Урок "We are Teenagers. Problems of Youth"

We are Teenagers. Problems of Youth

Objectives:

- practise students' skills in reading;

- to practise students' skills in describing pictures;

- practise students' skills in writing.

Equipment: pictures and postcards; a laptop; a teacher's presentation of the lesson; handouts.

                              Procedure

I. Introduction. Warming-up

T: Good afternoon all of you! How are you getting today?

(Students answer.)

T: The life of any age and social group depends on economic, social and political situation in the country. The economic crisis inflicting Ukraine has changed the life of all groups of population. The youth is not an exception. The unemployment rate among youngsters is higher than among other age groups. As a result, the criminal situation in the country has changed from bad to worse. More and more young people begin to understand that they can rely on nobody but themselves.

T: Now it's time for warming-up. (The teacher asks the students to say who/what they can see in each photo and what is happening. E.g.: "What's the weather like? What is the girl doing? Where is she? Why do you think she is there?")

II. The Main Part of the Lesson

1. Reading Practice

a) pre-reading tasks

(Teacher explains the meaning of the words.)

Vocabulary: relationship, to have freedom, to make decisions, to estimate, to escape from, to earn money, quite independent, to develop cooperation, begging, basking, complementary, the first aid,  mapping, signalling, to sleep in doorways, a squat, similar, etc.

b) while-reading tasks

T: Now I am going to give you some handouts. You have to read the text "British Youth" about the young and homeless in  Britain and answer the following questions on the screen:

1. How old are most young people when they  leave home?

2. Why do they leave home?

3. What happens after a few months?

4. What happens to the rest of them?

                            British Youth

Most 18 and 19 year-olds in Britain are quite independent people. English people say that children grow up more quickly now. Relationships within the British family are different now. Children have more freedom to make their own decisions.

In Britain it is natural for children to leave home. About 20%  of British teenagers leave home between the age of 16 and 20. In London there were estimated 75,000 homeless people - a high percentage between the ages of 17 and 25. Every year in Britain, over 5,000 young people leave home, most of these young people are over 16 but some are ever younger. Most of them are escaping from an unhappy home life but a few of them just want the bright lights of a big city and a chance to earn some money.

When their money runs out, some start begging or basking to earn money. They start living on the streets and sleeping in doorways or in squats. Many of them return home after a few months but the rest stay. Some say they prefer the freedom of the streets to life at home.

Many young people in Britain are members of some youth organizations. There are different  traditional youth. The National Union of Students was founded in 1922 to develop cooperation with the students of different countries and defend the interests of college and  school students.

The Youth Club offers a wide range of sporting and social activities. Scout training is complementary to the ordinary education. Scouting trains in mapping, signalling, the first aid and all the skills that arise from camping and similar outdoor activities.

c) post-reading tasks

T: Find a word or expression in the text which has a similar meaning to the following:

1) without somewhere to live (homeless);

2) an opportunity (a chance);

3) is all gone (run out);

4) asking people for money (begging);

5) the entrance to a shop or building (doorways);

6) being able to do what you want (freedom)

T: Now read about homeless people in other parts of the world and discuss the following questions:

1) Is your country mentioned? If not, do you know how many homeless people there are in your country?

2) Why do you think they are homeless?

3) Where do most of them go?

4) Where do they sleep?

Homeless is a Worldwide Problem

Australia - 25,000 young people are homeless. Half of them are sleeping on the streets in Sydney.

The USA - Washington has 20,000 homeless. Only a quarter of them have permanent shelters.

Italy - No government policy for the homeless.

France - At least 20,000 people are homeless.

Sweden and Japan - almost no homeless.

2. Pronunciation Drills

T: Listen and repeat the phrases. Notice that "that, here, of them" are weak forms.

all of them

most of them

many of them

none of them

a few of them

some of them

T: In pairs, use the notes below to ask and answer about homeless people.

(Model: How many of them have a job when they arrive in a new place? - None of them.)

How many of them:

1) come from poor families? (Not all)

2) are under sixteen? (Quite a lot)

3) find somewhere to live in the end? (Not many)

III. Summing-up. Reflection. Home Assignment

T: Our lesson is coming to its end. Let's sum up! I want to say that you were hardworking, active and smart. Well done! Your marks are...

What do you think about our today's lesson? Did you like it? Why? Why not?  Have you got any questions?

Your hometask is to find out some information about Ukrainian youth and present it before class next lesson. You have to find out any information about Ukrainian young people and tell about their style of life, their interests and hobbies, their pastime and so.on.