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A17 – Young People

Vlastnosti
predmetAnglický jazyk
typmaturitná téma
okruhanglický jazyk
číslo17
stavvypracované
Zadanie

Talk about the characteristic features of young people, their appearance, lifestyle and interests, the advantages and disadvantages of being young, and the problems young people face.

1. Osnova témy​

  • Who counts as young — teenagers, adolescents, youngsters.
  • Appearance — fashion, hairstyles, piercings and tattoos.
  • Character and the search for one's own identity.
  • Lifestyle, interests and how young people spend their free time.
  • The advantages and disadvantages of being young.
  • The problems young people face today.
  • Relationships with parents and the generation gap.
  • The legal rights of young people.

2. Kľúčová slovná zásoba​

  • young people: teenager, teens, adolescent (dospievajúci), youngster, minor (neplnoletý), peer (rovesník), the young generation
  • physical changes: to go through physical changes, puberty, to grow up, facial hair, to build muscle mass, a deeper voice, acne
  • appearance: brand-name clothing (značkové oblečenie), casual clothes, piercing, tattoo, dyed hair (zafarbené vlasy), highlighted hair, make-up, to be well-groomed, to follow fashion, to want to stand out (odlišovať sa)
  • positive characteristics: independent, self-confident, self-reliant (samostatný), curious, cheerful, easy-going, amicable (priateľský), open-minded, ambitious, hard-working, adaptable
  • negative characteristics: unstable, careless (bezstarostný), reckless (nerozvážny), rebellious (vzdorovitý), moody, stubborn, cheeky (drzý), impolite, lazy, frustrated, confused
  • lifestyle: to hang out with friends, to go clubbing, music festival, to be into (zaujímať sa o), gadget, social network, gaming, to live fast, to study or work abroad, to gain experience
  • advantages of being young: you have your whole life ahead of you, no responsibilities yet, energy and health, you learn quickly, you can travel and study, you can make mistakes and start again
  • disadvantages: lack of experience, no money of your own, dependence on parents, not being taken seriously, pressure to decide about your future
  • problems: peer pressure (tlak rovesníkov), bullying, eating disorders (anorexia, bulimia, obesity), smoking, drinking, drug addiction, gambling, vandalism, teenage pregnancy, unemployment, mental health problems, stress at school
  • relationships: generation gap, to argue with parents, misunderstanding, conflict, overprotective parents, authoritarian vs. liberal upbringing, to be grounded (mať zákaz)
  • rights: to be of age (byť plnoletý), the right to vote, a driving licence, to be allowed to buy alcohol, to get married, to sign a contract, criminal responsibility

3. Užitočné frázy a väzby​

  • Young people are usually understood as those between about thirteen and twenty-five.
  • One typical feature of adolescence is the search for your own identity.
  • Most teenagers want to be independent and hate being told what to do.
  • They care a great deal about how they look.
  • Being young has obvious advantages — you have your whole life ahead of you.
  • On the other hand, nobody really takes you seriously yet.
  • One of the most serious problems young people face today is…
  • Peer pressure is often stronger than anything parents can say.
  • The generation gap has always existed and probably always will.
  • Speaking for myself, I would say that…
  • To sum up, being young is difficult, but I would not want to be any other age.

4. Modelová odpoveď​

By young people we usually mean teenagers and young adults, roughly between thirteen and twenty-five. It is the period when a person goes through enormous physical and psychological changes and, above all, searches for their own identity.

Young people care a lot about their appearance. They like to dress well and often wear brand-name clothes, because clothing is a way of showing who you are and which group you belong to. They want to be fit and attractive — boys go to the gym to build muscle, girls sometimes go on diets, which is not always healthy. They experiment with hairstyles, dye their hair, use cosmetics, and many of them have piercings or tattoos. Paradoxically, while they all want to be different from adults, they often end up looking very much like each other.

As for character, most young people want to be independent and respected. They know, or think they know, what they want from life, and they value freedom above almost everything. They do not like criticism and they hate being told what to do. They are curious, energetic and adaptable, and friendship and love are extremely important to them. On the other hand, some are careless, rude and reckless, and think only about themselves.

Their lifestyle is fast. They want life to be interesting and exciting. In the developed world young people are usually well educated and self-confident; they have opportunities their parents never had, and many of them travel abroad to learn a language, earn money and gain experience. In their free time they go out with friends, to the cinema, to concerts and festivals, they do sport, and of course they spend a great deal of time online — gaming, listening to music, watching videos and keeping in touch through social networks. They cannot imagine life without a smartphone.

Being young has clear advantages. You have your whole life ahead of you, you can still decide what to do with it, you have energy and health, you learn quickly, and you can afford to make mistakes and start again. You usually have no serious responsibilities and your parents take care of you.

But there are disadvantages too. You have no money of your own and depend on your parents. You have no experience, which makes it hard to get a first job — and you cannot get experience without a job. Adults often do not take you seriously. And there is enormous pressure to decide, at eighteen, what you want to do for the rest of your life.

Young people also face real problems. Peer pressure pushes some of them into smoking, drinking or drugs. There is bullying, both at school and online. Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia affect mainly girls who want to look like the models they see on social media. Some young people struggle with anxiety and depression, and others with unemployment after they leave school.

Finally there is the generation gap. Parents and children have different priorities and different experiences, so conflicts are inevitable. Teenagers want freedom, parents want control because they are worried. In my opinion the solution is simply to talk to each other, and for both sides to accept that the other has a point.

5. Otázky na diskusiu​

  1. What is it like to be a teenager today?
  2. How would you describe the appearance and style of young people?
  3. What are the most common worries and fears of young people?
  4. Name three good and three bad things about being young.
  5. How do young people spend their free time?
  6. What are the legal rights of young people in Slovakia?
  7. Why do some young people start smoking or taking drugs?
  8. What is peer pressure and how strong is it?
  9. Why does the generation gap exist, and can it be bridged?
  10. Are young people today better or worse off than their parents were?

6. Zhrnutie na ústnu odpoveď​

  • Kto sú: teenagers, adolescents, roughly 13–25; searching for identity.
  • Vzhľad: brand-name clothes, fitness, hairstyles, piercings, tattoos — wanting to be different but looking alike.
  • Povaha: independent, curious, energetic, value freedom and friendship vs. careless, rebellious, sometimes rude.
  • Životný štýl: fast, going out, sport, travelling and working abroad, phones and social networks.
  • Výhody: whole life ahead, energy, no responsibilities, can make mistakes.
  • Nevýhody: no money, no experience, not taken seriously, pressure to decide early.
  • Problémy: peer pressure, smoking, alcohol, drugs, bullying, eating disorders, mental health, unemployment.
  • Generačný rozdiel: freedom vs. control; the solution is talking.
Čo povedať na skúške

Ak dostaneš doplňujúcu otázku o právach mladých, drž sa toho, čím si si istý: na Slovensku je plnoletosť 18 rokov a vtedy vzniká právo voliť. Presné vekové hranice pri vodičskom preukaze či alkohole sa v jednotlivých krajinách líšia, tak to radšej podaj ako porovnanie — „in some countries you can drive at sixteen, in others only at eighteen" — než by si tvrdil čísla, ktoré si neoveril.

Súvisiace poznámky​

Kontrolné otázky​

What is it like to be a teenager today?

Exciting but stressful – we have many opportunities and freedom, but also pressure from school, parents and social media.

How would you describe the appearance and style of young people?

Casual – jeans, hoodies, trainers. Many follow trends from social media, some have tattoos or dyed hair.

What are the most common worries and fears of young people?

Exams, the future and finding a job, relationships, appearance and climate change.

Name three good and three bad things about being young.

Good: energy, freedom, few responsibilities. Bad: lack of money, pressure at school, not being taken seriously.

How do young people spend their free time?

With friends, on social networks, playing games, doing sport, listening to music and going to parties.

What are the legal rights of young people in Slovakia?

At 15 you get an ID card, at 16 you can ride a motorbike, at 18 you can vote, drive a car, get married and buy alcohol.

Why do some young people start smoking or taking drugs?

Curiosity, peer pressure, problems at home or wanting to escape from stress.

What is peer pressure and how strong is it?

Pressure from people of your age to behave like them. It can be very strong because teenagers want to belong to a group.

Why does the generation gap exist, and can it be bridged?

Generations grew up in different times with different values. It can be bridged by talking, listening and respecting each other.

Are young people today better or worse off than their parents were?

Better off in technology, travelling and education, but housing is more expensive and there is more stress.

🔗 Spätné odkazy (10)