Speaking Boost · B1 · Lesson 10 of 50
Speaking Boost B1 · Block 2: Relationships

Are young people really that different?

People have complained about "young people today" for over 2,000 years. Talk about generations and stereotypes, explain the modern world to a skeptical grandparent, and give your final two-minute talk of Block 2.

1

Warm-up

5 min
1.1

Young and old

Answer and give a real example for each one.

  1. Which generation do you belong to? Do you feel typical of it?
  2. What do older people in your life complain about young people?
  3. What do young people complain about older people?
  4. What is one thing you learnt from a grandparent?
  5. What is one thing you have taught an older person?
  6. Which decade would you like to have been young in? Why?
2

Words and phrases

10 min
2.1

New words

For each word or phrase, say one sentence about your family or people you know.

2.2

Which word?

Choose the word or phrase that fits.

  1. My grandma and I see the world very differently. There's a real .
  2. "All young people are lazy" is just a .
  3. Not all Gen Z are the same. You can't .
  4. He still writes letters by hand and pays only in cash. He's a bit .
  5. My mum uses five different apps and even edits videos. She's really .
  6. My grandfather has had the same breakfast for 50 years. He's very .
  7. There are so many new apps that I can't them.
  8. This ring was from my grandmother to my mum, and then to me.
2.3

Opposites

Choose the opposite, then press Check answers.

  1. old-fashioned ↔
  2. set in your ways ↔
  3. to look down on ↔ to
  4. to fall behind ↔ to
  5. young and inexperienced ↔ old and
  6. a stereotype ↔ a real
2.4

Useful phrases

Use each phrase to react to a statement about young or old people.

  • I couldn't agree more.Повністю погоджуюся.I couldn't agree more — respect works both ways.
  • That's true to some extent, but...Певною мірою це так, але...That's true to some extent, but not every young person is on TikTok all day.
  • I see what you mean, but...Я розумію, що ти маєш на увазі, але...I see what you mean, but times have changed.
  • I'm not so sure about that.Я в цьому не впевнений(-а).I'm not so sure about that. My son works really hard.
  • I'm afraid I disagree.Боюся, я не погоджуюся.I'm afraid I disagree. Older people learn new things too.
  • You have a point there.Тут ти маєш рацію.You have a point there — we do spend too much time online.
  • It depends on the person.Це залежить від людини.It depends on the person, not the age.
  • That's a bit of a generalisation.Це трохи узагальнення.That's a bit of a generalisation. Not all Boomers are rich.
3

Read and react

8 min
3.1

Generation wars

Read the article. Hover over the dotted words for help.

Are young people really that different?

"Young people today love luxury, have bad manners and no respect for older people." It sounds like a comment on social media, but similar complaints have been written down for over two thousand years. Every generation, it seems, believes the next one is worse.

Today we love giving generations names: Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials, Gen Z, and now Generation Alpha. Each one gets its own list of characteristics. Boomers are supposedly rich and stubborn, Millennials love avocado toast and can't buy a house, Gen Z can't talk on the phone.

But many researchers are now sceptical of these labels. They point out that people born in 1980 and 1995 are both "Millennials" but grew up in very different worlds, while someone born in December 1996 and someone born in January 1997 are put in different generations. The differences inside a generation, between rich and poor, city and village, one country and another, are often much bigger than the differences between generations.

Some differences are real, of course. People who grew up with smartphones communicate differently from people who grew up with landlines. But often what we call a "generation" is simply age. Young people have always been more rebellious, and older people have always been more careful.

So next time you hear "Gen Z is..." or "Boomers always...", ask yourself: is this about a generation, or just about being young or old?

3.2

True or false?

  1. Complaints about young people are a new thing.
  2. Generation labels come with lists of stereotypes.
  3. Many researchers fully trust generation labels.
  4. Differences inside one generation can be bigger than between generations.
  5. The article says all generation differences are invented.
3.3

What do you think?

  1. Do you recognise yourself in the stereotypes about your generation?
  2. Which generation stereotype annoys you most?
  3. Is the generation gap in Ukraine bigger or smaller than in other countries? Why?
  4. What do generations have in common?
4

Grammar for speaking

10 min
4.1

Grammar for speaking

Agreeing

From strong to partial.

I couldn't agree more. · Absolutely. · You have a point. · That's true to some extent.

Disagreeing politely

Soften before you say no.

I see what you mean, but... · I'm not so sure. · I'm afraid I disagree.

Avoid

Too direct in English, can sound rude.

✗ You are wrong. ✗ No, it's not true. ✗ I disagree with you totally.

Block 2 review: Present Perfect + for/since (Lesson 6), comparatives (Lesson 7), -ing / to + verb (Lesson 8), advice with should / 'd better / If I were you (Lesson 9). Try to use all of them today!

4.2

Choose the right form

  1. You're completely right.
  2. I see what you mean,
    I think it's more complicated.
  3. I've known my neighbour
    I was a child.
  4. Young people today are
    tech-savvy.
  5. My grandma enjoys
    new things on her tablet.
  6. If I
    you, I'd ask your grandad for advice.
  7. That's true
    .
  8. My dad isn't
    my grandad.
4.3

Fix the mistake

Each sentence has one mistake. Type the correct words.

  1. I am agree with you. →
  2. I'm afraid I am not agree. →
  3. She has worked here since five years. →
  4. Young people are more tech-savvier. →
  5. My grandad refuses using a smartphone. →
  6. You should to listen to older people. →
4.4

Talk about it

Answer in detail. Use agreeing and disagreeing phrases and grammar from Block 2.

  1. Compare your generation with your parents' generation. What is much easier and what is far harder?
  2. What have you learnt from older people that you've been using since then?
  3. What do older people enjoy doing that young people avoid doing, and vice versa?
  4. What advice would you give a young person starting their first job?
  5. React to this: "Young people today don't want to work hard." Agree or disagree politely.
  6. React to this: "Older people should stop telling young people what to do."
5

Stereotypes and a final talk

8 min
5.1

Stereotype cards

Read each statement and react to it. Agree or disagree politely, give a real example, and say what you think the truth is.

Card 1

About young people

  • "They can't live without their phones."
  • "They don't want to work hard."
  • "They don't respect older people."
Card 2

About older people

  • "They don't understand technology."
  • "They think everything was better before."
  • "They never change their opinions."
Card 3

About your generation

  • What do people say about your generation?
  • Which stereotype is unfair?
  • Which one is a bit true?
5.2

Mini-talk: bridging the gap

This is the final speaking task of Block 2. Your teacher will time you.

  1. Plan for one minute, then speak for two minutes without stopping.
  2. Part 1: an older person who has taught you something important (how long you've known them, what they're like).
  3. Part 2: how their generation and yours are different (use comparatives).
  4. Part 3: what both generations could learn from each other (use should / If I were...).
2:00
6

Personal questions

10 min
6.1

Part I: Me

  1. Who is the oldest person you know? What is their life like?
  2. What do you and your parents disagree about most?
  3. Which tradition from older generations would you like to keep?
  4. What would you like to teach your children or grandchildren?
  5. Do you have friends who are much older or much younger than you?
  6. What do you think your generation does better than others?
  7. What will people say about your generation in 30 years?
  8. What did you think about older people when you were a teenager?
6.2

Part II: Other people

  1. Who should take care of elderly parents: their children or the state?
  2. Should older people retire later?
  3. Can older people learn languages as well as young people?
  4. Should young people listen to their parents' advice about careers?
  5. Is it good when grandparents raise grandchildren?
  6. What can companies do to help young and old employees work together?
6.3

Part III: Thinking deeper

  1. Is the generation gap getting bigger or smaller?
  2. Do we respect older people enough today?
  3. Will technology bring generations closer or push them apart?
  4. Is it fair to blame older generations for today's problems?
  5. What is the best age to be?
  6. Should young people have more power in politics?
7

Roleplay

10 min
7.1

The skeptical grandparent

You

Grandchild

Your grandparent (or an older relative) doesn't understand something modern and is a bit skeptical. Explain it, convince them, and answer their questions:
  • choose a topic: remote work, online banking, dating apps, AI, or social media
  • explain what it is and how it works in simple words
  • say why it's useful and what the risks are
  • respond politely to their criticism
Speak for at least 3 minutes in total. Use agreeing and disagreeing phrases.
Your teacher

Grandparent

Is skeptical and says things like:
  1. In my day, we didn't need that!
  2. But is it safe?
  3. Young people spend too much time on their phones.
  4. Hmm... show me how it works.
7.2

The panel discussion

You

Speaker for your generation

You are on a TV panel called "Generations". You speak for your generation, and the host speaks for another one. Defend your generation:
  • what your generation is good at
  • which stereotypes about your generation are unfair
  • what other generations could learn from yours
  • one thing your generation should learn from others
You do most of the talking. Use: That's a bit of a generalisation. · I see what you mean, but... · You have a point there. · I couldn't agree more.
Your teacher

Host from another generation

Challenges you, for example:
  1. But your generation changes jobs every year!
  2. You can't even make a phone call.
  3. My generation worked much harder.
  4. So what exactly have you done for the world?
8

Debate

7 min
8.1

Agree or disagree?

"Each generation has an easier life than the one before."

Ideas for

Technology, medicine and travel make life easier and longer. Most people today have more choices and freedom than their grandparents had.

Ideas against

Housing is more expensive, work is more stressful, and young people face new problems like climate change and information overload. Easier doesn't mean happier.

Round 1: give your real opinion for 1–2 minutes. Round 2: defend the opposite side for 1 minute. Use: I couldn't agree more... · That's true to some extent, but... · Compared to my parents... · I'm afraid I disagree because...

9

Homework

at home

Your homework score

Do all four exercises, then press Check all homework. Correct answers will appear next to your mistakes.

– / 30
H1

Complete with a word

generation gapstereotypegeneraliseold-fashionedtech-savvyset in her wayskeep up withpassed down
  1. My grandma and I argue about everything. There's a big .
  2. "Old people hate technology" is just a .
  3. Not all teenagers are the same. You can't .
  4. His ideas about women and work are very .
  5. My dad is so — he built his own website.
  6. My aunt has done everything the same way for 40 years. She's very .
  7. I read the news every day to what's happening.
  8. This recipe was from my great-grandmother.
H2

Block 2 review: choose the correct form

  1. I've known her 2005.
  2. Life is for young people today.
  3. My grandad enjoys stories.
  4. If I you, I'd listen to him.
  5. I see what you mean, I don't agree.
  6. You respect older people.
  7. She refused a smartphone.
  8. He isn't his daughter.
H3

Correct or incorrect? (Block 2 review)

Decide if each sentence is grammatically correct.

  1. I am agree with you.
  2. I couldn't agree more.
  3. I see what you mean, but I'm not so sure.
  4. I've lived here for ten years.
  5. My sister is more older than me.
  6. He avoided to answer.
  7. You'd better call your grandmother.
H4

Match the two halves

  1. I couldn't agree more —
  2. That's true to some extent,
  3. I see what you mean,
  4. You have a point there —
  5. It depends on the person,
  6. That's a bit of
  7. I'm afraid

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© Yevheniia Kolesnykova, Academy of Languages. All rights reserved. No copying or reuse without written permission.