Exercise: Aging population a growing challenge

This exercise is linked to the article: Aging population a growing challenge

This exercise is linked to the article: Aging population a growing challenge

 

Spectator College, Man and Society – Active Ageing

 

Aims
- Students understand the system of the welfare state and the challenges arising from an ageing population.
- Students understand the new vocabulary and are able to use it independently.
- Students can express themselves on the topic of welfare state, ageing and active lifestyles
- Students engage in conversation actively, using appropriate phrases and vocabulary

I. Intro (5 min)
1. Imagine that in a country the number of newborn babies is smaller that the number of people going into retirement. What can happen over time?
2. Imagine, that there are more people retired than of productive working age. What are the possible consequences?

II. Reading comprehension (15 min)
Read the article on the ageing population and answer the following questions. (After reading: check understanding, explain the unknown words.)
1. In the following years, the number of the employed people will increase. T - F
2. Older people are always treated fairly when looking for employment or at the doctors. T - F
3. Norway is the best in the quality of life for elderly people. T - F
4. The Slovak Labour Ministry wants to increase the current retirement age of 62. T - F
5. We should start to care about active aging earlier in life, not when we reach critical age. T - F
6. In order to improve their employability, older people should learn languages or computers. T - F
(Summary: Slovakia is among the EU countries with the fastest ageing population, which requires the attention of the people and the Labour Ministry.)

III. Vocabulary development (7 min)
key words: ageing, alone, amendment, concept, discrimination, disregard, elderly, enact, labour market, lag behind, life-long education, lonely, marginally, pensioner, perceive, principle, private sphere, productive age, public affairs, ratio, social care contribution, spokesperson,
What is the opposite of private sphere?
What is the difference between alone and lonely?
Find synonyms to elderly, perceive, ageing
Give examples of: productive age, social care contribution, life-long education

IV. Discussion. (10 min)
In pairs/groups discuss the article and try to answer the questions. Use your knowledge from history and social studies class (občianska výchova)
1. What do you understand by the term “active aging”?
2. How is active aging related to the health problems?
3. What does “state run social insurer” mean? Where do they get the money for pensions?
4. How can active aging affect a country’s economy? Are active people more productive?
5. What kind of solutions did SAV suggest?
6. Why is the Japanese strategy primarily focused on medical care?

V. Cool down activity or homework
Look at the following quotes. Are they in favour or against active aging? Why? How do you understand them? (5 min)
“For me life is continuously being hungry. The meaning of life is not simply to exist, to survive, but to move ahead, to go up, to achieve, to conquer.” - Arnold Schwarzenegger

“Lose your dreams and you might lose your mind.” - Mick Jagger
“Why would I retire? Sit at home and watch TV? No thanks. I'd rather be out playing.” - Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger are still active musicians being in their 70s. Arnold Schwarzenegger is more than 60 but still active in fitness, film and politics.
1. Why do you think they still have motivation and energy to go on?
2. Do you know similar people who are not celebrities? (Your parents, grandparents, friends, teachers...)


This exercise is published as part of Spectator College, a programme created by The Slovak Spectator with the support of Petit Academy Foundation and Orange Foundation.

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