The Reading / Listening - Adolescence - Level 6

Scientists have changed their estimation of when adolescence ends and adulthood starts. Adolescence is that difficult time when children develop into adults. It was traditionally thought to coincide with our teenage years. However, scientists from the University of Melbourne have redefined this. They say it can start at the age of 10 and continue to the age of 24. Puberty used to occur around the age of 14, but because of improved health and nutrition, puberty can now start at the age of 10, especially in the developed world. Likewise, the upper age for when adolescence ends has been increased. This is because we stay in education longer, and delay responsibilities like marriage, parenthood and getting a job.

The scientists published their study in the "Lancet Child and Adolescent Health" journal. They say society needs to change laws to take into account the findings of the research. Professor Susan Sawyer said: "Although many adult legal privileges start at age 18, the adoption of adult roles and responsibilities generally occurs later." The researchers say youth support services could be extended to the age of 25. However, this could be problematic in many countries around the globe. There is a big difference in the legal age at which nations recognize adulthood. Children legally become adults at the age of 15 in Indonesia, Myanmar and Yemen. In Singapore, Zambia and Honduras, the age is 21.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Adolescence - Level 4  or  Adolescence - Level 5

Sources
  • http://www.foxnews.com/health/2018/01/19/scientists-prolong-adolescent-years-to-24-years-old-report-says.html
  • http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642%2818%2930022-1/fulltext
  • http://www.newsweek.com/how-long-take-grow-doctors-say-extend-adolescence-785478


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. ADOLESCENCE: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about adolescence. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       estimation / adolescence / children / adults / age / developed / education / marriage /
       scientists / study / journal / research / privileges / responsibilities / globe / support
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. TEENAGE YEARS: Students A strongly believe our teenage years are the best years of our life; Students B strongly believe our teenage years are the worst years of our life.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. AGES: What are the good and bad things about being these ages? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Good things

Bad things

4

 

 

10

 

 

17

 

 

29

 

 

45

 

 

75

 

 
MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

WARM-UP 5-6

5. CHILDREN: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "children". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. ADULTHOOD: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things about adulthood at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. estimation a. The process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth.
      2. adolescence b. The period in which a young person develops from a child into an adult.
      3. coincide c. Re-state the nature, meaning or scope of something again or differently.
      4. redefined d. A rough calculation of the value, number, quantity, or extent of something.
      5. puberty e. Put an action event off for a later time.
      6. nutrition f. Occur at or during the same time.
      7. delay g. The period during which youths reach sexual maturity and become capable of reproduction.

    Paragraph 2

      8. take into account h. Lasting longer than is usual or expected; prolonged.
      9. privileges i. The action or fact of adopting or being adopted.
      10. adoption j. Accept / Acknowledge the existence, validity, or legality of something.
      11. extended k. Consider a specified thing along with other factors before reaching a decision or taking action.
      12. globe l. Special rights or advantages for a particular person or group of people.
      13. recognize m. In a way that conforms to or is permitted or required by the law.
      14. legally n. The earth.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. Scientists amended the range for which adolescence starts and ends.     T / F
  2. People believed adolescence and our teenage years were similar.     T / F
  3. Children used to reach puberty at the age of ten.     T / F
  4. The age for adolescence increased due to lengthier education.     T / F
  5. The scientists suggested new laws for adolescents.     T / F
  6. The researchers want youth support services stopped at 18.     T / F
  7. All countries use the same age to decide when someone is an adult.     T / F
  8. In Zambia, people are adults when they turn 18.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. estimation
  2. coincide
  3. puberty
  4. likewise
  5. delay
  6. published
  7. take into account
  8. responsibilities
  9. recognize
  10. legally
  1. similarly
  2. acknowledge
  3. put off
  4. correspond
  5. duties
  6. consider
  7. approximation
  8. lawfully
  9. sexual maturity
  10. brought out

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. that difficult time when children develop
  2. It was traditionally thought to coincide
  3. Puberty used to occur
  4. improved health and
  5. delay responsibilities
  6. The scientists published
  7. change laws to take into
  8. the adoption of adult roles and
  9. youth support services could
  10. the legal age at which nations
  1. around the age of 14
  2. be extended
  3. like marriage
  4. account the findings
  5. their study
  6. with our teenage years
  7. responsibilities
  8. recognize adulthood
  9. into adults
  10. nutrition

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
coincide
improved
upper
estimation
responsibilities
redefined
develop
especially

Scientists have changed their (1) ____________ of when adolescence ends and adulthood starts. Adolescence is that difficult time when children (2) ____________ into adults. It was traditionally thought to (3) ____________ with our teenage years. However, scientists from the University of Melbourne have (4) ____________ this. They say it can start at the age of 10 and continue to the age of 24. Puberty used to occur around the age of 14, but because of (5) ____________ health and nutrition, puberty can now start at the age of 10,                       (6) ____________ in the developed world. Likewise, the           (7) ____________ age for when adolescence ends has been increased. This is because we stay in education longer, and delay (8) ____________ like marriage, parenthood and getting a job.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
account
generally
globe
published
recognize
privileges
society
extended

The scientists (9) ____________ their study in the "Lancet Child and Adolescent Health" journal. They say (10) ____________ needs to change laws to take into (11) ____________ the findings of the research. Professor Susan Sawyer said: "Although many adult legal (12) ____________ start at age 18, the adoption of adult roles and responsibilities (13) ____________ occurs later." The researchers say youth support services could be (14) ____________ to the age of 25. However, this could be problematic in many countries around the (15) ____________. There is a big difference in the legal age at which nations (16) ____________ adulthood. Children legally become adults at the age of 15 in Indonesia, Myanmar and Yemen. In Singapore, Zambia and Honduras, the age is 21.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Scientists have changed their estimation of when adolescence ends and ______
     a.  adultery hood starts
     b.  adults hood starts
     c.  adult hooded starts
     d.  adulthood starts
2)  Adolescence is that difficult time when children ______
     a.  develops into adults
     b.  developed into adults
     c.  develop into adults
     d.  developing into adults
3)  However, scientists from the University of Melbourne have ______
     a.  redefined this
     b.  refining this
     c.  read if fined this
     d.  reedy fined this
4)  puberty can now start at the age of 10, especially in the ______
     a.  enveloped world
     b.  developed world
     c.  develop it world
     d.  developer world
5)  This is because we stay in education longer, and ______
     a.  relay responsibilities
     b.  the lay responsibilities
     c.  delay responsibilities
     d.  delayed responsibilities

6)  The scientists published their study in the "Lancet Child and Adolescent ______
     a.  Healthy" journal
     b.  Healthier" journal
     c.  Healthiest" journal
     d.  Health" journal
7)  They say society needs to change laws to take into ______ findings
     a.  accounts the
     b.  account a
     c.  account then
     d.  account the
8)  Professor Susan Sawyer said: "Although many adult legal ______ at age 18...
     a.  privilege is start
     b.  privilege is starts
     c.  privileges start
     d.  privilege start
9)  the adoption of adult roles and responsibilities generally ______
     a.  occurs later
     b.  occurrence later
     c.  occurs late
     d.  occurrence later
10)  There is a big difference in the legal age at which ______ adulthood
     a.  nation is recognize
     b.  nationals recognize
     c.  nations recognized
     d.  nations recognize

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Scientists have changed their (1) ___________________ adolescence ends and adulthood starts. Adolescence is that difficult time when children develop into adults. It was traditionally thought (2) ___________________ our teenage years. However, scientists from the University of Melbourne      (3) ___________________. They say it can start at the age of 10 and continue to the age of 24. Puberty (4) ___________________ around the age of 14, but because of improved health and nutrition, puberty can now start at the age of 10, especially in the developed world. Likewise,                 (5) ___________________ for when adolescence ends has been increased. This is because (6) ___________________ education longer, and delay responsibilities like marriage, parenthood and getting a job.

The scientists published their study in the "Lancet Child and Adolescent Health" journal. They say society needs to (7) ___________________ take into account the findings of the research. Professor Susan Sawyer said: "Although many adult (8) ___________________ at age 18, the adoption of adult roles and responsibilities (9) ___________________." The researchers say youth support services could be extended to the age of 25. However, this could (10) ___________________ many countries around the globe. There is a big difference in the legal age (11) ___________________ recognize adulthood. Children legally become (12) ___________________ age of 15 in Indonesia, Myanmar and Yemen. In Singapore, Zambia and Honduras, the age is 21.

Comprehension questions

  1. What do children develop into during adolescence?
  2. What did people think adolescence coincided with?
  3. When did puberty use to start?
  4. Where is it now common for puberty to start from the age of 10?
  5. What are adults spending a longer time in?
  6. What did the researchers say needed to change?
  7. What age did a professor say adult legal privileges started at?
  8. Until what age did researchers suggest extending support services?
  9. When do people in Myanmar become adults?
  10. When do people in Honduras become adults?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What do children develop into during adolescence?
a) higher beings
b) adults
c) trouble
d) bad habits
2) What did people think adolescence coincided with?
a) university
b) first dates
c) spots and pimples
d) teenage years
3) When did puberty use to start?
a) 12
b) 13
c) 14
d) 15
4) Where is it now common for puberty to start from the age of 10?
a) the developed world
b) Africa
c) Yemen
d) Singapore
5) What are adults spending a longer time in?
a) the countryside
b) education
c) bed
d) baths

6) What did the researchers say needed to change?
a) laws
b) everything
c) children
d) adults
7) What age did a professor say adult legal privileges started at?
a) 16
b) 17
c) 18
d) 19
8) Until what age did researchers suggest extending support services?
a) 25
b) 24
c) 23
d) 22
9) When do people in Myanmar become adults?
a) 18
b) 17
c) 16
d) 15
10) When do people in Honduras become adults?
a) 18
b) 17
c) 21
d) 20

Role play

Role  A – Money
You think money is the best thing about adulthood. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): marriage, working or driving.

Role  B – Marriage
You think marriage is the best thing about adulthood. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): money, working or driving.

Role  C – Working
You think working is the best thing about adulthood. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): marriage, money or driving.

Role  D – Driving
You think driving is the best thing about adulthood. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why):  marriage, working or money.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'child'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • and 'adult'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________

    • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • published
    • findings
    • privileges
    • extended
    • recognize
    • Zambia
    • ends
    • coincide
    • continue
    • especially
    • upper
    • delay

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Adolescence now lasts from 10 to 24

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'child'?
    3. What do you think about adolescence?
    4. What was your adolescence like?
    5. When do you think adolescence starts and finishes?
    6. Why is adolescence such a difficult time?
    7. How does the mind and body change during adolescence?
    8. Would you like to be a child forever?
    9. What responsibilities do you have?
    10. What responsibilities would you like to delay?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'adult'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. At what age can you start to do things in your country?
    5. What is the youngest age at which people can get married?
    6. What privileges do you enjoy?
    7. Why do countries have different ages at which people become adults
    8. What do you think of being an adult at the age of 15?
    9. What are the good and bad things about being an adult?
    10. What questions would you like to ask the researchers?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    Scientists have changed their (1) ____ of when adolescence ends and adulthood starts. Adolescence is that difficult time when children develop into adults. It was traditionally thought to (2) ____ with our teenage years. However, scientists from the University of Melbourne have redefined (3) ____. They say it can start at the age of 10 and continue to the age of 24. Puberty used to occur around the age of 14, but because of improved health and (4) ____, puberty can now start at the age of 10, especially in the (5) ____ world. Likewise, the upper age for when adolescence ends has been increased. This is because we stay in education longer, and (6) ____ responsibilities like marriage, parenthood and getting a job.

    The scientists published their study in the "Lancet Child and Adolescent Health" (7) ____. They say society needs to change laws to (8) ____ into account the findings of the research. Professor Susan Sawyer said: "Although many adult legal privileges start at age 18, the adoption (9) ____ adult roles and responsibilities generally occurs later." The researchers say youth support services could be extended (10) ____ the age of 25. However, this could be (11) ____ in many countries around the globe. There is a big difference in the legal age at which nations (12) ____ adulthood. Children legally become adults at the age of 15 in Indonesia, Myanmar and Yemen. In Singapore, Zambia and Honduras, the age is 21.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     esteem     (b)     estimation     (c)     estimable     (d)     esteeming    
    2. (a)     coerce     (b)     coincide     (c)     concur     (d)     coincidental    
    3. (a)     then     (b)     which     (c)     these     (d)     this    
    4. (a)     nutritious     (b)     nutrition     (c)     nutritional     (d)     nutrient    
    5. (a)     development     (b)     develops     (c)     developer     (d)     developed    
    6. (a)     decay     (b)     derail     (c)     delay     (d)     destroy    
    7. (a)     journal     (b)     diary     (c)     note     (d)     memo    
    8. (a)     have     (b)     do     (c)     take     (d)     put    
    9. (a)     for     (b)     as     (c)     on     (d)     of    
    10. (a)     to     (b)     as     (c)     in     (d)     up    
    11. (a)     problematic     (b)     problems     (c)     problem     (d)     probably    
    12. (a)     recognize     (b)     detect     (c)     aware     (d)     sight

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. Scientists have changed their stinemoait
    2. idccineo with our teenage years
    3. have ednifedre this
    4. improved health and initutrno
    5. ytbrpeu can now start at the age of 10
    6. delay responsibilities like mgiaerar

    Paragraph 2

    1. The ttnisessic published their study
    2. eoystci needs to change laws
    3. legal ielprvigse start at age 18
    4. the aotpdoni of adult roles
    5. ndxedtee to the age of 25
    6. the legal age at which nations rioeegncz adulthood

    Put the text back together

    (   )  age for when adolescence ends has been increased. This is because we stay in
    (   )  adult legal privileges start at age 18, the adoption of adult roles and responsibilities generally occurs
    (   )  laws to take into account the findings of the research. Professor Susan Sawyer said: "Although many
    (   )  coincide with our teenage years. However, scientists from the University of Melbourne have redefined this. They say it can start
    (  1  )  Scientists have changed their estimation of when adolescence ends and adulthood
    (   )  and nutrition, puberty can now start at the age of 10, especially in the developed world. Likewise, the upper
    (   )  education longer, and delay responsibilities like marriage, parenthood and getting a job.
    (   )  problematic in many countries around the globe. There is a big difference
    (   )  starts. Adolescence is that difficult time when children develop into adults. It was traditionally thought to
    (   )  in the legal age at which nations recognize adulthood. Children legally become adults
    (   )  later." The researchers say youth support services could be extended to the age of 25. However, this could be
    (   )  at the age of 10 and continue to the age of 24. Puberty used to occur around the age of 14, but because of improved health
    (   )  The scientists published their study in the "Lancet Child and Adolescent Health" journal. They say society needs to change
    (   )  at the age of 15 in Indonesia, Myanmar and Yemen. In Singapore, Zambia and Honduras, the age is 21.

    Put the words in the right order

    1. adolescence   their   when   of   estimation   ends   .   Changed
    2. thought   years   .   Traditionally   teenage   our   coincide   to   with
    3. the   used   to   around   14   .   occur   age   of   Puberty
    4. for   when   ends   has   upper   The   increased   .   adolescence   age
    5. longer   .   in   stay   we   because   education   is   This
    6. laws   into   the   account   Change   take   findings   .   to
    7. legal   Many   18   .   age   at   adult   start   privileges
    8. of   and   The   roles   responsibilities   adoption   later   .   occurs
    9. be   services   could   extended   25   .   the   Support   to   of   age
    10. age   .   There   the   legal   big   is   in   difference   a

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Scientists have changed their estimating / estimation of when adolescence ends and adulthood starts. Adolescence is that difficult time when children develop onto / into adults. It was traditionally thought to coincide / coincidence with our teenage years. However, scientists from the University of Melbourne have redefined these / this. They say it can start at the age of 10 and continue for / to the age of 24. Puberty used to occur around / rounded the age of 14, but because of improved / improve health and nutrition, puberty can now start at the age of 10, especially in the developed world. Likewise, the upper / up age for when adolescence ends has been increased. This is because we stay on / in education longer, and delay responsibilities like marriage / married, parenthood and getting a job.
    The scientists published / publication their study in the "Lancet Child and Adolescent Health" journal. They say society / societal needs to change laws to take into / onto account the findings / funding of the research. Professor Susan Sawyer said: "Although many adult legal privileges / prevails start at age 18, the adoption of adult roles and responsibilities generality / generally occurs later." The researchers say youth support services could be extended / extension to the age of 25. However, this could be problematic / problem in many countries around a / the globe. There is a big difference in the legal age at which nations recognize / recognition adulthood. Children legallybecome adults at the age of 15 in Indonesia, Myanmar and Yemen. In Singapore, Zambia and Honduras, the age is 21.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    S c _ _ n t _ s t s   h _ v _   c h _ n g _ d   t h _ _ r   _ s t _ m _ t _ _ n   _ f   w h _ n   _ d _ l _ s c _ n c _   _ n d s   _ n d   _ d _ l t h _ _ d   s t _ r t s .   A d _ l _ s c _ n c _   _ s   t h _ t   d _ f f _ c _ l t   t _ m _   w h _ n   c h _ l d r _ n   d _ v _ l _ p   _ n t _   _ d _ l t s .   I t   w _ s   t r _ d _ t _ _ n _ l l y   t h _ _ g h t   t _   c _ _ n c _ d _   w _ t h   _ _ r   t _ _ n _ g _   y _ _ r s .   H _ w _ v _ r ,   s c _ _ n t _ s t s   f r _ m   t h _   U n _ v _ r s _ t y   _ f   M _ l b _ _ r n _   h _ v _   r _ d _ f _ n _ d   t h _ s .   T h _ y   s _ y   _ t   c _ n   s t _ r t   _ t   t h _   _ g _   _ f   1 0   _ n d   c _ n t _ n _ _   t _   t h _   _ g _   _ f   2 4 .   P _ b _ r t y   _ s _ d   t _   _ c c _ r   _ r _ _ n d   t h _   _ g _   _ f   1 4 ,   b _ t   b _ c _ _ s _   _ f   _ m p r _ v _ d   h _ _ l t h   _ n d   n _ t r _ t _ _ n ,   p _ b _ r t y   c _ n   n _ w   s t _ r t   t h _   _ g _   _ f   1 0 ,   _ s p _ c _ _ l l y   _ n   t h _   d _ v _ l _ p _ d   w _ r l d .   L _ k _ w _ s _ ,   t h _   _ p p _ r   _ g _   f _ r   w h _ n   _ d _ l _ s c _ n c _   _ n d s   h _ s   b _ _ n   _ n c r _ _ s _ d .   T h _ s   _ s   b _ c _ _ s _   w _   s t _ y   _ n   _ d _ c _ t _ _ n   l _ n g _ r ,   _ n d   d _ l _ y   r _ s p _ n s _ b _ l _ t _ _ s   l _ k _   m _ r r _ _ g _ ,   p _ r _ n t h _ _ d   _ n d   g _ t t _ n g   _   j _ b .
    T h _   s c _ _ n t _ s t s   p _ b l _ s h _ d   t h _ _ r   s t _ d y   _ n   t h _   " L _ n c _ t   C h _ l d   _ n d   A d _ l _ s c _ n t   H _ _ l t h "   j _ _ r n _ l .   T h _ y   s _ y   s _ c _ _ t y   n _ _ d s   t _   c h _ n g _   l _ w s   t _   t _ k _   _ n t _   _ c c _ _ n t   t h _   f _ n d _ n g s   _ f   t h _   r _ s _ _ r c h .   P r _ f _ s s _ r   S _ s _ n   S _ w y _ r   s _ _ d :   " A l t h _ _ g h   m _ n y   _ d _ l t   l _ g _ l   p r _ v _ l _ g _ s   s t _ r t   _ t   _ g _   1 8 ,   t h _   _ d _ p t _ _ n   _ f   _ d _ l t   r _ l _ s   _ n d   r _ s p _ n s _ b _ l _ t _ _ s   g _ n _ r _ l l y   _ c c _ r s   l _ t _ r . "   T h _   r _ s _ _ r c h _ r s   s _ y   y _ _ t h   s _ p p _ r t   s _ r v _ c _ s   c _ _ l d   b _   _ x t _ n d _ d   t _   t h _   _ g _   _ f   2 5 .   H _ w _ v _ r ,   t h _ s   c _ _ l d   b _   p r _ b l _ m _ t _ c   _ n   m _ n y   c _ _ n t r _ _ s   _ r _ _ n d   t h _   g l _ b _ .   T h _ r _   _ s   _   b _ g   d _ f f _ r _ n c _   _ n   t h _   l _ g _ l   _ g _   _ t   w h _ c h   n _ t _ _ n s   r _ c _ g n _ z _   _ d _ l t h _ _ d .   C h _ l d r _ n   l _ g _ l l y   b _ c _ m _   _ d _ l t s   _ t   t h _   _ g _   _ f   1 5   _ n   I n d _ n _ s _ _ ,   M y _ n m _ r   _ n d   Y _ m _ n .   I n   S _ n g _ p _ r _ ,   Z _ m b _ _   _ n d   H _ n d _ r _ s ,   t h _   _ g _   _ s   2 1 .

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    scientists have changed their estimation of when adolescence ends and adulthood starts adolescence is that difficult time when children develop into adults it was traditionally thought to coincide with our teenage years however scientists from the university of melbourne have redefined this they say it can start at the age of 10 and continue to the age of 24 puberty used to occur around the age of 14 but because of improved health and nutrition puberty can now start at the age of 10 especially in the developed world likewise the upper age for when adolescence ends has been increased this is because we stay in education longer and delay responsibilities like marriage parenthood and getting a job
    the scientists published their study in the lancet child and adolescent health journal they say society needs to change laws to take into account the findings of the research professor susan sawyer said although many adult legal privileges start at age 18 the adoption of adult roles and responsibilities generally occurs later the researchers say youth support services could be extended to the age of 25 however this could be problematic in many countries around the globe there is a big difference in the legal age at which nations recognize adulthood children legally become adults at the age of 15 in indonesia myanmar and yemen in singapore zambia and honduras the age is 21.

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Scientistshavechangedtheirestimationofwhenadolescenceendsand
    adulthoodstarts.Adolescenceisthatdifficulttimewhenchildrendevelo
    pintoadults.Itwastraditionallythoughttocoincidewithourteenageyea
    rs.However,scientistsfromtheUniversityofMelbournehaveredefined
    this.Theysayitcanstartattheageof10andcontinuetotheageof24.Pube
    rtyusedtooccuraroundtheageof14,butbecauseofimprovedhealthan
    dnutrition,pubertycannowstartattheageof10,especiallyinthedevelo
    pedworld.Likewise,theupperageforwhenadolescenceendshasbeeni
    ncreased.Thisisbecausewestayineducationlonger,anddelayresponsi
    bilitieslikemarriage,parenthoodandgettingajob.Thescientistspublis
    hedtheirstudyinthe"LancetChildandAdolescentHealth"journal.They
    saysocietyneedstochangelawstotakeintoaccountthefindingsofthere
    search.ProfessorSusanSawyersaid:"Althoughmanyadultlegalprivile
    gesstartatage18,theadoptionofadultrolesandresponsibilitiesgenera
    llyoccurslater."Theresearcherssayyouthsupportservicescouldbeext
    endedtotheageof25.However,thiscouldbeproblematicinmanycountr
    iesaroundtheglobe.Thereisabigdifferenceinthelegalageatwhichnati
    onsrecognizeadulthood.Childrenlegallybecomeadultsattheageof15i
    nIndonesia,MyanmarandYemen.InSingapore,ZambiaandHonduras
    ,theageis21.

    Free writing

    Write about adolescence for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    Adolescence should end and adulthood should begin at the age of 16. Discuss.

    _____________________________________________________________________________

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. ADOLESCENCE: Make a poster about adolescence. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. 16: Write a magazine article about adolescence ending and legal adulthood starting at the age of 16. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on adolescence. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on when the legal age for adulthood should be, and why. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

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    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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