Youth in America and Britain

American youth problems are connected with their beliefs and values. Hard work is part of the American Dream. To be a success is important in America. Society doesn’t like those who have achieved nothing. That’s why all young Americans want to work hard and be a success. The first step to it is a diploma. Without it, it’s almost impossible to be successful. In order to get it you should compete.

In Britain life used to be fun for teenagers. They have money to spend, and free time to spend it in. But for many young people life is harder now. Jobs are difficult to find. There is not so much money around. Things are more expensive, and it’s hard to find a place to live. Teachers say that students work harder than they used to. They are less interested in politics and more interested in passing exams. They know that good exam results may get them better jobs.

Ex 5. Read the text again and write A for American, B for British

1) Young people want to be a success.

2) They know that good exam result get them better job.

3) Hard work is a part of their dream.

4) Their society doesn’t like those who have achieved nothing.

5) Young people life became harder now.

Ex 6. a) American and Britain youth want to get a diploma and a good job. But sometimes they haven’t enough money to live in big cities and they need to do part-time jobs. Read the information and decide which jobs these teenagers do:

babysitter, shelf stacker, paper boy, cook, shop assistant

b) Add the sentences in the text:

a) But I don’t like getting them to bed! b) I’d like to serve the food. c) Then I can have a laugh with my mates. d) On Sundays the papers have extra sections and they are really heavy. e) He bought a printer too.

JOB:

1....................................................................

Wednesday

I’ve got a new job. I work at the supermarket. I hate it. I work three evenings a week, from six to ten. I have to put products on the shelves. The staffs aren’t allowed to have a chat except in the breaks. […] I earn £4 an hour, which is OK. But it’s hard doing my homework before I go out to work.

JOB:

2..................................................................

Friday

I’m so tired. I’ve worked three evenings this week in the local fast food restaurant. I come home and have a shower before I go to bed because my clothes smell of grease. My job is to cook the burgers and chips. All evening! We have to wear a special uniform which I hate too. I get paid badly, but I do it so I can go out with my mates.[…] It must be better than making the food.

JOB:

3.......................................................................

Tuesday

Hi, there. I’m back from my paper round. I’mexhausted. I do this five times a week. I get up at6.00 am. I have to get to the paper shop early toget the newspapers. I always deliver to the samestreets so I know which house has which paper. […]Why do people want to read more on a Sunday? Iearn £25 a week.

JOB:

4...................................................................

Saturday

Hi! I’m writing this at 11 o’clock at night. I dobabysitting, and I’ve just got back! I love children –I like playing with them. […] Once they’re in bed, Ican watch TV. This evening I did my homework.The family I babysit for left me a pizza and a cola.They brought me home too. I get £3.50 an hour forbabysitting – I think it’s good money. I’m saving fora new computer.

JOB:

5.....................................................................

Saturday

Well, it’s 7.00 a.m. and I have ten minutes before I leave! I work in a computer shop. I do it because I know a lot about IT. I like helping the customers, even the rude ones! I get extra money if I sell a computer, which is brilliant. Yesterday I sold a laptop to this guy. […] I never get bored. Well, I’m working with computers – and I love them. I’d like to work here when I leave my college.

Ex 7. Fill in the words from the list, then make sentences using the completed phrases: to do, to go, to have, to wear, to be, to help, to earn, to get, to be, to save….. a chat 2.….. £ 4 an hour 3. ….. bored 4. …… exhausted 5. ….. the customers 6. …. Tired 7. ….. a special uniform 8. …..babysitting 9. …. for a new computer

Ex 8. Make the sentences using the prompts

babysitter self stacker paper boy cook shop assistant

has to

put products on the shelves make burgers and chips deliver the newspapers look after children help the customers

Listening

Ex 9. а) This song is telling you what to do if you have a problem. Each verse has four lines but they are not in the correct order. Listen to the song and put the lines in the correct order.

A PROBLEM SHARED

 

If you’re having problems

Are you feeling all right?

Hey there. You look sad

You mustn’t be uptight

 

If they’re shared between two

Famous people do too

But problems seem smaller

Everyone has problems

 

Chorus

A problem shared

is a problem halved

If you share your problems

They get smaller each day

If you share your problems

They will soon go away

Write to a problem page

That’ll stop you feeling blue

They tell you what to do

Problems with your parents?

 

Your homework gets you down

Your parents make you frown

You hate your sister and

You love your friend’s brother

(Chorus)

Find a solution and

Ask your friends for advice

Your life will feel so nice

Don’t worry, be happy

 

Don’t stay at home and cry

Get a friend to listen

It’s easy if you try

Talk your problems over

(Chorus)

б)Do you think this song would be helpful if you had problems? Why?/Why not?

Writing

Ex 10. Write an essay about youth problems

When we write an essay we can divide it into four paragraphs · In the first paragraph, we mention the problem · In the second paragraph, we describe the negative sides of this problem · In the third paragraph, we describe the ways of solving this problem · In the last paragraph, we make a conclusion In the essay we can use such phrases: moreover, as well as, furthermore. but,, however, on the other hand, yet, on the contrary, despite / in spite of, therefore, so, as a result, consequently, this results in, this leads to,then,next, after, finally / lastly