participate in debates about housing, urban development, and social inequality.

PART 3 – VOCABULARY MATCHING

Exercise A – Match the Vocabulary Words with Their Meanings

Write the correct letter next to each word.

Vocabulary Word	Meaning
1. activist	A. connected to political beliefs and ideas
2. eviction	B. able to continue without causing serious environmental damage
3. mortgage	C. someone who works to create political or social change
4. vulnerable	D. the process of forcing someone to leave their home
5. renewal	E. causing strong disagreement among people
6. equality	F. the lasting effect someone leaves after their career or life
7. sustainable	G. likely to be harmed or negatively affected
8. controversial	H. a process of positive change or improvement
9. detractors	I. people who criticize someone strongly
10. legacy	J. having power to affect people’s opinions or decisions
11. ideological	K. the condition of everyone having the same rights and opportunities
12. influential	L. a large loan used to buy a house

PART 4 – SYNONYM MATCHING

Exercise B – Match the Words with Their Closest Synonym

Word	Synonym
1. criticize	A. realistic
2. ordinary	B. decrease
3. historic	C. conflict
4. expand	D. respected
5. reduce	E. important
6. damage	F. extend
7. tension	G. powerful
8. practical	H. attack verbally
9. admired	I. normal
10. influential	J. harm

PART 5 – TRUE OR FALSE

Exercise C

Read the sentences and decide if they are TRUE or FALSE.

Ada Colau finished her philosophy degree.
She became famous during the economic crisis.
The superblocks project tried to increase traffic in the city.
Some business owners opposed her policies.
Her supporters believed she improved social equality.
Tourism was one of the biggest debates during her administration.
She remained mayor after the 2023 election.
Critics said she was too moderate and traditional.

PART 6 – SPEAKING: SUPPORTERS VS DETRACTORS

Exercise D – Mini Debate

Work in pairs.

Student A: You are a strong supporter of Ada Colau. Student B: You are one of her critics.

Discuss the following topics:

tourism restrictions
housing policies
climate policies
public safety
bicycle lanes and superblocks
business regulations

Useful Expressions

Agreeing

I completely agree.
That’s a good point.
I can see what you mean.

Disagreeing Politely

I’m not sure I agree with that.
I understand your point, but...
From another perspective...
I think the situation is more complicated.

PART 7 – ROLE PLAY ACTIVITY

Exercise E – Barcelona City Council Meeting

Situation

Barcelona is considering a new law that would reduce tourist apartments in the city center.

Students work in groups of 4 or 5.

Roles

Ada Colau – defending the law
Hotel owner – worried about tourism income
Local resident – tired of noisy tourists
Environmental activist – wants fewer cars and more green areas
Journalist – asks difficult questions

Task

Hold a city council meeting.

Discuss:

the advantages and disadvantages of tourism
housing prices
environmental problems
local businesses
quality of life for residents

At the end, the group votes on the proposal.

PART 8 – COMMUNICATION GAME

Exercise F – Four Corners Opinion Game

The teacher reads a statement. Students move to one corner of the room:

Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree

Statements

Politicians should have activist experience.
Tourism causes more problems than benefits.
Cities should reduce car traffic.
Environmental policies are more important than economic growth.
Public housing should be expanded.
Famous politicians are always controversial.
Social media helps politicians connect with ordinary people.
Strong political leaders are usually divisive.

Students explain and defend their opinions.

PART 9 – LANGUAGE FOCUS: EXPRESSING OPINIONS

Useful Opinion Expressions

Strong Opinions

I firmly believe that...
There’s no doubt that...
It’s obvious that...

Balanced Opinions

On the one hand..., but on the other hand...
I can understand both sides.
It depends on the situation.

Softening Opinions

In my view...
Personally, I think...
It seems to me that...

PART 10 – CRITICAL THINKING DISCUSSION

Exercise G – Big Questions

Discuss in small groups.

Is it possible to make everyone happy in politics?
Should cities prioritize residents or tourists?
Why do controversial politicians often become famous?
Can environmental policies hurt the economy?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of protest movements?
Do you think activists lose credibility when they enter politics?
What would you change if you were mayor of Barcelona?

PART 11 – OPTIONAL EXTENSION ACTIVITY

Exercise H – Headline Creation

Students work in pairs.

Create three newspaper headlines:

A positive headline about Ada Colau
A negative headline about Ada Colau
A neutral headline about Ada Colau

Example:

“Barcelona Becomes Greener Under Colau

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Ada Colau – From Activist to Mayor of Barcelona