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Anxiety Affects Youth

Upper-Intermediate

the ARTICLE (for teachers)

Anxiety Affects Youth
A lot has been said about the current economic climate. Dark and gloomy scenarios are in the media
everywhere. There are home foreclosures, dwindling savings, and bankruptcies. Yet little has been said about
the current woes and how they will affect the youth of today. At least, that is until now.
The Millennials will perhaps receive the biggest shock because they have grown up with promises of plenty. In
other words, there will always be jobs, money, vacations, and success. Unfortunately, as these twentysomethings now enter the job market or try to change their current positions, the jobs that are available don't
meet their high, unrealistic expectations. The prospects are terrible. Current career decisions could have a longterm impact, and affect their career success and income for years and years. What's more, having been
pampered and protected, a great many Millennials may resent their parents' promises of guaranteed success.
The youngest children may experience the greatest effects. Although likely unable to express what's happening,
they still notice their parents' fears and anxieties about money. These children will then see the world less
positively than their teenage and twenty-something peers and siblings. They will assess the world with greater
caution, ultimately affecting career choices and financial decisions.
As for teenagers, they have known both the promises given to the Millennials and the hardships now changing
the young children. Therefore they better understand the current sense of loss. They may try to prevent
something similar from affecting them again. Therefore, teens will pay more attention to the economy and
business than in the past, which will affect their studies at college and their careers. This age group will also
lose confidence in the belief that children generally live better, more prosperous lives than their parents.

Teacher's Notes:

* Underlined words in red typeface are the recommended vocabulary for this lesson.
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Anxiety Affects Youth

Upper-Intermediate

WARM-UPS
Select one or all of the following warm-up activities.
1: Define: What does "anxiety" mean? Can you use it in a sentence? Can you give examples?
2: Brainstorm: Brainstorm with a partner(s) words and ideas associated with "anxiety" for 2 minutes. Spend
another 5 minutes or less discussing the words and ideas together.
3: Title: Speculate and/or discuss the contents of today's article from its title: "Anxiety Affects Youth."
4: Speculate: Write in the missing word for today's article title: "(

) Affects Youth." Why did you

choose this word for the blank?

5: Do you agree or disagree? Why?
a. I am quite worried about the current economic problems.
b. The current economic problems are having an effect on the young people of today.
c. The current economic problems will have a long-term effect on young people.
d. The current economic problems have a greater effect on adults than on children.
e. The current economic problems have a greater effect on teenagers than on young children.

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Anxiety Affects Youth

Upper-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. dwindle

q. problem

b. woe

r.

c. prospect

s. evaluate

d. impact

t.

e. pamper

u. successful

f.

v.

resent

spoil
equal
decline

g. peer

w. stop

h. assess

x. effect

i.

prevent

y.

j.

prosperous

z. possibility

hate

2: Fill in the Blanks: Fill in the blank with the correct word.
prospects
peers

impact
woes

resent
prosperous

a. There are home foreclosures, (

) and how they will affect the youth of today.

) are terrible.

d. Current career decisions could have a long-term (

e. What's more, Millennials have been (
f.

assess
pampered

) savings, and bankruptcies.

b. Little has been said about the current (

c. The (

dwindling
prevent

Many Millennials may (

).
) and protected.

) their parents' promises of guaranteed success.

g. These children will then see the world less positively than their teenage (
h. The youngest children will (

) and siblings.

) the world with greater caution.

i.

Teenagers may try to (

j.

This age group won't believe the idea that children generally live better, more (

) something similar from affecting them again.

) lives.

3: Define: Define each word, correctly pronounce it, explain the meaning and/or usage, and offer an example
sentence to the class.
a. dwindle
b. woe

c. prospect
d. impact

e. pamper
f. resent

g. peer
h. assess

i.
j.

prevent
prosperous

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Anxiety Affects Youth

Upper-Intermediate

WORD RECOGNITION
1: Word Search: Find the target words (in bold). Time yourself, and see how many words you can find in three
minutes, five minutes, or ten minutes.
prospects
peers

impact
woes

resent
prosperous
G
E
Z
X
S
M
T
A
P
P
Z
A
Q
O
L

W
Z
Y
U
S
T
S
N
R
R
C
P
P
G
S

U
H
O
D
U
J
C
O
E
C
E
W
B
L
W

M
R
Y
P
O
N
S
E
E
S
T
V
H
S
Q

Z
G
X
N
R
P
K
S
P
N
E
K
E
I
C

W
E
X
Y
E
A
S
T
E
S
E
R
R
N
G

P
S
O
C
P
M
U
C
C
X
O
D
P
H
T

C
S
T
N
S
P
S
A
D
W
U
R
W
H
B

H
D
M
A
O
E
X
P
H
X
H
N
P
M
V

dwindling
prevent
S
S
B
Z
R
R
V
M
A
M
Y
H
P
G
N

W
P
I
A
P
E
O
I
I
W
Z
G
E
H
I

U
J
D
O
J
D
G
H
F
L
O
Q
E
O
G

V
L
P
A
M
P
E
R
D
L
L
E
R
E
N

N
G
N
I
L
D
N
I
W
D
I
X
S
V
X

assess
pampered

H
T
S
P
S
S
E
S
S
A
E
M
Q
L
W

2: Target Word Pool: Find the target words (in bold) with their exact match. Time yourself, and see how many
words you can find in three minutes, five minutes, or ten minutes.
prospects
peers
dwindles
woes

impact
woes
pampering
resenting

resent
prosperous
woebegone
prevent

peers

dwindling
prevent
prospering

assess
pampered
preventing
resented

prospector
prosperousness
disappears
assessed
dwindled
impart
pampered
appear
pamper
woe
present
assessment
impacting
impact
dwindling
prevention
resent
proper
access
prosperous
peer
prevented
protector
woeful
diminish
prospectus
dwindle
assesses
pear
prospects
wrote
impacted
prose
resentful
prevents
pampers
impacts
assess
prospect
prospered

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Anxiety Affects Youth

Upper-Intermediate

pre- or post-COMPREHENSION
1: Word Association: Brainstorm words associated with today's topic for two minutes. Present to the class.
2: Brainstorm Questions: Brainstorm questions that you would like to ask about today's topic. Answer the
questions without looking at the article.
3: True or False?: Guess (before the article) or answer (after the article) whether the sentence is true or false.
If false, correct the sentence.
a. According to the article, Millennials will be affected the most.

T/F

b. Millennials are anyone who is currently looking for a job.

T/F

c. Young children see and understand, but can't explain, their parents' worries.

T/F

d. According to the article, teenagers will focus on the economy and business in the future.

T/F

e. Now teenagers might not believe that they can be more successful than their parents.

T/F

4: Questions: Answer the questions to check comprehension.

a. According to the article, how were Millennials raised?
b. How does the current economy affect the Millennials?
c. How does the current economy affect young children?
d. How does the current economy affect teenagers?
e. What do most believe about the success of children?
5: Vocabulary: In pairs/groups, remember how the words were used in today's article.
a. dwindling
b. woes

c. prospects
d. impact

e. pampered
f. resent

g. peers
h. assess

i. prevent
j. prosperous

6: Fragments: Remember how the fragments were used, and complete the sentence from today's article.
a. There are home foreclosures...
b. Current career decisions could have a long-term impact, and affect...
c. The youngest children may experience...
d. These children will then see the world less positively than...
e. This age group will also lose confidence in the belief that...

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Anxiety Affects Youth

Upper-Intermediate

post-COMPREHENSION
1: Vocabulary: Circle any additional unknown words/phrases in the article. In pairs/groups, use your
dictionaries to understand the meanings. Present to the class.
2: Class Questions: Read through the article once more, and write down any questions that you would like to
discuss in pairs/groups or as a class. Discuss.
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!
a. Did you like this article?
b. What was your general impression after reading this article?
c. What do you think about the current economic problems? Please explain.
d. How have the current economic problems affected you? Please explain.
e. How do you think the current economic problems will affect you in the future? Please explain.
f. Do you agree about the current economic problems and their effects on children? Why/not?
g. Do you agree about the current economic problems and their effects on teenagers? Why/not?
h. Do you agree about the current economic problems and their effects on twenty-somethings? Why/not?
i. Do you believe that children tend to be better off than their parents? Why/not?
j. Will the future be positive or negative because of the current economic problems? Why?
5: Discuss: How do you think these categories affect children, if at all? Discuss the following categories with a
partner, providing long-term effects whenever possible. Be sure to support your answers.
Parents don't have a lot of money:
Parents are divorced:
The child is bullied at school:
???:

6: Google Search: Type "anxiety" into Google news and read additional articles on this topic. Discuss or write
an essay about your findings.
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Anxiety Affects Youth

Upper-Intermediate

STUDENT HANDOUT (the article)

Anxiety Affects Youth
A lot has been said about the current economic climate. Dark and gloomy scenarios are in the media
everywhere. There are home foreclosures, dwindling savings, and bankruptcies. Yet little has been said about
the current woes and how they will affect the youth of today. At least, that is until now.
The Millennials will perhaps receive the biggest shock because they have grown up with promises of plenty. In
other words, there will always be jobs, money, vacations, and success. Unfortunately, as these twentysomethings now enter the job market or try to change their current positions, the jobs that are available don't
meet their high, unrealistic expectations. The prospects are terrible. Current career decisions could have a longterm impact, and affect their career success and income for years and years. What's more, having been
pampered and protected, a great many Millennials may resent their parents' promises of guaranteed success.
The youngest children may experience the greatest effects. Although likely unable to express what's happening,
they still notice their parents' fears and anxieties about money. These children will then see the world less
positively than their teenage and twenty-something peers and siblings. They will assess the world with greater
caution, ultimately affecting career choices and financial decisions.
As for teenagers, they have known both the promises given to the Millennials and the hardships now changing
the young children. Therefore they better understand the current sense of loss. They may try to prevent
something similar from affecting them again. Therefore, teens will pay more attention to the economy and
business than in the past, which will affect their studies at college and their careers. This age group will also
lose confidence in the belief that children generally live better, more prosperous lives than their parents.

Notes:

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Anxiety Affects Youth

Upper-Intermediate

STUDENT HANDOUT (fill in the blank)

Fill in the blank with the correct word.
resent
somethings
gloomy

prevent
woes
pampered

Anxiety Affects Youth

prospects
assess
money

sense
impact
prosperous

shock
peers
dwindling

A lot has been said about the current economic climate. Dark and (a. _______________) scenarios are in
the media everywhere. There are home foreclosures, (b. _______________) savings, and bankruptcies.
Yet little has been said about the current (c. _______________) and how they will affect the youth of today.
At least, that is until now.
The Millennials will perhaps receive the biggest (d. _______________) because they have grown up with
promises of plenty. In other words, there will always be jobs, money, vacations, and success. Unfortunately,
as these twenty-(e. _______________) now enter the job market or try to change their current positions,
the jobs that are available don't meet their high, unrealistic expectations. The (f. _______________) are
terrible. Current career decisions could have a long-term (g. _______________), and affect their career
success and income for years and years. What's more, having been (h. _______________) and protected,
a great many Millennials may (i. _______________) their parents' promises of guaranteed success.
The youngest children may experience the greatest effects. Although likely unable to express what's
happening, they still notice their parents' fears and anxieties about (j. _______________). These children
will then see the world less positively than their teenage and twenty-something (k. _______________) and
siblings. They will (l. _______________) the world with greater caution, ultimately affecting career choices
and financial decisions.
As for teenagers, they have known both the promises given to the Millennials and the hardships now
changing the young children. Therefore they better understand the current (m. _______________) of loss.
They may try to (n. _______________) something similar from affecting them again. Therefore, teens will
pay more attention to the economy and business than in the past, which will affect their studies at college
and their careers. This age group will also lose confidence in the belief that children generally live better,
more (o. _______________) lives than their parents.

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Anxiety Affects Youth

Upper-Intermediate

STUDENT HANDOUT (extended listening)

Listen and fill in the missing sentences. Compare your answers with a partner, and
then listen once more.

Anxiety Affects Youth

A lot has been said about the current economic climate. Dark and gloomy scenarios are in the media
everywhere. There are home foreclosures, dwindling savings, and bankruptcies. a) ______________________
_______________________________________________. At least, that is until now.
b) ____________________________________________________________________. In other words, there
will always be jobs, money, vacations, and success. Unfortunately, as these twenty-somethings now enter the
job market or try to change their current positions, the jobs that are available don't meet their high, unrealistic
expectations. The prospects are terrible. Current career decisions could have a long-term impact, and affect
their career success and income for years and years. What's more, having been pampered and protected,
c) ____________________________________________________________________.
The youngest children may experience the greatest effects. Although likely unable to express what's happening,
they still notice their parents' fears and anxieties about money. These children will then see the world less
positively than their teenage and twenty-something peers and siblings. d) ______________________________
_______________________________________, ultimately affecting career choices and financial decisions.
As for teenagers, e) ____________________________________________________________________.
Therefore they better understand the current sense of loss. They may try to prevent something similar from
affecting them again. Therefore, teens will pay more attention to the economy and business than in the past,
which will affect their studies at college and their careers. This age group will also lose confidence in the belief
that children generally live better, more prosperous lives than their parents.

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Anxiety Affects Youth

Upper-Intermediate

STUDENT HANDOUT (notes)

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Anxiety Affects Youth

Upper-Intermediate

ANSWER KEY
Vocabulary
1. Vocabulary Match:

2. Fill in the Blanks:

a.

f.

a.

dwindling

f.

resent

b.

g.

b.

woes

g.

peers

c.

h.

c.

prospects

h.

assess

d.

i.

d.

impact

i.

prevent

e.

j.

e.

pampered

j.

prosperous

pre- or post-Comprehension
1. True or False:

2. Fragments:

a.

a.

dwindling savings, and bankruptcies.

b.

b.

their career success and income for years and years.

c.

c.

the greatest effects.

d.

d.

their teenage and twenty-something peers and siblings.

e.

e.

children generally live better, more prosperous lives than their parents.

Student Handout
1. Fill in the Blanks
a.

gloomy

i.

resent

b.

dwindling

j.

money

c.

woes

k.

peers

d.

shock

l.

assess

e.

somethings

m.

sense

f.

prospects

n.

prevent

g.

impact

o.

prosperous

h.

pampered

2. Extended Listening
a.

Yet little has been said about the current woes and how they will affect the youth of today

b.

The Millennials will perhaps receive the biggest shock because they have grown up with promises of plenty

c.

a great many Millennials may resent their parents' promises of guaranteed success

d.

They will assess the world with greater caution

e.

they have known both the promises given to the Millennials and the hardships now changing the young children

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