The Teens World

The end task you are expected to do is to write a short interesting

(creative?!) text about a topic related to adolescence. Activities A
and B will provide with input for Activity C.
Activity A
1. Read the following vocabulary attentively and group the words into four
groups of related meaning (use each word only once).
kid

adolesce

child

puberty

juveni

adult

teenage

children

adultho

nce
youth

childho

adolesc

le
teen

preadolesc

r
changes

grown-

od

ent

od

ent

up

2. Read the following definition of adolescence and fill in the blanks with
some words from the box in the previous exercise.
Adolescence (Latin adolescentia, from adolescere, to grow up) is a
transitional stage of human development that generally occurs between
.. and .. This transition involves
biological, social and psychological .. , though the
biological or psychological ones are the easiest to measure objectively.
The ages of .. vary by culture. The World Health
Organization (WHO) defines adolescence as the period between 10 and 19
years of age. In contrast, in the United States, adolescence is generally
considered to begin somewhere between the ages of 12 and 14, and end at
19 or 20. As distinct from the varied interpretations of who is considered an
..is more easily defined: it describes a person who is
13 to 19 years of age.
www.wikipedia.com (abridged and adapted)

3. Think about the main changes that characterise teenage years and
complete the following mind-map.

Teenage Years
Changes

The Teens World

..

..

..

..

..

Activity B
1. Read the text 1 to 5 carefully and fill in the following chart.
Text type

People

Major topic(s)

involved
Text
Text
Text
Text
Text

1
2
3
4
5

2. Choose the best option according to the texts.

Lets talk about it How are they

Lets talk about it The topic

towards each other?

depicted in the text is:

a. hostile

a. not realistic

b. friendly

b. very strange

c. caring

c. a current one

d. loving but resentful

d. a bit outdated

The coolest kid in class:

Being an example of Urban Tribes:

a. very often makes a fool of

a. Punks show social concerns.

himself.

b. Punks ideals are mostly British.

b. is always also the most

c. Punks are not very much related

irresponsible one.

to music.

c. does not resist to peer pressure.

d. Punks looks are dark and heavy.

d. has more power to influence

others.

The Teens World

Text 1
Being a volunteer helped me bridge

Text 4

the gap between being a child, with

by Ulrich Schaffer

Lets Talk About It

no responsibilities and being an

adult, which is really what
adolescence is about: maturity.

I know
That you think

Text 2
Come on! All of us are cutting
Maths. Who wants to go take that
quiz? Were going to take a walk

You know
Whats good for me
But
I also think

and get lunch instead! Lets go!

That I know

Says the coolest kid in class.

What is good for me

I know
You mean well

Text 3

For myself,

Urban Tribes: Punks

This movement was created in Great Britain

And in the end

I have to live my life

in the 70s by the band Sex Pistols. Their songs

conveyed political and anti-social messages.

Can we talk about it

The members belonging to this movement can

And come up with something better

be recognised by their spiky hair, black

Than either your or my opinion?

clothes, chains, piercings and dark make-up.

Text 5
Body Piercing
Body piercing has become very popular and trendy. It varies greatly with
multiple hoops up, around, and inside the ear, or studs and rings sticking
out of the tongue, eyebrow, nostril, belly button and lips.
While parents shout Yuck or Gross and teachers ask Why?, teens
continue to gravitate toward body piercing. If youre like many teens who
have thought about piercing, you probably see it as a personal fashion
statement, a form of body art, and a chance to establish your individuality.
Piercings may be considered cool, but there are things you need to know
before you get it done. Piercings are susceptible to infection during the
healing period. It is extremely important to take care of your new piercing in
order to promote healing and prevent infection. So, do not forget: before
you decide, make sure you are well informed about it.
www.coolnurse.com/piercing.htm (abridged and adapted)

3. PUNKS and Body Piercing:

3.1. Complete the sentences using your own words as far as possible.

The Teens World

a) You can have piercings

..
b) Before having a piercing done
.
3.2. Explain the meaning of the following sentences (text 5; paragraph 2).
a) Yuck or
Gross

b)
Why?
..
3.3. Find synonymous for the following words/ sentences (text 5).
Fashionable

.
Something to be wanted/ admired

Help

..
4. What text did you like the most? Why?

Activity C
1. Match the phrases below so as to have complete sentences.
1. Going through teenage years
2. As time goes by, teenagers
3. Teenagers sometimes feel the

a. important for teens.

b. go after happiness.
c. go away from home.

need to
4

The Teens World

4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

Teenagers often wonder about

My parents say I should
Dress codes are
Teenagers normally go along with
Misunderstandings between

parents and
9. As a teenager I decided to
10. Hes not to be trusted:
11. The rate of teenagers giving up
1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

d. school has been going down.

e. whats going on in their lives.
f. teenagers will go on.
g. is not easy!
h. go ahead with my plans.
i. everything their peers decided.
j. dont go by his advice.
k. become more confident.
6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

2. Write two sentences of your own beginning as suggested.

If
teenagers
..
If
parents

3. Tattoos and piercings are a form of art Are they? Imagine you want to
have one of these cool ways to express your individuality. What would
your parents say? How would they react? Well just tell the story!
Activities A and B may help you in this end task. Write between 100-120
words.

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The Teens World

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