The Reading / Listening - Retirement Age - Level 6

Higher rates of longevity are pushing up ages of retirement. In line with this, the Danish government has just announced it will raise the retirement age for its citizens from 67 to 70 by the year 2040. In so doing, Denmark's workers will have the world's longest wait before they can retire. Denmark said the new law was necessary to keep pace with increasing life expectancy. However, Jesper Rasmussen, a trade union leader in Denmark, expressed his consternation at the government's move. He said: "Denmark has a healthy economy and yet the EU's highest retirement age". He added: "A higher retirement age means that [workers will] lose their right to a dignified senior life."

There is a precedent for the retirement age being 70. The world's first case was in Germany in 1881. It set the age at 70, before reducing it to 65 in 1916. Many countries followed suit and incorporated their own ages for workers to retire with a state pension. The USA first adopted a retirement age in 1935. It was set at 65. The USA Today website reported that in America, the retirement age was also steadily creeping up. It wrote: "The upward trend is slow, but striking. In 1994, the average man worked to age 61, while the typical woman clocked out at 59. Americans are living longer, and working longer." China has also announced an increase, to be rolled out over the next 15 years.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Retirement Age - Level 4  or  Retirement Age - Level 5

Sources
  • https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg71v533q6o
  • https://www.barrons.com/news/denmark-raises-retirement-age-to-70-by-2040-1ce887c0
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retirement_age
  • https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/05/22/retirement-age-rising-social-security-medicare/83767525007/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice activities, drag and drop activities, sentence jumbles, which word activities, text reconstructions, spelling, gap fills and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. RETIREMENT AGES: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about retirement ages. 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?
       longevity / retirement / workers / life expectancy / trade union / healthy / economy /
       precedent / state pension / creep up / trend / the typical woman / working longer
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. 60: Students A strongly believe the retirement age for everyone should be 60; Students B strongly believe otherwise. Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. RETIREMENT CHALLENGES: How serious are these retirement challenges? How can we overcome them? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

How serious?

How to overcome this

Less income

 

 

Lack of purpose

 

 

Physical decline

 

 

Boredom

 

 

Social isolation

 

 

Loneliness

 

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

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

  • A simpler life
  • No work
  • Less stress
  • New hobbies
  • Time to sleep
  • More time to exercise
  • Hobby time
  • Travel

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. longevity a. How long a person is expected to live.
      2. citizen b. Living for a long time.
      3. keep in line c. To follow a rule or stay at the same level as something.
      4. life expectancy d. A strong feeling of worry or surprise.
      5. keep pace with e. Calm, serious, and showing respect.
      6. consternation f. A person who belongs to a country.
      7. dignified g. To go as fast or grow as much as something else.

    Paragraph 2

      8. precedent h. Money you get after you stop working because of age.
      9. followed suit i. Finished work (at the end of the day or when you retire).
      10. incorporated j. Easy to notice; surprising.
      11. pension k. Added or included as part of something.
      12. creeping up l. Slowly getting higher or bigger.
      13. striking m. Something done first that others follow.
      14. clocked out n. Did the same thing as someone else.

 

Before reading / listening

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

  1. People in Denmark will have to retire when they are 70 from 2030.     T / F
  2. Only two countries will have a higher retirement age than Denmark.     T / F
  3. Denmark's new law is because people are living longer.     T / F
  4. A trade union leader said Denmark had too unhealthy an economy.     T / F
  5. Germany was the first country to have a retirement age of 70.     T / F
  6. The USA started retirement ages in 1935.     T / F
  7. In the USA, women clock out from work at the age of 59.     T / F
  8. China is set to lower the retirement age over the next 15 years.     T / F

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

  1. retirement
  2. citizens
  3. necessary
  4. consternation
  5. senior
  6. precedent
  7. adopted
  8. set
  9. steadily
  10. rolled out
  1. previous case
  2. essential
  3. decided on
  4. subjects
  5. established
  6. constantly
  7. giving up work
  8. started
  9. alarm
  10. older

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

  1. Higher rates of longevity are pushing
  2. it will raise the retirement age for its
  3. the new law was necessary to keep
  4. expressed his consternation
  5. workers will lose their right
  6. The world's first
  7. Many countries followed
  8. the retirement age was also steadily
  9. the typical woman clocked
  10. rolled out
  1. at the government's move
  2. creeping up
  3. to a dignified senior life
  4. out at 59
  5. pace
  6. suit
  7. up ages of retirement
  8. over the next 15 years
  9. case was in Germany in 1881
  10. citizens from 67 to 70

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
citizens
expectancy
wait
senior
longevity
so
healthy
pace

Higher rates of (1) _________________________________ are pushing up ages of retirement. In line with this, the Danish government has just announced it will raise the retirement age for its (2) _________________________________ from 67 to 70 by the year 2040. In (3) _________________________________ doing, Denmark's workers will have the world's longest (4) _________________________________ before they can retire. Denmark said the new law was necessary to keep (5) _________________________________ with increasing life (6) _________________________________. However, Jesper Rasmussen, a trade union leader in Denmark, expressed his consternation at the government's move. He said: "Denmark has a (7) _________________________________ economy and yet the EU's highest retirement age". He added: "A higher retirement age means that [workers will] lose their right to a dignified (8) _________________________________ life."

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
suit
steadily
rolled
precedent
typical
pension
case
striking

There is a (9) _________________________________ for the retirement age being 70. The world's first (10) _________________________________ was in Germany in 1881. It set the age at 70, before reducing it to 65 in 1916. Many countries followed (11) _________________________________ and incorporated their own ages for workers to retire with a state (12) _________________________________. The USA first adopted a retirement age in 1935. It was set at 65. The USA Today website reported that in America, the retirement age was also (13) _________________________________ creeping up. It wrote: "The upward trend is slow, but (14) _________________________________. In 1994, the average man worked to age 61, while the (15) _________________________________ woman clocked out at 59. Americans are living longer, and working longer." China has also announced an increase, to be (16) _________________________________ out over the next 15 years.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  Higher rates of longevity are pushing up ______
     a.  age is of retirement
     b.  ages of retirement
     c.  ages off retirement
     d.  ages of retire meant
2)  In so doing, Denmark's workers will have the ______
     a.  world's longest wait
     b.  world's longest waiting
     c.  world's longest waited
     d.  world's longest waiter
3)  Denmark said the new law was necessary ______
     a.  to keep space
     b.  to keep pate
     c.  to keep pace
     d.  to keep pale
4)  Jesper Rasmussen, a trade union leader in Denmark, ______
     a.  expressed his constellation
     b.  expressed his concertina
     c.  expressed his consternation
     d.  expressed his concentration
5)  A higher retirement age means that workers will lose their right to a ______
     a.  dignified seniority life
     b.  dignified senior life
     c.  dignified senor life
     d.  dignified senorita life

6)  followed suit and incorporated their own ages for workers to retire with ______
     a.  a stale pension
     b.  a state pension
     c.  a stage pension
     d.  a stare pension
7)  reported that in America, the retirement age was also ______
     a.  steadily creep in up
     b.  steadily creep pin-up
     c.  steadily creep pin up
     d.  steadily creeping up
8)  It wrote: "The upward trend is ______"
     a.  slow, but striking
     b.  slow, but stricken
     c.  slow, but stroking
     d.  slow, but staking
9)  In 1994, the average man worked to age 61, while the typical ______
     a.  woman cloaked out
     b.  woman clucked out
     c.  woman clocked out
     d.  woman clicked out
10)  China has also announced an increase, to ______
     a.  be rolled doubt
     b.  be roll doubt
     c.  be riled out
     d.  be rolled out

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Higher rates of (1) _______________________________________________ up ages of retirement. In line with this, the Danish government has just announced it will raise the retirement age (2) _______________________________________________ from 67 to 70 by the year 2040. In so doing, Denmark's workers will have the (3) _______________________________________________ before they can retire. Denmark said the new law was necessary to (4) _______________________________________________ increasing life expectancy. However, Jesper Rasmussen, a trade union leader in Denmark, expressed (5) _______________________________________________ the government's move. He said: "Denmark has a healthy economy and yet the EU's highest retirement age". He added: "A higher retirement age means that [workers will] lose their right to a (6) _______________________________________________."

There is (7) _______________________________________________ the retirement age being 70. The world's first case was in Germany in 1881. It set the age at 70, before reducing it to 65 in 1916. Many countries (8) _______________________________________________ incorporated their own ages for workers to retire with a state pension. The USA (9) _______________________________________________ retirement age in 1935. It was set at 65. The USA Today website reported that in America, the retirement age was also (10) _______________________________________________. It wrote: "The upward trend is slow, but striking. In 1994, the average man worked to age 61, while the (11) _______________________________________________ out at 59. Americans are living longer, and working longer." China has also announced an increase, to be (12) _______________________________________________ the next 15 years.

Comprehension questions

  1. What does the article say is pushing up ages of retirement?
  2. By when will Denmark's new retirement age come into effect?
  3. Who is Jesper Rasmussen?
  4. What did Jesper Rasmussen say was healthy about Denmark?
  5. What did Jesper Rasmussen say workers had a right to?
  6. When did Germany set a retirement age of 70?
  7. When did the USA introduce its first retirement age?
  8. What is happening to the retirement age in the USA?
  9. At what age does the typical American woman retire?
  10. Which country will increase its retirement age over the next 15 years?

Multiple choice quiz

1)  What does the article say is pushing up ages of retirement?
a) the cost of living crisis
b) higher rates of longevity
c) job losses
d) AI
2) By when will Denmark's new retirement age come into effect?
a) 2030
b) 2035
c) 2038
d) 2040
3) Who is Jesper Rasmussen?
a) a trade union leader
b) a retiree
c) a pensions advisor
d) a writer
4) What did Jesper Rasmussen say was healthy about Denmark?
a) its food
b) its citizens
c) it's economy
d) lifestyles
5) What did Jesper Rasmussen say workers had a right to?
a) a good pension
b) a dignified senior life
c) a good job
d) union membership

6) When did Germany set a retirement age of 70?
a) 1879
b) 1880
c) 1881
d) 1882
7) When did the USA introduce its first retirement age?
a) 1932
b) 1933
c) 1934
d) 1935
8) What is happening to the retirement age in the USA?
a) It's steadily creeping up.
b) It's becoming lower.
c) It's being negotiated.
d) It's disappearing.
9) At what age does the typical American woman retire?
a) 59
b) 60
c) 61
d) 62
10) Which country will increase its retirement age over the next 15 years?
a) South Africa
b) China
c) Ecuador
d) New Zealand

Role play

Role  A – No Work
You think no work is the best thing about retirement. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least realistic of these (and why): more hobbies, time to sleep or time to travel.

Role  B – More Hobbies
You think more hobbies is the best thing about retirement. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least realistic of these (and why): no work, time to sleep or time to travel.

Role  C – Time to Sleep
You think time to sleep is the best thing about retirement. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least realistic of these (and why): more hobbies, no work or time to travel.

Role  D – Time to Travel
You think time to travel is the best thing about retirement. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the least realistic of these (and why): more hobbies, time to sleep or no work.

After reading / listening

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

'retirement'

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

    • and 'age'.

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

    • • 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:

    • longevity
    • citizens
    • pace
    • trade
    • healthy
    • life
    • case
    • suit
    • 1935
    • slow
    • clocked
    • rolled

    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 - Retirement Age

    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 'retirement'?
    3. What do you think of retirement?
    4. What's the best age at which to retire?
    5. When would you like to retire?
    6. Is increased life expectancy good for the world?
    7. What will you do when you are retired?
    8. Does a higher retirement age mean a less dignified senior life?
    9. Should people be able to work after retirement age?
    10. What advice do you have for people who are retired?

    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 'pension'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. How can retirees contribute to society?
    5. What do you think of retirement homes?
    6. Should early retirement be a human right?
    7. How would you feel about working until you are 80?
    8. In what way might retirement be the best years of our lives?
    9. What do you think of state pensions?
    10. What questions would you like to ask a retired person?

    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)

    Higher rates of longevity are pushing (1) ____ ages of retirement. In line with this, the Danish government has just announced it will (2) ____ the retirement age for its citizens from 67 to 70 by the year 2040. In so (3) ____, Denmark's workers will have the world's longest wait before they can retire. Denmark said the new law was necessary to keep (4) ____ with increasing life expectancy. However, Jesper Rasmussen, a trade union leader in Denmark, expressed his (5) ____ at the government's move. He said: "Denmark has a healthy economy and yet the EU's highest retirement age". He added: "A higher retirement age means that [workers will] lose their right to a (6) ____ senior life."

    There is a precedent (7) ____ the retirement age being 70. The world's first case was in Germany in 1881. It set the age at 70, before reducing it to 65 in 1916. Many countries followed (8) ____ and incorporated their own ages for workers to retire with a state pension. The USA first adopted a retirement age in 1935. It was set at 65. The USA Today website reported that in America, the retirement age was also steadily (9) ____ up. It wrote: "The upward (10) ____ is slow, but striking. In 1994, the average man worked to age 61, while the typical woman (11) ____ out at 59. Americans are living longer, and working longer." China has also announced an increase, to be (12) ____ out over the next 15 years.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     down     (b)     over     (c)     along     (d)     up    
    2. (a)     risen     (b)     arise     (c)     rise     (d)     raise    
    3. (a)     does     (b)     doing     (c)     done     (d)     do    
    4. (a)     space     (b)     pate     (c)     pace     (d)     spate    
    5. (a)     consternation     (b)     conversation     (c)     conservation     (d)     contamination    
    6. (a)     dignified     (b)     dignity     (c)     digital     (d)     deign    
    7. (a)     by     (b)     of     (c)     from     (d)     for    
    8. (a)     suit     (b)     dress     (c)     match     (d)     suite    
    9. (a)     creepy     (b)     creeping     (c)     crept     (d)     the creeps    
    10. (a)     trendy     (b)     trending     (c)     trend     (d)     trends    
    11. (a)     alarmed     (b)     watched     (c)     clocked     (d)     timed    
    12. (a)     tumbled     (b)     rolled     (c)     flowed     (d)     streamed

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. Higher rates of tgoelnviy
    2. the Danish vnnrmoegte
    3. the retirement age for its inzesitc
    4. keep pace with increasing life execancytp
    5. expressed his totncnnoaesri
    6. lose their right to a ifdgndiei senior life

    Paragraph 2

    1. There is a edrpnteec for the retirement age
    2. arcneoiordpt their own ages
    3. retire with a state piesonn
    4. lyatdise creeping up
    5. the playcit woman
    6. China has also naueonncd an increase

    Put the text back together

    (    )     added: "A higher retirement age means that [workers will] lose their right to a dignified senior life."
    (    )     adopted a retirement age in 1935. It was set at 65. The USA Today website reported that in America, the retirement age
    (    )     announced it will raise the retirement age for its citizens from 67 to 70 by the year 2040. In so
    (    )     doing, Denmark's workers will have the world's longest wait before they can
    (    )     expectancy. However, Jesper Rasmussen, a trade union leader in Denmark, expressed his consternation at the government's
    (  1  )   Higher rates of longevity are pushing up ages of retirement. In line with this, the Danish government has just
    (    )     living longer, and working longer." China has also announced an increase, to be rolled out over the next 15 years.
    (    )     man worked to age 61, while the typical woman clocked out at 59. Americans are
    (    )     move. He said: "Denmark has a healthy economy and yet the EU's highest retirement age". He
    (    )     retire. Denmark said the new law was necessary to keep pace with increasing life
    (    )     suit and incorporated their own ages for workers to retire with a state pension. The USA first
    (    )     There is a precedent for the retirement age being 70. The world's first case
    (    )     was also steadily creeping up. It wrote: "The upward trend is slow, but striking. In 1994, the average
    (    )     was in Germany in 1881. It set the age at 70, before reducing it to 65 in 1916. Many countries followed

    Put the words in the right order

    1. Rates longevity of up pushing are retirement ages .
    2. It raise will for citizens the retirement age .
    3. The wait longest retire world's before they can .
    4. The was necessary to law pace keep new .
    5. Lose senior dignified a to their life right .
    6. There retirement for is a age the precedent .
    7. Many suit their followed and incorporated countries own .
    8. Ages retire workers pension for to with a .
    9. The age steadily retirement up also creeping was .
    10. Be next the 15 rolled years out over .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Higher rates of longevity are pushing / pulling up ages of retirement. In line with this, the Danish government has justly / just announced it will raise the retirement age for its citizens from 67 to 70 by a / the year 2040. In so doing, Denmark's workers will have the world's longest wait before / after they can retire. Denmark said the new law was necessary to keep space / pace with increasing life expectancy / expects. However, Jesper Rasmussen, a trade union leader in Denmark, expressed his consternation / conversation at the government's move / approve. He said: "Denmark has a healthy economy and yet the EU's highest retirement age". He added: "A higher retirement age means / meaning that [workers will] lose their right to a dignity / dignified senior life."

    There is a precedent / president for the retirement age being 70. The world's first case was in Germany in 1881. It set the age by / at 70, before reducing it to 65 in 1916. Many countries followed dress / suit and incorporated their own ages for workers to retire of / with a state pension. The USA first adopted a retirement age in 1935. It was set at 65. The USA Today website reported what / that in America, the retirement age was also steadily / steady creeping up. It wrote: "The upward trendy / trend is slow, but striking. In 1994, the average man worked to / for age 61, while the typical woman clocked out / in at 59. Americans are living longer, and working longer." China has also announced an increase, to be strolled / rolled out over the next 15 years.

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

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

    H_gh_r  r_t_s  _f  l_ng_v_ty  _r_  p_sh_ng  _p  _g_s  _f  r_t_r_m_nt.  _n  l_n_  w_th  th_s,  th_  D_n_sh  g_v_rnm_nt  h_s  j_st  _nn__nc_d  _t  w_ll  r__s_  th_  r_t_r_m_nt  _g_  f_r  _ts  c_t_z_ns  fr_m  67  t_  70  by  th_  y__r  2040.  _n  s_  d__ng,  D_nm_rk's  w_rk_rs  w_ll  h_v_  th_  w_rld's  l_ng_st  w__t  b_f_r_  th_y  c_n  r_t_r_.  D_nm_rk  s__d  th_  n_w  l_w  w_s  n_c_ss_ry  t_  k__p  p_c_  w_th  _ncr__s_ng  l_f_  _xp_ct_ncy.  H_w_v_r,  J_sp_r  R_sm_ss_n,  _  tr_d_  _n__n  l__d_r  _n  D_nm_rk,  _xpr_ss_d  h_s  c_nst_rn_t__n  _t  th_  g_v_rnm_nt's  m_v_.  H_  s__d:  "D_nm_rk  h_s  _  h__lthy  _c_n_my  _nd  y_t  th_  __'s  h_gh_st  r_t_r_m_nt  _g_".  H_  _dd_d:  "_  h_gh_r  r_t_r_m_nt  _g_  m__ns  th_t  [w_rk_rs  w_ll]  l_s_  th__r  r_ght  t_  _  d_gn_f__d  s_n__r  l_f_."

    Th_r_  _s  _  pr_c_d_nt  f_r  th_  r_t_r_m_nt  _g_  b__ng  70.  Th_  w_rld's  f_rst  c_s_  w_s  _n  G_rm_ny  _n  1881.  _t  s_t  th_  _g_  _t  70,  b_f_r_  r_d_c_ng  _t  t_  65  _n  1916.  M_ny  c__ntr__s  f_ll_w_d  s__t  _nd  _nc_rp_r_t_d  th__r  _wn  _g_s  f_r  w_rk_rs  t_  r_t_r_  w_th  _  st_t_  p_ns__n.  Th_  _S_  f_rst  _d_pt_d  _  r_t_r_m_nt  _g_  _n  1935.  _t  w_s  s_t  _t  65.  Th_  _S_  T_d_y  w_bs_t_  r_p_rt_d  th_t  _n  _m_r_c_,  th_  r_t_r_m_nt  _g_  w_s  _ls_  st__d_ly  cr__p_ng  _p.  _t  wr_t_:  "Th_  _pw_rd  tr_nd  _s  sl_w,  b_t  str_k_ng.  _n  1994,  th_  _v_r_g_  m_n  w_rk_d  t_  _g_  61,  wh_l_  th_  typ_c_l  w_m_n  cl_ck_d  __t  _t  59.  _m_r_c_ns  _r_  l_v_ng  l_ng_r,  _nd  w_rk_ng  l_ng_r."  Ch_n_  h_s  _ls_  _nn__nc_d  _n  _ncr__s_,  t_  b_  r_ll_d  __t  _v_r  th_  n_xt  15  y__rs.

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    higher rates of longevity are pushing up ages of retirement in line with this the danish government has just announced it will raise the retirement age for its citizens from 67 to 70 by the year 2040 in so doing denmarks workers will have the worlds longest wait before they can retire denmark said the new law was necessary to keep pace with increasing life expectancy however jesper rasmussen a trade union leader in denmark expressed his consternation at the governments move he said denmark has a healthy economy and yet the eus highest retirement age he added a higher retirement age means that workers will lose their right to a dignified senior life

    there is a precedent for the retirement age being 70 the worlds first case was in germany in 1881 it set the age at 70 before reducing it to 65 in 1916 many countries followed suit and incorporated their own ages for workers to retire with a state pension the usa first adopted a retirement age in 1935 it was set at 65 the usa today website reported that in america the retirement age was also steadily creeping up it wrote the upward trend is slow but striking in 1994 the average man worked to age 61 while the typical woman clocked out at 59 americans are living longer and working longer china has also announced an increase to be rolled out over the next 15 years

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Higherratesoflongevityarepushingupagesofretirement.Inlinewiththi
    s,theDanishgovernmenthasjustannounceditwillraisetheretirementa
    geforitscitizensfrom67to70bytheyear2040.Insodoing,Denmark'sw
    orkerswillhavetheworld'slongestwaitbeforetheycanretire.Denmark
    saidthenewlawwasnecessarytokeeppacewithincreasinglifeexpectan
    cy.However,JesperRasmussen,atradeunionleaderinDenmark,expre
    ssedhisconsternationatthegovernment'smove.Hesaid:"Denmarkha
    sahealthyeconomyandyettheEU'shighestretirementage".Headded:
    "Ahigherretirementagemeansthat[workerswill]losetheirrighttoadig
    nifiedseniorlife."Thereisaprecedentfortheretirementagebeing70.Th
    eworld'sfirstcasewasinGermanyin1881.Itsettheageat70,beforered
    ucingitto65in1916.Manycountriesfollowedsuitandincorporatedtheir
    ownagesforworkerstoretirewithastatepension.TheUSAfirstadopted
    aretirementagein1935.Itwassetat65.TheUSATodaywebsitereporte
    dthatinAmerica,theretirementagewasalsosteadilycreepingup.Itwro
    te:"Theupwardtrendisslow,butstriking.In1994,theaveragemanwor
    kedtoage61,whilethetypicalwomanclockedoutat59.Americansareliv
    inglonger,andworkinglonger."Chinahasalsoannouncedanincrease,t
    oberolledoutoverthenext15years.

    Free writing

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

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    Academic writing

    The retirement age should be 60 for everyone. 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. RETIREMENT AGES: Make a poster about retirement ages. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. EARLY RETIREMENT: Write a magazine article about everyone in the world taking early retirement age. 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 retirement. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on what people should do in their retirement. 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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