The Reading / Listening - Adulthood - Level 6

Japan's government has lowered the age at which people become adults. It is the first time since 1876 that this has happened. From the year 2022, teenagers will become adults at the age of 18, which is two years earlier than the age at which adulthood currently legally happens. However, even though the age has been lowered, there are still certain things that will not change. The legal age for drinking alcohol, smoking and gambling will remain fixed at 20. The new law will enable 18-year-olds to get married without parental consent, and allow them to apply for loans and credit cards. Transgender men and women aged 18 and over will be able to apply to courts to have their gender officially recognized.

The new law has been passed in an effort to bring about social and economic change in Japan. The government hopes to see an increase in the number of young people getting married and starting families. This will help to address the nation's dwindling birth rate and ageing population. Greater financial freedoms could be a boost to the economy and provide more tax revenue. This is vital for a government struggling to cope with increasing pension and healthcare payments. Many of Japan's young people were more concerned about how the law would affect the traditional Coming of Age Day. This is a national holiday held in January in which 20-year-olds dress up in traditional kimonos to celebrate adulthood.

Try the same news story at these easier levels:

    Adulthood - Level 4  or  Adulthood - Level 5

Sources
  • https://edition.cnn.com/2018/06/14/asia/japan-age-adulthood-bill/index.html
  • https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jun/14/japan-lowers-age-adulthood-20-to-18
  • https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/06/13/national/crime-legal/japan-enacts-law-lower-adulthood-age-18/


Make sure you try all of the online activities for this reading and listening - There are dictations, multiple choice, drag and drop activities, crosswords, hangman, flash cards, matching activities and a whole lot more. Please enjoy :-)

Warm-ups

1. ADULTHOOD: Students walk around the class and talk to other students about adulthood. Change partners often and share your findings.
2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?
       Japan / age / adults / teenagers / drinking / gambling / smoking / married / loans /
       gender / social / economic change / birth rate / pension / pension / traditional / kimono
Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.
3. EIGHTEEN: Students A strongly believe eighteen is the proper age to be an adult; Students B strongly believe it isn't.  Change partners again and talk about your conversations.
4. AGE: What are the good and bad things about these ages? Complete this table with your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

 

Good Things

Bad Things

6 months

 

 

3 years

 

 

12 years

 

 

18 years

 

 

40 years

 

 

100 years

 

 

MY e-BOOK
ESL resource book with copiable worksheets and handouts - 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers / English teachers
See a sample

5. ADULTS: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with the word "adults". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put the words into different categories.
6. BEING AN ADULT: Rank these with your partner. Put the best things about being an adult at the top. Change partners often and share your rankings.

  • Money
  • No parental rules
  • Driving a car
  • Credit cards
  • Getting married
  • Working
  • Independence
  • Having children

 

Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

      1. currently a. Putting money on the chance of something happening (like a horse or dog winning, card games, lottery tickets, etc.) so you win more money.
      2. gambling b. Either of the two sexes - male or female.
      3. remain c. A building or room where a judge, judges, or a magistrate listen to civil and criminal cases and pass judgments.
      4. enable d. Give permission for something to happen.
      5. consent e. Make possible.
      6. courts f. At the present time.
      7. gender g. Continue to exist, especially after other similar or related people or things have stopped existing.

    Paragraph 2

      8. effort h. Absolutely necessary or important; essential.
      9. address i. A country's annual income from which it pays for public services.
      10. dwindling j. Help or encourage something to increase or improve.
      11. boost k. An attempt to try to do something.
      12. revenue l. Deal effectively with something difficult.
      13. vital m. Think about and begin to deal with an issue or problem.
      14. cope n. Getting smaller in size, amount, strength, etc.

 

Before reading / listening

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if 1-8 below are true (T) or false (F).

  1. The last time Japan changed the age of adulthood was in 1876.     T / F
  2. Eighteen-year-olds in Japan will be adults from the year 2020.     T / F
  3. Japan's 18-year-old adults will be able to smoke and gamble.     T / F
  4. Japan's 18-year-old adults will be able to take out loans.     T / F
  5. Japan's government hopes more young people will get married.     T / F
  6. The new adults should bring more tax revenue to Japan's government.    T / F
  7. Japan is making fewer pension payments.     T / F
  8. Young Japanese people want two Coming of Age ceremonies.     T / F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

  1. lowered
  2. happened
  3. certain
  4. consent
  5. gender
  6. effort
  7. address
  8. dwindling
  9. concerned
  10. celebrate
  1. worried
  2. sex
  3. attempt
  4. deal with
  5. occurred
  6. particular
  7. commemorate
  8. reduced
  9. decreasing
  10. agreement

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

  1. It is the first time since 1876 that
  2. the age at which adulthood currently
  3. The legal age
  4. get married without parental
  5. have their gender officially
  6. help to address the nation's
  7. a boost
  8. vital for a government struggling
  9. pension and healthcare
  10. dress up
  1. in traditional kimonos
  2. recognized
  3. payments
  4. to cope
  5. for drinking alcohol
  6. legally happens
  7. dwindling birth rate
  8. consent
  9. to the economy
  10. this has happened

Gap fill

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
parental
teenagers
courts
legally
fixed
loans
lowered
certain

Japan's government has (1) ____________ the age at which people become adults. It is the first time since 1876 that this has happened. From the year 2022, (2) ____________ will become adults at the age of 18, which is two years earlier than the age at which adulthood currently (3) ____________ happens. However, even though the age has been lowered, there are still (4) ____________ things that will not change. The legal age for drinking alcohol, smoking and gambling will remain (5) ____________ at 20. The new law will enable 18-year-olds to get married without (6) ____________ consent, and allow them to apply for (7) ____________ and credit cards. Transgender men and women aged 18 and over will be able to apply to (8) ____________ to have their gender officially recognized.

Put these words into the spaces in the paragraph below.
boost
number
held
cope
dress
effort
address
concerned

The new law has been passed in an (9) ____________ to bring about social and economic change in Japan. The government hopes to see an increase in the (10) ____________ of young people getting married and starting families. This will help to (11) ____________ the nation's dwindling birth rate and ageing population. Greater financial freedoms could be a (12) ____________ to the economy and provide more tax revenue. This is vital for a government struggling to (13) ____________ with increasing pension and healthcare payments. Many of Japan's young people were more (14) ____________ about how the law would affect the traditional Coming of Age Day. This is a national holiday (15) ____________ in January in which 20-year-olds (16) ____________ up in traditional kimonos to celebrate adulthood.

Listening — Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1)  It is the first time since 1876 that this ______
     a.  has happen
     b.  has happens
     c.  has happening
     d.  has happened
2)  even though the age has been lowered, there are still ______ will not
     a.  certainly things that
     b.  curtain things that
     c.  certain things that
     d.  cert tin things that
3)  The legal age for drinking alcohol, smoking and gambling will ______ 20
     a.  remain fixed that
     b.  remain fixed what
     c.  remain fixed tat
     d.  remain fixed at
4)  The new law will enable 18-year-olds to get married without ______
     a.  parental consent
     b.  parental content
     c.  parental cons sent
     d.  parental contents
5)  women aged 18 and over will be able to apply to courts to have their ______ recognized
     a.  gander officially
     b.  agenda officially
     c.  gender officially
     d.  agendas officially

6)  The new law has been passed in an effort to bring about social and ______
     a.  economic change
     b.  economically change
     c.  economics change
     d.  economical change
7)  This will help to address the nation's ______ rate
     a.  dwindle in birth
     b.  dwindled in birth
     c.  dwindling birth
     d.  dwindle din birth
8)  financial freedoms could be a boost to the economy and provide more ______
     a.  taxed revenue
     b.  taxi revenue
     c.  tax revenue
     d.  taxes revenue
9) more concerned about how the law would affect the traditional Coming ______
     a.  of Aged Day
     b.  of Aging Day
     c.  of Ages Day
     d.  of Age Day
10)  in which 20-year-olds dress up in traditional kimonos to ______
     a.  celebratory adulthood
     b.  celebrate adulthood
     c.  celebrates adulthood
     d.  celebrated adulthood

Listening — Listen and fill in the gaps

Japan's government (1) ___________________ age at which people become adults. It is the first time since 1876 that this has happened. From the year 2022, teenagers will become (2) ___________________ age of 18, which is two years earlier than the age at which adulthood currently legally happens. However, even though the age has been lowered, there (3) ___________________ things that will not change. The legal age for drinking alcohol, smoking and gambling will (4) ___________________ 20. The new law will enable 18-year-olds to get married without parental consent, and allow them (5) ___________________ loans and credit cards. Transgender men and women aged 18 and over will be (6) ___________________ to courts to have their gender officially recognized.

The new law has been passed (7) ___________________ to bring about social and economic change in Japan. The government hopes to see an increase in (8) ___________________ young people getting married and starting families. This will help to address the nation's dwindling birth rate and ageing population. Greater financial freedoms could (9) ___________________ to the economy and provide more tax revenue. This is vital for a government struggling (10) ___________________ increasing pension and healthcare payments. Many of Japan's young people were more concerned about how (11) ___________________ affect the traditional Coming of Age Day. This is a national holiday held in January in which 20-year-olds (12) ___________________ traditional kimonos to celebrate adulthood.

Comprehension questions

  1. When was the last time Japan lowered the age of adulthood?
  2. When will the new law take effect?
  3. What three things will 18-year-old adults still not ne able to do?
  4. What will the younger adults be able to do without asking their parents?
  5. Who will be able to apply to courts for gender recognition?
  6. What does Japan's government hope younger people will start?
  7. What did the article say was dwindling in Japan?
  8. What payments is Japan struggling to make?
  9. What are many Japanese young people more worried about?
  10. Why do Japanese people wear kimonos when they are 20?

Multiple choice quiz

1) When was the last time Japan lowered the age of adulthood?
a) 1768
b) 1786
c) 1867
d) 1876
2) When will the new law take effect?
a) 2021
b) 2022
c) 2020
d) 2025
3) What three things will 18-year-old adults still not ne able to do?
a) gamble, smoke and get a loan
b) drink, get a loan and gamble
c) smoke, drink and gamble
d) get a loan, smoke and drink
4) What will the younger adults be able to do without asking their parents?
a) get married
b) join the army
c) buy a house
d) start a company
5) Where will people be able to apply to for gender recognition?
a) the census bureau
b) city halls
c) courts
d) police stations

6) What does Japan's government hope younger people will start?
a) leaving school earlier
b) families
c) businesses
d) websites
7) What did the article say was dwindling in Japan?
a) divorces
b) marriages
c) forests
d) birth rate
8) What payments is Japan struggling to make?
a) pensions
b) benefits
c) debt interest
d) online payments
9) What are many Japanese young people more worried about?
a) smartphones
b) North Korea
c) Coming of Age Day
d) graduating
10) Why do Japanese people wear kimonos when they are 20?
a) to practice for weddings
b) to celebrate adulthood
c) for a festival
d) for family photos

Role play

Role  A – Getting Married
You think getting married is the best thing about being an adult. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): independence, money or working.

Role  B – Independence
You think independence is the best thing about being an adult. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): getting married, money or working.

Role  C – Money
You think money is the best thing about being an adult. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): independence, getting married or working.

Role  D – Working
You think working is the best thing about being an adult. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them what is wrong with their things. Also, tell the others which is the worst of these (and why): independence, money or getting married.

After reading / listening

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates, other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words...

'age'

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • and 'adult'.

  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • ________________
  • • Share your findings with your partners.

    • Make questions using the words you found.

    • Ask your partner / group your questions.

    2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.

    •Share your questions with other classmates / groups. •Ask your partner / group your questions.

    3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise. Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new, interesting, worth learning…?

    4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups, pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

    5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try to recall how they were used in the text:

    • effort
    • hopes
    • population
    • vital
    • young
    • dress
    • first
    • earlier
    • even
    • drinking
    • enable
    • able

    Student survey

    Write five GOOD questions about this topic in the table. Do this in pairs. Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper. When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

    (Please look at page 12 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

    Discussion - Japan lowers age of adulthood to 18

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    1. What did you think when you read the headline?
    2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'adult'?
    3. When does adulthood start?
    4. How did you feel when you became an adult?
    5. Is it best to be an adult or a child?
    6. How much of an adult is an 18-year-old?
    7. When did you feel like an adult?
    8. When is the earliest someone should be allowed to marry?
    9. When is the earliest someone should be allowed to get a loan?
    10. Are you an adult if you cannot smoke or gamble?

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    1. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?
    2. What do you think of when you hear the word 'age'?
    3. What do you think about what you read?
    4. What are the good and bad things about being an adult?
    5. What social change will the new law bring?
    6. What are the dangers of an ageing population?
    7. Are we sad at no longer being a child or happy at becoming an adult?
    8. Should people be allowed to choose not to become an adult?
    9. How do people celebrate adulthood in your country?
    10. What questions would you like to ask a 20-year-old?

    Discussion — Write your own questions

    STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

    (a) ________________

    (b) ________________

    (c) ________________

    (d) ________________

    (e) ________________

    STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

    (f) ________________

    (g) ________________

    (h) ________________

    (i) ________________

    (j) ________________

    Language — Cloze (Gap-fill)

    Japan's government has (1) ____ the age at which people become adults. It is the first time since 1876 that this has happened. From the year 2022, teenagers will become adults at the age of 18, which is two years earlier than the age at which adulthood (2) ____ legally happens. However, even though the age has been lowered, there are still certain things that will not change. The (3) ____ age for drinking alcohol, smoking and gambling will remain fixed at 20. The new law will (4) ____ 18-year-olds to get married without parental consent, and allow them to apply (5) ____ loans and credit cards. Transgender men and women aged 18 and over will be able to apply to (6) ____ to have their gender officially recognized.

    The new law has been passed (7) ____ an effort to bring about social and economic change in Japan. The government hopes to see an (8) ____ in the number of young people getting married and starting families. This will help to address the nation's dwindling birth rate and ageing population. Greater financial freedoms could be a (9) ____ to the economy and provide more tax revenue. This is vital for a government struggling to (10) ____ with increasing pension and healthcare payments. Many of Japan's young people were more (11) ____ about how the law would affect the traditional Coming of Age Day. This is a national holiday held in January in which 20-year-olds dress (12) ____ in traditional kimonos to celebrate adulthood.

    Which of these words go in the above text?

    1. (a)     lowers     (b)     lowering     (c)     lowered     (d)     lowed    
    2. (a)     currently     (b)     current     (c)     currents     (d)     currant    
    3. (a)     legally     (b)     legal     (c)     legalize     (d)     legality    
    4. (a)     ability     (b)     able     (c)     capable     (d)     enable    
    5. (a)     on     (b)     on     (c)     for     (d)     with    
    6. (a)     counts     (b)     courts     (c)     coots     (d)     coasts    
    7. (a)     in     (b)     up     (c)     on     (d)     at    
    8. (a)     arise     (b)     upping     (c)     up     (d)     increase    
    9. (a)     beast     (b)     boast     (c)     boost     (d)     baste    
    10. (a)     coup     (b)     coop     (c)     cop     (d)     cope    
    11. (a)     cornered     (b)     concerned     (c)     coined     (d)     careered    
    12. (a)     up     (b)     on     (c)     down     (d)     by

    Spelling

    Paragraph 1

    1. Japan's vgotenremn
    2. there are still rictane things
    3. drinking llcoaho
    4. aebeln 18-year-olds
    5. get married without taprnael consent
    6. have their gender lficlyfiao recognized

    Paragraph 2

    1. social and ocoimcen change
    2. the nation's ndiwdglin birth rate
    3. tax vnereue
    4. This is ltvai
    5. pnnsieo and healthcare payments
    6. ceetblare adulthood

    Put the text back together

    (...)  of 18, which is two years earlier than the age at which adulthood currently legally happens. However, even
    (...)  since 1876 that this has happened. From the year 2022, teenagers will become adults at the age
    1  ) Japan's government has lowered the age at which people become adults. It is the first time
    (...)  consent, and allow them to apply for loans and credit cards. Transgender men and women
    (...)  concerned about how the law would affect the traditional Coming of Age Day. This is a national holiday held
    (...)  families. This will help to address the nation's dwindling birth rate and ageing population. Greater financial freedoms could be a
    (...)  smoking and gambling will remain fixed at 20. The new law will enable 18-year-olds to get married without parental
    (...)  cope with increasing pension and healthcare payments. Many of Japan's young people were more
    (...)  in January in which 20-year-olds dress up in traditional kimonos to celebrate adulthood.
    (...)  hopes to see an increase in the number of young people getting married and starting
    (...)  boost to the economy and provide more tax revenue. This is vital for a government struggling to
    (...)  aged 18 and over will be able to apply to courts to have their gender officially recognized.
    (...)  though the age has been lowered, there are still certain things that will not change. The legal age for drinking alcohol,
    (...)  The new law has been passed in an effort to bring about social and economic change in Japan. The government

    Put the words in the right order

    1. become   the   2022,   will   teenagers   adults   .   year   From
    2. at   which   The   happens   .   adulthood   currently   legally   age
    3. certain   There   that   still   things   are   not   .   will
    4. married   to   without   parental   18-year-olds   get   consent  .   Enable
    5. recognized   .   to   courts   to   Apply   have   their   gender
    6. The   of   getting   people   married   .   number   young
    7. address   birth   nation's   Help   the   rate   .   to   dwindling
    8. struggling   a   government   Vital   for   cope   .   to
    9. of   Japan's   young   were   more   concerned   .   people   Many
    10. up   Dress   in   celebrate   traditional   to   kimonos   adulthood   .

    Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

    Japan's government has lowered the old / age at which people become adults. It is the first time since 1876 that this has happened. From the year 2022, teenagers / teenaged will become adults at the age of 18, which is two years earlier than the age at which adulthood currently legal / legally happens. However, even though the age has been lowed / lowered, there are still certain things that will not charge / change. The legal age for drinking alcohol, smoking and gambling will remain fixing / fixed at 20. The new law will enable / capable 18-year-olds to get married without parental consent, and allow them to applicable / apply for loans and credit cards. Transgender men and women aged / ageing 18 and over will be able to apply to courts to have their gender officially recognition / recognized.

    The new law has been passed in an effort / affront to bring about social and economic change in Japan. The government hopes for / to see an increase in the number of youngish / young people getting married and starting families / family. This will help to address the nation's dawdling / dwindling birth rate and ageing population. Greater financial freedoms could be a boost / boast to the economy and provide more tax revenue. This is ritual / vital for a government struggling to cope / coup with increasing pension and healthcare payments. Many of Japan's young people were more cornered / concerned about how the law would affect the traditional Coming of Age Day. This is a national holiday held in January in which 20-year-olds dress up in traditional kimonos to celebrate / celebratory adulthood.

    Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and why the correct word is correct.

    Insert the vowels (a, e, i, o, u)

    J_p_n ' s g_v_r n m_n t h_s l_w_r_d t h_ _g_ _t w h_c h p__ p l_ b_c_m_ _d_l t s . I t _s t h_ f_r s t t_m_ s_n c_ 1 8 7 6 t h_t t h_s h_s h_p p_n_d . F r_m t h_ y__ r 2 0 2 2 , t__ n_g_r s w_l l b_c_m_ _d_l t s _t t h_ _g_ _f 1 8 , w h_c h _s t w_ y__ r s __ r l__ r t h_n t h_ _g_ _t w h_c h _d_l t h__ d c_r r_n t l y l_g_l l y h_p p_n s . H_w_v_r , _v_n t h__ g h t h_ _g_ h_s b__ n l_w_r_d , t h_r_ _r_ s t_l l c_r t__ n t h_n g s t h_t w_l l n_t c h_n g_. T h_ l_g_l _g_ f_r d r_n k_n g _l c_h_l , s m_k_n g _n d g_m b l_n g w_l l r_m__ n f_x_d _t 2 0 . T h_ n_w l_w w_l l _n_b l_ 1 8 - y__ r -_l d s t_ g_t m_r r__ d w_t h__ t p_r_n t_l c_n s_n t , _n d _l l_w t h_m t_ _p p l y f_r l__ n s _n d c r_d_t c_r d s . T r_n s g_n d_r m_n _n d w_m_n _g_d 1 8 _n d _v_r w_l l b_ _b l_ t_ _p p l y t_ c__ r t s t_ h_v_ t h__ r g_n d_r _f f_c__ l l y r_c_g n_z_d .

    T h_ n_w l_w h_s b__ n p_s s_d _n _n _f f_r t t_ b r_n g _b__ t s_c__ l _n d _c_n_m_c c h_n g_ _n J_p_n . T h_ g_v_r n m_n t h_p_s t_ s__ _n _n c r__ s_ _n t h_ n_m b_r _f y__ n g p__ p l_ g_t t_n g m_r r__ d _n d s t_r t_n g f_m_l__ s . T h_s w_l l h_l p t_ _d d r_s s t h_ n_t__ n ' s d w_n d l_n g b_r t h r_t_ _n d _g__ n g p_p_l_t__ n . G r__ t_r f_n_n c__ l f r__ d_m s c__ l d b_ _ b__ s t t_ t h_ _c_n_m y _n d p r_v_d_ m_r_ t_x r_v_n__ . T h_s _s v_t_l f_r _ g_v_r n m_n t s t r_g g l_n g t_ c_p_ w_t h _n c r__ s_n g p_n s__ n _n d h__ l t h c_r_ p_y m_n t s . M_n y _f J_p_n ' s y__ n g p__ p l_ w_r_ m_r_ c_n c_r n_d _b__ t h_w t h_ l_w w__ l d _f f_c t t h_ t r_d_t__ n_l C_m_n g _f A g_ D_y . T h_s _s _ n_t__ n_l h_l_d_y h_l d _n J_n__ r y _n w h_c h 2 0 - y__ r -_l d s d r_s s _p _n t r_d_t__ n_l k_m_n_s t_ c_l_b r_t_ _d_l t h__ d .

    Punctuate the text and add capitals

    japans government has lowered the age at which people become adults it is the first time since 1876 that this has happened from the year 2022 teenagers will become adults at the age of 18 which is two years earlier than the age at which adulthood currently legally happens however even though the age has been lowered there are still certain things that will not change the legal age for drinking alcohol smoking and gambling will remain fixed at 20 the new law will enable 18yearolds to get married without parental consent and allow them to apply for loans and credit cards transgender men and women aged 18 and over will be able to apply to courts to have their gender officially recognized

    the new law has been passed in an effort to bring about social and economic change in japan the government hopes to see an increase in the number of young people getting married and starting families this will help to address the nations dwindling birth rate and ageing population greater financial freedoms could be a boost to the economy and provide more tax revenue this is vital for a government struggling to cope with increasing pension and healthcare payments many of japans young people were more concerned about how the law would affect the traditional coming of age day this is a national holiday held in january in which 20yearolds dress up in traditional kimonos to celebrate adulthood

    Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

    Japan'sgovernmenthasloweredtheageatwhichpeoplebecomeadults.
    Itisthefirsttimesince1876thatthishashappened.Fromtheyear2
    022,teenagerswillbecomeadultsattheageof18,whichistwoyearsearli
    erthantheageatwhichadulthoodcurrentlylegallyhappens.However,e
    venthoughtheagehasbeenlowered,therearestillcertainthingsthatwil
    lnotchange.Thelegalagefordrinkingalcohol,smokingandgamblingwil
    lremainfixedat20.Thenewlawwillenable18-year-oldstogetmarriedw
    ithoutparentalconsent,andallowthemtoapplyforloansandcreditcard
    s.Transgendermenandwomenaged18andoverwillbeabletoapplytoc
    ourtstohavetheirgenderofficiallyrecognized.Thenewlawhasbeenpas
    sedinanefforttobringaboutsocialandeconomicchangeinJapan.Thego
    vernmenthopestoseeanincreaseinthenumberofyoungpeoplegetting
    marriedandstartingfamilies.Thiswillhelptoaddressthenation'sdwindl
    ingbirthrateandageingpopulation.Greaterfinancialfreedomscouldbe
    aboosttotheeconomyandprovidemoretaxrevenue.Thisisvitalforago
    vernmentstrugglingtocopewithincreasingpensionandhealthcarepay
    ments.ManyofJapan'syoungpeopleweremoreconcernedabouthowth
    elawwouldaffectthetraditionalComingofAgeDay.Thisisanationalholi
    dayheldinJanuaryinwhich20-year-oldsdressupintraditionalkimono
    stocelebrateadulthood.

    Free writing

    Write about adulthood for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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    Academic writing

    What is the real age for society to accept people as adults? Why?

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    Homework

    1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the text. Use a dictionary or Google's search field (or another search engine) to build up more associations / collocations of each word.
    2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.
    3. ADULTHOOD: Make a poster about adulthood. Show your work to your classmates in the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?
    4. SIXTEEN: Write a magazine article about the age of 16 being adulthood. Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.
    Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).
    5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.
    6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on adulthood. Ask him/her three questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on the best age for adulthood. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your partner(s) will answer your questions.

    A Few Additional Activities for Students

    Ask your students what they have read, seen or heard about this news in their own language. Students are likely to / may have have encountered this news in their L1 and therefore bring a background knowledge to the classroom.

    Get students to role play different characters from this news story.

    Ask students to keep track of this news and revisit it to discuss in your next class.

    Ask students to male predictions of how this news might develop in the next few days or weeks, and then revisit and discuss in a future class.

    Ask students to write a follow-up story to this news.

    Students role play a journalist and someone who witnessed or was a part of this news. Perhaps they could make a video of the interview.

    Ask students to keep a news journal in English and add this story to their thoughts.

    Also...

    Buy my 1,000 Ideas and Activities for Language Teachers eBook. It has hundreds of ideas, activity templates, reproducible activities for:

    • News
    • Warm ups
    • Pre-reading / Post-reading
    • Using headlines
    • Working with words
    • While-reading / While-listening
    • Moving from text to speech
    • Post-reading / Post-listening
    • Discussions
    • Using opinions
    • Plans
    • Language
    • Using lists
    • Using quotes
    • Task-based activities
    • Role plays
    • Using the central characters in the article
    • Using themes from the news
    • Homework

    Buy my book

    $US 9.99

    Answers

    (Please look at page 26 of the PDF to see a photocopiable example of this activity.)

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