Reading

1. | GW. Read the teens' opinions and share your own ideas on these statements.

Which of these teenagers thinks that being a teenager___
• is a great fun?
• brings a lot of luck?
• brings a lot of serious problems?
• allows you to do exciting and wonderful things?
• is a kind of duty and makes you feel responsible for what you do?

The world is becoming a very mysterious place. I’m sure bad habits combined with personal problems influence teenagers. I’ve got some friends who don’t drink at all, but some do. It seems to me that adults are generally quite indifferent to what their children do. Once you reach the age of sixteen or seventeen, your parents think you are mature enough to decide everything yourself and do what you want. The best thing for me is that I have no problems with my parents and sisters at home as they help me in challenging situations. John McCarty, 17

I go to a private school which makes my school life easier. I focus more attention on doing my homework. My friends and I usually have fun just being together. There are some teen clubs close to where we live. We usually attend these clubs and find interesting weekend activities to do, talk about funny things, and also discuss serious social problems. My friends and I try to help one another if we can. Being a teenager is a chore (duty). You have to go to school and your parents want you to get good grades, which is hard enough, and you have to deal with your own problems, too. Bart Naik, 14

Today parents and teachers keep in touch with schools and in this way they are aware of our problems. They are always there with their warm smile and long-life experience. Social events such as discos and parties are a very popular conversation topic among teenagers. At school, subjects and exams are discussed quite a lot. Some teens are football-fans, others are movie-lovers and some teens are very interested in their appearance and clothes, some are fond of nature or music, others are book-lovers. “Tastes differ” as the proverb says. And being a teenager is a great fun. Rufat Abbasov, 16