Being a teenager is both interesting and dangerous. As there is a great variety of temptations, presented by our technological civilization.
Many young people have their hobbies, special, interests, responsibilities. All these things help them to use their creative energy and to realize their ambitions.
However some young people are not motivated for studying or just working. They look for the easiest ways of enjoying their lives and escaping from reality, which demands some concrete efforts in building the career, supporting the family or routine surviving. They start smoking, drinking and even taking drugs. They gather together doing nothing. They hang out in the streets, on the attics or where not. The most terrible thing is when a teenager becomes a drug addict. Most often such groups of youth are involved into different crime affairs. They are always under the threat of death because of overdosing and AIDS, This problem is a very serious at present.
To prevent it the social authorities should do their best in organizing the leisure time of teenagers. And the first steps are expected to be made by the family.
Any youngster wants to be entertained. He considers life to be an everlasting holiday. According to the social survey, conducted among the young people of some countries, the actual priorities are as follows: TV comes first, followed by Internet, films, listening to records, radio, going to disco, dancing, reading. Then come concerts, museums, amateur arts and finally theatres.
Besides there exists a growing gap between two strata of youngsters: the first is - those who prefer easy pastime (TV shows, soap-operas, detectives, comics, discos and clubs); the second group is - creators. They are eager to realize themselves in anykind of human activities (computing, sports, amateur arts, design, writing, even in communicated on Internet and so on).
The latter group is more interesting and perspective in my opinion. I realize myself as a reader. Once it was said like that: the only reason for life to exist is being described in a book. It's true, to my mind. Sometimes I am not sure that the humanity deserves the Earth: 1 mean - wars, violence of different types, environmental pollution... In fact they are the ways of a suicide.
During our history we have been creating a myth about ourselves. And that is reflected in books. I'm afraid soon only in books we'll be able to read about great passions, great adventures and great characters, as nowadays people are busy with one thing- making money.
Topical Vocabulary
variety of temptation- разнообразные соблазны
to escape from reality- убежать от реальности
to take drugs- принимать наркотики
drug addict- наркоман
AIDS- спид
social survey- социологическое исследование
strata, stratum- страта; (зд.) слои, слой общества
pastime- приятное времяпрепровождение, развлечение
soup-operas- мыльная опера
use the creative energy- использовать творческую энергию
demand efforts- требовать усилий
hang out- болтаться, околачиваться
be involved into- быть втянутым в
prevent- предотвратить
to be entertained- быть развлекаемым
actual priority[prai' ɔ riti]- актуальные приоритеты
an everlasting holiday- нескончаемые каникулы
Teenagers' Rights
Everyone has rights in a modern society including teenagers. To protect children's rights the United Nations has worked out an international agreement called the United Nations Convention on the Rights 'of the Child, It sets out a number of statements called articles, the rights that all children and young people up to the age of 18 should have. First of all the Convention proclaims the right to non-discrimination. It means that all children should have rights whatever their race, sex, religion, language, disability opinion or family background.
Article 6 says that children have the right to life. It means that they, should have a chance to live in a safe and unpolluted environment with good food and clean drinking water.
They also' have the right to name and nationality at birth. So all children must get a name when they are born and become a citizen of a particular country.
The Convention proclaims the right to protection. The government should protect children from harm, cruelty, abuse and drugs. This right also means that the government must protect children from exploitation and dangerous work, which can harm their health or interfere with the education-Very important right is the right to education and development. Every child can go to school and different kinds of secondary schools should be available for children. School should help children develop their skills, teach them about their own and people's rights and prepare for adult life.
Article 24 says that children have the right to health.and health care. It means that the government must give children good medical care and try to reduce the number of deaths in childhood.
There is a very important article about disabled children. They have the right to take full and active pait in everyday life. So children with disabilities must be helped to be as independent as possible.
According to the Convention children have the right to privacy. Nobody can open children's letter and listen to their phone calls. They also have the right to information, especially the information that would make their life better.
Children have the right to express their views and the right to meet other people. That means that they can say what they think. Children can join organizations, take part in meetings and peaceful demonstrations which do not affect other people's rights. And, of course, children have the right to leisure. Every child should have a chance to rest and play.
All these rights should apply to young people everywhere whether they live in rich or poor countries.
Russia joined the UN Convention in 1989 and worked out some documents with age limits for some activities for Russian children. For example, at fourteen they get their passports. The law also makes teenagers fully responsible for their criminal actions. They can be sent to a special prison for young people. At sixteen they can see a category-16 film at the cinema. They can ride a motorbike. At eighteen teenagers can get a license to drive a car, buy cigarettes and alcohol, etc. They join the army (boys), vote on elections, manage a property, etc.
I think that Convention is great and gives children more rights. For the first time children have a document with which to work together on their problems.
UNO (the United Nations Organization)- ООН
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the child-Конвенция ООН по правам ребенка
work out- разрабатывать
statement-утверждение
proclaim-провозглашать
whatever- несмотря на
disability- нетрудоспособность
family background- социальный статус семьи
particular- определенный
harm- вред
cruelty- жестокость
abuse- оскорбление, плохое обращение
reduce the number of deaths- сокращать смертность
Youth Subculture
Subculture is the behaviour beliefs and customs of a particular group of people within a society. Often it is a group whose behaviour is disapproved of by most people and whose interests different from those of the mainstream culture.
Young people have a particular relationship with the world. A particular cultural grouping is a way for young people to express their individuality- There are many different groups, for example rocker, mod, punk, hacker, raver, skinhead, biker, goth, hippie, etc.
Rocker is a young person following a fashion for leather jacket, army boots, and motorcycle. These people are associated with something rebellious. Mod is a member of a group of young people who developed their own style different from others. They usually have neat white shirts, shorts jackets and narrow trousers. Their faces are pale with plenty of make up. They drive motor scooters (light motorcycles) and often have fights with rockers, especially in seaside towns on Bank Holidays. They also like soul music. It's popular modern black American music, derived from gospel, blues and jazz. It expresses strong emotions.
Punk is a young person who follows punk styles in music, dress, etc. These people are oppose to the values of money-based society and they express their protest in loud violent music - punk-rock. They, dress in a shocking way, they wear metal chains and have brightly coloured hair. They reject everything.
Hacker is a person who is able to use or change the information in other people's computer systems without their knowledge or permission. Hackers are the wizards of the computer community. They have deep understanding of how their computers work and can do things with them that seem "magical".
Raver is a person who leads an exciting life of social and sexual freedom. Computer-made synthesized music and all-night dancing are typical for them.
Skinhead is a young person, usually male, with hair that is shaved off or cut very short. They often wear tight trousers, heavy boots, and an earring in one ear. The majority of them are working class, patriotic, football fans. They are very interested in politics. They are often regarded as violent and aggressive.
Goth is a person who wears very black clothes with a lot of silver jewellery. These people have dark black hair. They look as thin and pale as possible. The members of this group talk about being vampires and about the end of the world.
Hippies are types of people dress in unusual clothes. They have long hair (both men and women) live in groups together, they take drugs. Many of them are rock'n'roll fans. Their behaviour is differ from social norms. But they always want to change the world to the best. Hippies believed in peace and one of their sayings is "Everything that brings people together is good, everything that draws them apan is evil. Love is the most powerful thing that brings people together. Make love, not war".
So a!! of these groups exist, as society can't suggest anything really worth for teens. That's why they are rebellious. Teens don't think much about their future life. They want to live now. Being in a group is like living a real life for them. A subculture is not a fan club for teens, it's a way of life and expression of their individuality.
Topical Vocabulary
behavior [bi΄heivjə ]- поведение
rebellious[ri΄beljəs]- жестокий
be associated [ə΄səu ʃ ieted]-ассоциироваться
mainstream culture-общепринятая культура
wear-носить(одежду)
have fights- иметь драки
follow- следовать
reject[ri΄dʒekt]- отвергать
lead a lifestyle- вести образ жизни
violent [vaiələnt]- жестокий
differ from social norms- отличаться от социальных норм
1. To express themselves/myself
2. To express their/ my own identity
3. To develop their/my own style distinct from others
4. To show off
5. To identity with a particular subculture
6. To know who they are
7. To support a … attitude and lifestyle
8. To change the world to the best
9. To try out all sort of options
10. To protest against the parents
11. To rebel against the society/ the older generation
12. To show a rebellion against the regime/society
13. To reject everything
14. (Not) to society’s standards
15. To be in a collective
16. To differ from social norms
17. To be designed to shock
18. To have their/ my own values and beliefs