THE ARTICLE (For Teachers) : Unemployment On The Young - September 06, 2009

Unemployment on the Young – September 06, 2009
Lower-Intermediate
THE ARTICLE (for teachers)
Unemployment on the Young

The global recession: Layoffs are high in just about every industry around the world. As
people spend less, companies have lower and lower profits. It affects everyone. But people
in their twenties feel the recession more than other age groups.
Young people are generally the last hired in a company, so they are also the first to lose
their jobs. In a stronger economy, they can easily find new work. But now older, more
experienced people have lost their jobs too. Both young and old are applying for the same
positions. Young people must compete against older, more experienced workers in the
marketplace.
Many young people struggle to find work after a layoff. Many take part-time or temporary
employment just to pay the bills. Luckily, people in their twenties usually have less debt and
fewer financial obligations each month. They don't have massive car, home, or school loans.
They can be more flexible when unemployment does happen.
It's still hard. Many young people must try to find work in different fields. They must try to
find work that pays less. Or they can stay jobless for six months, a year, or more.
Teacher's Notes:
* Underlined words in red typeface are the recommended vocabulary for this lesson.
Heads Up English - 1
www.headsupenglish.com
Lower-Intermediate
WARM-UPS
Select one or all of the following warm-up activities.
1: Define: What does "recession" mean? Can you use it in a sentence? Can you give
examples?
2: Brainstorm: Brainstorm with a partner words and ideas for "recession" for two minutes.
Next, talk about the words and ideas for five minutes.
3: Title: Today's article is: "Unemployment on the Young." What will you read about?
4: Discuss: Answer these questions with a partner.

a. Are you worried about the global recession? Why/not?
b. Are you worried about losing your job? Why/not?
c. If you lost your job, what would you do? Please explain.
d. Do you know anyone who has lost their job recently?
e. When will the economy get better? Why do you think so?
Lower-Intermediate
VOCABULARY
Select one of the following vocabulary acquisition activities.
1: Vocabulary match: Individually or in pairs/groups, match the words in column A (from
the article) with the best choice in column B.
a. global u. change
b. affect v. short-term
c. compete w. world
d. temporary x. huge
e. obligation y. responsibility
f. massive z. take on
2: Fill in the Blanks: Fill in the blank with the correct word.
obligations affects compete
global temporary massive
a. The ( ) recession: Layoffs are high in industries around the world.
b. The recession ( ) everyone.
c. Young people must ( ) against older, more experienced workers.
d. Young people take part-time or ( ) employment to pay the bills.
e. People in their twenties have and fewer financial ( ) each month.
f. They don't have ( ) car, home, or school loans.
3: Define: Look in your dictionary for each word. Write the definition, correctly pronounce
the word, and give an example sentence to the class.
a. global:
b. affect:
c. compete:
d. temporary:
e. obligation:
f. massive:
Lower-Intermediate
WORD RECOGNITION
These activities are optional. They reinforce vocabulary and increase reading speed.
1: Word Search: Find only the target words (in bold). Time yourself, and see how long it
takes to find all the words.
V C V W F V K D N U C N D Z T
U A I P P Q L R K N H V B S E
O S T C E F F A M U J K T T M
O B L I G A T I O N S C E Q P
E W L S E L M U E V E M V G O
A T B I Q W K U K F P B I P R
G V E F G V X L F O B R S T A
B L A P J A X E R E J U S U R
G B O B M C S E D H Z O A J Y
W P B B E O R I U D Y I M H D
P L A X L Y C H O G L O B A L
M Q B H Q E G K A N D N F Y U
Y M B D C O E O N G S G D R R
W W X V D I E E R H S N C W U
F L Q C M D I F D X K C H F G
2: Target Word Pool: Find only the target words (in bold) with their exact match. Time
yourself, and see how long it takes to find all the words.
competed
missives
temporary affects
obliges
massively globally
obligation compete
competitor ineffective
unaffected temporarily globes mass
gloves
competent massive
massiveness obligations
global temps
temptation
affected
temporaries competition
obliged obligate
globe
affectation
Lower-Intermediate
pre- or post-COMPREHENSION
Select one or more activity to direct students before the article is read, or to check
understanding after the article is read.
1: Brainstorm Questions: Brainstorm questions that you would like to ask about today's
topic. Answer a partner the questions. He shouldn't look at the article when he answers.
2: True or False?: Guess (before the article) or answer (after the article) if the sentence is
true or false. If false, correct the sentence.
a. According to the article, layoffs are high everywhere around the world. T/F
b. People in their twenties and thirties feel the recession the most. T/F
c. According to the article, more experienced people aren't losing their jobs. T/F
d. If young people can't find work, they must take temporary jobs. T/F
e. Young people don't have the financial responsibilities of older people. T/F
3: Questions: Answer the questions to check comprehension.

a. According to the article, what industry has the recession affected?
b. Why are younger people the first to lose their jobs?
c. Why are younger people competing with older people in the job marketplace?
d. What do many young people do to pay their bills?
e. The article uses the world "luckily." Where and why is this word used?
4: Vocabulary: In pairs/groups, remember how the words were used in today's article.
a. global:
b. affects:
c. compete:
d. temporary:
e. obligations:
f. massive:
Lower-Intermediate
post-COMPREHENSION
Select one or more activity to discuss the contents of the article.
1: Vocabulary: Circle any other unknown words/phrases in the article. In pairs/groups, use
your dictionaries to understand these words. Write an example sentence for each one.
2: Class Questions: Read through the article once more, and write down any questions
that you would like to talk about in pairs/groups or as a class. Answer the questions.
3: Summarize: Work with a partner to summarize the article in your own words.
4: Discuss: Talk about the following questions in pairs/groups. Remember to support your
answers and ask more questions with your partner.
a. Did you like this article? Why/not?
b. How has the recession affected your country? Please explain.
c. How has the recession affected you and your family? Please explain.
d. Have you ever lost your job? If yes, when and why?
e. How would your life be different if you couldn't find a job for six months?
f. Would you take part-time or temporary work? Would you take a job you didn't like?
5: Discuss: What advice would you give to a young person looking for a new job? Think of
three ideas. Compare your answers with a partner.
Advice #1:
Advice #2:
Advice #3:
6: Google Search: Type "recession" into Google news and read additional articles on this
topic. Discuss or write an essay about your findings.
Lower-Intermediate
STUDENT HANDOUT (the article)

The global recession: Layoffs are high in just about every industry around the world. As
people spend less, companies have lower and lower profits. It affects everyone. But people
in their twenties feel the recession more than other age groups.
Young people are generally the last hired in a company, so they are also the first to lose
their jobs. In a stronger economy, they can easily find new work. But now older, more
marketplace.
employment just to pay the bills. Luckily, people in their twenties usually have less debt and
fewer financial obligations each month. They don't have massive car, home, or school loans.
They can be more flexible when unemployment does happen.
Notes:
Lower-Intermediate
STUDENT HANDOUT (fill in the blank)
Fill in the blank with the correct word.
compete global jobless obligations experienced
company temporary massive loans affects
The (a. _______________) recession: Layoffs are high in just about every industry
around the world. As people spend less, companies have lower and lower profits. It
(b. _______________) everyone. But people in their twenties feel the recession more
than other age groups.
Young people are generally the last hired in a (c. _______________), so they are also
the first to lose their jobs. In a stronger economy, they can easily find new work. But
now older, more experienced people have lost their jobs too. Both young and old are
applying for the same positions. Young people must (d. _______________) against
older, more (e. _______________) workers in the marketplace.
Many young people struggle to find work after a layoff. Many take part-time or
(f. _______________) employment just to pay the bills. Luckily, people in their twenties
usually have less debt and fewer financial (g. _______________) each month. They
don't have (h. _______________) car, home, or school (i. _______________). They
can be more flexible when unemployment does happen.
It's still hard. Many young people must try to find work in different fields. They must try
to find work that pays less. Or they can stay (j. _______________) for six months, a
year, or more.
Lower-Intermediate
STUDENT HANDOUT (extended listening)
Listen and fill in the missing sentences. Compare your answers with a partner, and
then listen once more.

The global recession: a) _________________________________________. As people
spend less, companies have lower and lower profits. It affects everyone. But people in their
twenties feel the recession more than other age groups.
b) _________________________________________, so they are also the first to lose their

jobs. In a stronger economy, they can easily find new work. But now older, more
marketplace.
employment just to pay the bills. Luckily, c) ______________________________________.
They don't have massive car, home, or school loans. They can be more flexible when
unemployment does happen.
Sentence #1:
Sentence #2:
Sentence #3:
Lower-Intermediate
ANSWER KEY
Vocabulary
1: Vocabulary Match: 2: Fill in the Blanks:
a. w a. global
b. u b. affects
c. z c. compete
d. v d. temporary
e. y e. obligations
f. x f. massive
pre- or post-Comprehension
1: True or False
a. T
b. F
c. F
d. T
e. T
Student Handout
1: Fill in the Blanks:
a. global f. temporary
b. affects g. obligations
c. company h. massive
d. compete i. loans
e. experienced j. jobless
2: Extended Listening:
a. Layoffs are high in just about every industry around the world
b. Young people are generally the last hired in a company
c. people in their twenties usually have less debt and fewer financial obligations each month

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Unemployment on the Young – September 06, 2009

Unemployment on the Young

4: Discuss: Answer these questions with a partner.

3: Questions: Answer the questions to check comprehension.

Unemployment on the Young

Unemployment on the Young

b) _________________________________________, so they are also the first to lose their

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