Read the text and express your ideas on the offered questions.

Ø What are the teens’ problems?

Ø What problems do young people face today?

Ø What do young people worry about?

Ø Who can help?

Ø How to help?

Ø What are teens’ life ambitions?

Ø Why do young people start smoking / drinking / taking drugs?

Ø Do you always understand your parents? Do they understand you? What are the reasons for misunderstanding?

Ø Do you think that friction between young people and their parents is inevitable? Why?

Ø What are the reasons for conflict and friction?

The age between 14 & 17 is considered to be one of the best periods in people’s life. Grown-ups remind it with excitement and tenderness. But most teens wouldn’t agree with this opinion if they were asked. They are sure and that is quite true that they are overwhelmed with different problems.

These problems are quite serious and they can’t be considered trifles. Teenagers have psychological problems which can be explained by their psychological instability. This is the reason of their strange and sometimes aggressive behaviour. Their aggression can be aimed at their friends, teachers, parents and people around them. If these problems aren’t solved and regulated by experienced specialists, psychologists, teachers it can lead to far more serious problems.

Drinking and taking drugs have become the most actual problems of the modern society. As for drinking, teenagers don’t realize the harm it does to their health, they just don’t want it to the privilege of grown-ups but unlike grown-ups they are notable to drink responsibly. Most teenagers are having their first full drink of alcohol by the age of 15, up to eight years earlier than their mothers, putting them at greater risk of dependence, mental health problems and drug addiction. Statistics had also shown that girls were starting to drink alcohol as early as boys because they were increasingly exposed to alcohol advertising and were more independent than their parents and grandparents. Teenagers are also maturing earlier, have access to a wider range of alcohol products, more disposable income and less parental supervision. They really believe that certain drinks will make them look like they are accepted. So, we can say that the low level of self-appraisal is the main reason of drinking and drug problem.

Teenagers are greatly influenced by social problems such as unemployment, disfunctional families & the stress of getting into new college. They don’t know how to cope with the problems which do not depend on them. They are badly prepared for their solution mentally, spiritually & even physically. If they fail, they can be driven to despair and won’t find the way out if not helped by their families, school and some other representatives of society.

In fact, teenagers have got a lot of work. They are busy with their studies, household chores; some of them have a paid job. But there is no time for fun and they want to be entertained at least sometimes. This excessive work leads to an inner conflict which is usually expressed in the form of an open, direct protest against the world of grown-ups. The next step is the conflict with parents which is very difficult to solve. On the other hand, most teens don’t know how to organise their free time for raising their cultural level, enriching their knowledge and improving their physical forms.

2. Study the information about youth subcultures and tell…

Ø If you belong to any of youth movements mentioned in the text.

Ø Which of the mentioned youth movements are developed in your country?

Ø Do you think these movements are joined by weak teens only?

Ø What’s the role of these organizations in society?

Ø Do you believe some of these movements can cause global conflicts?

A youth subculture is a youth-based subculture with distinct styles, behaviors, and interests. Youth subcultures offer participants an identity outside of that ascribed by social institutions such as family, work, home and school.

The study of subcultures often consists of the study of the symbolism attached to clothing, music, other visible affections by members of the subculture and also the ways in which these same symbols are interpreted by members of the dominant culture. Youth subcultures are often defined or distinguishable by elements such as fashion, beliefs, slang, dialects, behaviors or interests.

Date: 2016-04-22; view: 1522