Talking about age and life stages

1. B2, EOI CARTAGENA
Isabel Bastida & Ana Mena
AGE AND LIFE
STAGES

2. What’s the difference?
1. A preemie / a newborn / an infant or baby/ a toddler
2. A tween boy / a teenager / an adolescent
3. A young adult / a twentysomething
4. A middle-aged / a senior citizen / an elderly person
5. She’s in her early ( or mid) forties / She is on the wrong side of 40.
6. He’s recently came of age / He’s getting on for 70 / He’s just turned 20.
How old is a person when ….?
 They are having a midlife crisis
 They are coming up to retirement
 They are “millennials”
 They are getting on in years
 They are over the hill

3. How would you describe the following life stages? Discuss
the advantages and disadvantages of each stage, the main
concerns of people at that age and what people normally
hope to achieve at that age.
From birth to 3 years of age.
From 4 to 12 years of age.
From 13 to 20 years of age.
From 21 to 40 years of age.
From 40 to 65 years of age.
From 66 onwards.

4. Stages of Life
Infancy Childhood Adolescence Early Adulthood Late adulthood
Frombirth ~ 3 years 4 ~ 12 years 13 ~ 21 years 21 ~ 40 years 40 -65 years
Birth – the event where the
baby arrives fromthe
mother’s body
Depends on otherpeople,
The brain is developing
And learns motorskills.
New to life
Baby – a newly born human
Infant – a very young child.
(usually 0-18 months)
Crawl – moving on yourhands
and feet (not standing)
Toddler– a young child
beginning to walk
A child learns to play and
socialize, masters motor
skills and speaking.
Pre-K– a beginnerschool
foryoung children unready
forformal school
Kindergarten – The first
grade of school forchildren
Elementary School – The
beginnerlevels of school
(grades 1-5)
Middle School – The
intermediate levels of
school (grades 6-8)
Pre-teen – before becoming
a teenager(approx. ages 11
& 12)
Introduced to organized
activities.
Slumberparty – an
invitation forfriends to
spend the night at your
house
Growth spurts start to occur
and puberty brings hormonal
changes.
Strong emotions and
behavioral risks.
Teenager– ages 13-18
High School - The advanced
levels of school (grades 9-12)
Legal Adult – 18 years of age
College – The post high school
levels of education including
Bachelors, Masters, and Ph.Ds
Graduation –Successfully
completing a final level of High
School orCollege
Job Hunting – The process of
searching and applying forjobs
Single – Not married
Dating – In a romantic
relationship with someone
Engagement – the time of
preparing to be married
Marriage – A life-committed
relationship with another
person that starts with a
wedding
Raise (Children) – To be
responsible forand help
children in theirgrowth
Divorce – legal separation
froma marriage partner
House hunting – the process
of searching fora house to
buy
Invest – to place money in
stocks, retirement accounts,
and otheroptions with the
hopes of growing the money
First signs of aging
Children leave the nest
(empty nest syndrome)
Careeris at its peak
Old Age
+ 65 years
Retirement – officially
stopping employment for
the rest of yourlife
Health care benefits or
pensions
Estate planning – making
legal plans to handle your
finances afteryourdeath
Grandchildren – Your
children’s children
Health problems may occur
and medication may be
needed.
May depend on others for
help.

5. Discuss in pairs
What stage are you in at that moment?
What do you like / dislike about it?
What stage are you most looking forward to?
Why?
What stage have you enjoyed the most so far?
Why?
What age do you think is the best one?

6. Put these life events in the order they most usually occur.
-Which events are emotionally draining/ financially draining/ significant/ stressful/ joyous?
Look at the groups of words. What life stage do they represent?
Reception / toast / vows/ gown / groom / honeymoon
Sign the deed / house keys / apply for a loan / mortgage
Coffin / respects / grave / condolences / mourners
Break one’s waters / hospital / incubator / midwife / breastfeeding
Professor / speech / degree / party / gown / graduation hat
Engagement
Funeral
Retirement
Birth
Wedding
Getting a job
Starting a family
Coming of age
Leaving home
Naming ceremony
Buying or renting a flat/ house
Learning to drive

7. YOUR TURN
•What major event the photo
shows?
•How are people feeling?
•Do you have any memories
about this moment in your life?

8. YOUR TURN
•What major event the photo
shows?
•How are people feeling?
•Do you have any memories
about this moment in your life?

9. YOUR TURN
•What major event the photo
shows?
•How are people feeling?
•Do you have any memories
about this moment in your life?

10. YOUR TURN
•What major event the photo
shows?
•How are people feeling?
•Do you have any memories
about this moment in your life?

11. YOUR TURN
•What major event the photo
shows?
•How are people feeling?
•Do you have any memories
about this moment in your life?

12. YOUR TURN
•What major event the photo
shows?
•How are people feeling?
•Do you have any memories
about this moment in your life?

13. YOUR TURN
•What major event the photo
shows?
•How are people feeling?
•Do you have any memories
about this moment in your life?

14. Idioms and phrases
1. She's a bit long in the tooth for a cabaret dancer, isn't she?
2. If you lead a healthy life you'll live to a ripe old age." said the doctor.
3. I found the phone in the cupboard. I must have had a senior moment!
4. I hardly recognized Mr. Brown. His illness has put years on him.
5. Although he is over 80, he still feels young at heart.
6. Hi Jane! It's been a dog's age since we last met.
7. Stop being childish and act your age.
a) To be mature and not childish.
b) A long period of time.
c) Very old age.
d) To have a youthful spirit in spite of being old.
e) Look or feel much older
f) A bit too old to do something
g) A momentary lapse of memory, especially in older people, or an absent-
minded action (humorous)