TEENAGERS YEARS – DO THEY BRING LUCK?

TEENAGERS YEARS – DO THEY BRING LUCK?

Young People – Old Problems

I. Warming-Up: Revising Previous Material

Teacher: Today we continue to talk about young people and their problems. Who might be called a typical teenager?

Pupils: A person between 13 and 19 years of age.

Teacher: What are typical youth problems?

Pupils: Misunderstanding from adults;

Teens do not want to be treated like children;

They want to be respected…

Teacher: Have you ever been annoyed by adults, parents or teachers?

Pupils: Yes…sure…

Teacher: What annoys you most of all?

Pupils: Misunderstanding;

When I’m treated like a child;

Too much pressure on me from parents or teachers;

Restriction of my personal time;

Not having enough freedom…

Text I

WHAT MAKES OUR CHILDREN DO THIS

Today it is fashionable to speak about teenage problems. A few years ago alcohol, fights, killing and other kinds of violence were more problems of adults than for young people. But now, as offi cial reports admit, violence, AIDS, drugs and alcohol are more and more associated with youngsters. For many children from poor families violence, drinking problems and all that is associated with poverty becomes

more real than reality. The Government surveys show that every fifth teenager who has been arrested for criminal actions, was younger than 14 and could not be sent to prison. Almost half of teenagers have an experience with drugs, alcohol and sex under age of 16. A lot of teenagers who have drug or alcohol addiction almost never believe that they are dependent. These things are often combined with family and school problems. What has gone wrong? Some specialists explain that the changes of our society, the system of our life force young people to choose their own lifestyle. On the one hand, our society agrees that 15–17-year-old people are old enough to be responsible for what they do and give a lot of freedom and rights. On the other hand, most adults think that teenagers are too young to be taken seriously. This misunderstanding produces many problems. Actually, a lot of teenagers say that

their parents let them do anything they want and are quite indifferent to their problems. Many teenagers get upset or depressed when they can’t solve their problems. As a result, it makes them believe that here is only one way out – to stop

living and commit suicide. No doubt, the teens’ problems will increase. And young

people should feel that they are cared for.

II. Reading for Specifi c Information (Text I)

Teacher: It’s not a secret that adults often see the age between 13 and 19 as difficult and it is generally believed that teens tend to become rebellious and behave shockingly. Nowadays more and more problems are associated with being young.

Look through a magazine article and say what teens’ problems are discussed in it?

Pupils:

Alcohol;

Fights and other kinds of violence;

AIDS;

Drugs;

Crime…

III. Working with New Vocabulary

Teacher: Find the suitable definitions for highlighted words from the text.

Violence – ...

a) detective stories

b) disagreement

c) cruel actions

Poverty – ...

a) problem

b) lack of enough money

c) disease

Prison – ...

a) place for criminals

b) private school

c) children’s home

Addiction –

a) protection

b) dependence

c) disability

Commit suicide – ...

a) enjoy oneself

b) wait for somebody

c) kill oneself

Teacher: Let’s check:

Pupils: Violence – cruel actions;

Poverty – lack of enough money;

Prison – place for criminals;

Addiction – dependence;

Commit a suicide – kill yourself.

IV. Writing

Teacher: Write down the words and their definitions into your exercise-books.

V. Reading for Details (Text II)

TEENAGERS YEARS – DO THEY BRING LUCK?

John McCarthy, 17

Teenagers today have a lot more to worry about than their parents did. The world is becoming a very scary place. Violence, teen pregnancy, and AIDS cases are increasing. More and more teens are turning to drugs and alcohol. I’m sure that almost every teenager at one time or another will have an experience with drugs, alcohol or sex. These things combined with personal problems and mates’ influence make being a teenager very difficult. I don’t have a single friend who has never had a drink of alcohol. Some of them don’t drink at all now, but some do. It seems to me that adults are generally quite indifferent to what their children do. Once you reach the age of sixteen or seventeen, your parents think you are old enough to decide for yourself and let you do what you want.

Estelle Hammersley, 16

It’s true that there are so many problems facing teens today. I go to an all-girls private school which makes my school life easier. I focus more attention on doing my work than on impressing a cute guy. But when I go out on weekends there is a lot of pressure to drink and smoke. There are no teen clubs close to where I live so weekend activities are limited. My friends and I don’ do anything exciting, but we usually have fun just being around each other

We usually talk about humorous things. On the other hand, we also talk about serious things like abortion, sex and politics.

My friends and I try to help each other if we can, because a lot of the time, being a teenager isn’t fun. It’s a chore (duty). You have to go to school and your parents want you to get good grades, which is hard enough in itself, and you have to deal with your own problems too.

Bart Naik, 16

Where I live teenagers have few dangers, but even in my town kids can get alcohol easily. I personally do not drink alcohol. I don’t think drinking is exciting. But I know some guys who do. My view is that if they want to, then they can – it’s their life, they are free to decide and nobody can forbid them to do what they want.

The people I hang about with don’t really put any pressure on me or anyone else. Dating is not a big deal.

We usually go out with a bunch of friends, both girls and boys.

Social events such as discos and parties are a very popular conversation topic among teenagers. At school, politics are discussed quite a lot but among with this there are conversations about boyfriends, girlfriends and plans for the weekend ahead. I feel also that the majority of boys are football-mad and the girls are very conscious of their appearance and clothes. Being a teenager is great fun. Take it easy.

Teacher: What makes young people do these things? Let’s have a look how different people explain the reasons of teens’ behaviour. Look through the text again and say what the Government, the specialists, the adults and the teens say about the situation.

Pupil 1: The Government says that these things are often combined with family or school problems.

Pupil 2: Specialists think that our society should force young people to change their lifestyle.

Pupil 3: Adults expect teens are too young to be taken seriously.

Pupil 4: Teens get depressed because they can’t solve their problems.

VI. Productive Speaking

Teacher: What do you personally think?

Pupils: I think that…

I agree with the…

I admit that…

I disagree with…

I can’t agree with the explanation…

I partly share the opinion that…

VII. Eliciting Vocabulary

Teacher: Teens can’t solve their problems, can’t cope with them and as a result they become….

How do teens protest?

How do they show their resistance?

Pupils: They become

Rebellious;

Ill-mannered;

Aggressive and violent;

Intolerant and infl exible;

Impatient and fl ighty;

They began to experiment with their appearance;

They embarrass their parents by extraordinary or antisocial

behaviour;

They show strong emotions and feelings and use physical

force;

They can be rude and bold, impudent …

Teacher: Do all teens behave like that? Maybe there is some other way of protesting?

Pupils: Some teens are too shy to talk about their problems openly;

They are afraid to be seen as “losers” scared of being lonely, bulled or rejected;

They lose self-confi dence, have low self-esteem, and all these lead to developing inferiority complexes.

Homework

Teacher: Today we have mainly talked about negative aspects of being young, but there is another side of the coin. “Teenage years are the happiest years in life” –

many adults say, thinking of their youth. So your home task is to prove this point of view. Do it in writting, please.