1. Traders in their 40s in one bank are known as dinosaurs
2. Everyone is happy with the new laws.
3. New employment laws in the EU will make it harder for older people to get a job.
4. Many middle-aged bankers when fired often suffer financial ruin.
2. Match the following synonyms from the article New Ageism Laws Let Older Bankers Sue for Millions you are going to listen to:
| 1) speeding | a) limit |
| 2) unacceptable | b) organizations |
| 3) workers | c) hands-on |
| 4) income | d) fed up |
| 5) capped | e) bombing |
| 6) disgruntled | f) inexcusable |
| 7) males | g) sacked |
| 8) companies | h) females |
| 9) fired | i) employees |
| 10) experience | j) earnings |
3. Match the phrases from the article New Ageism Laws Let Older Bankers Sue for Millions you are going to listen to. Sometimes more than one choice is possible. Listen and check if you were right:
| 1. Compensation for unfair dismissal claims | a) not bad like speeding |
| 2. Racism and sexism are viewed | b) many middle-aged bankers |
| 3. Ageism is seen as | c) Age Regulations |
| 4. Financial ruin for | d) is happy with the new laws |
| 5. The new laws mean staff can | e) should not receive higher pay |
| 6. The Employment Equality | f) was capped at around $110,000 |
| 7. However not everyone | g) like drunk driving - totally unacceptable |
| 8. 16-24-year-olds believed older workers | h) have been introduced in the EU |
| 9. New employment laws | i) call traders in their 40s dinosaurs |
| 10. One bank allowed staff to | j) claim significant levels of compensation |
4. Listen to the article and fill in the spaces:
New Ageism Laws Let Older Bankers Sue for Millions
New employment __________ have been introduced in the European Union that will help _______________ older workers. The Employment Equality Age Regulations became law on October 1 as part of an EU-wide initiative to stop __________ in the workplace. Legislators decided discrimination against older workers and older job seekers was on a par with _________________ and that against ethnic minorities. The new laws mean staff can claim significant levels of _________________ employers found guilty of firing staff for being too old. Sam Mercer, chief executive of the Employers Forum on Age told The Guardian newspaper: "Ageism is still seen as not that bad like speeding. While racism and sexism are viewed like drunk driving - totally unacceptable." However, not everyone ______________ the new laws. The Guardian reports a recent study which revealed 70% of 16-24-year-olds believed older workers should not receive higher pay because of ___________ or experience.
Those likely to most _____________ the new laws are middle-aged bankers, who are often let go by their employers for being less dynamic than their _____________ more ambitious counterparts. In effect, this means the law will give greater protection to white middle-aged men - called "pale, _____________" by human resource departments. The __________ reports that one bank allowed staff to call traders in their 40s "_________" and their desks as "Jurassic Park", according to a leading employment law solicitor. Before the new law was passed, these workers had a very hard time reconstructing their lives after being wrongly fired by companies. _____________ unfair dismissal claims was capped at around $110,000, which is a fraction of the income for many bankers in their 40s. This often meant financial ruin for many middle-aged bankers. The new laws change that. Companies now need to be extremely careful when _________ older workers, or risk multi-million-dollar payouts to ___________ staff.
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5. Listen to the recording once again and reproduce how the words below were used in the article:
1) dinosaurs
2) The Guardian
3) pale, stale males
4) bankers
5) 16-24-year olds
6) legislators
7) millions
8) par
9) guilty
10) racism
11) dynamic
12) age
Discussion
1. Discuss in pairs:
1. What do you think of ageism?
2. Do you know anyone who has been affected by ageism? If so, describe it.
3. Is there ageism in your country?
4. Were you aware of the new ageism laws before this lesson?
5. Could the new age discrimination laws endanger the minimum wage system?
6. Are you in favour of the new age discrimination laws?
7. Do you think the European Union is right to have introduced these new employment laws?
8. How do you see employers reacting to this new law?
9. Will employers try to get around it?
10. Describe your feelings on age discrimination being abolished in recruitment? Employment and training?
11. What are your thoughts on the enforced retirement age before 65 being abolished for most?
12. Will company pensions be affected by these new laws?
13. Do you think its a good idea for companies to push workers out because of their age?
14. Do you think the new laws will act as a lever to help more older workers to stay in employment, thus reducing the burden of paying pensions on both the state and private pension schemes?
15. Why do some companies ask for a photograph to go with a CV?
Writing
Write a letter to the Guardian newspaper. Tell them what you think of the new employment laws in the European Union. Ask three questions. Show your letter to your classmates in the next lesson. Your classmates will write a reply.
Unit 12. STYLE
Vocabulary
Look up the translation of the following words and word combinations in the dictionary:
1) assume (v) Youll look at my clothes, which will probably be my friends clothes, and wrongly assume Im rich.
2) bargain (n) I got the hat in the sales it was a bargain.
3) blunt (adj) A blunt knife is not sharp and does not cut properly.
4) eccentric (adj) Something that is eccentric is very strange or unusual.
5) to make ends meet (phr) Im an artist but work in an art gallery three days a week to make ends meet.
6) be in sbs genes (phr) Vanessas parents were interior designers, so style is in her genes.
7) go off (phr v) When your alarm goes off in the morning, it starts making a noise to wake you up.
8) grip (n) If we shake hands, youll notice that my grip is strong.
9) make a living (phr) If you make a living from something, you earn enough money from it to live.
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10) on a day-to-day basis (phr) On a day-to-day basis Vanessa prefers comfortable clothes.
11) outcome (n) Put together outfits without too much thought and see what the outcome is.
12) be in the public eye (phr) As I became more in the public eye, I became more aware of what I wore.
13) scare (v) The red carpet treatment scares Vanessa Paradis.
14) set eyes on sb If youve never set eyes on someone before, it is the first time youve seen them.
15) Small world. (phr) Small world is an expression used to show you are surprised that someone has visited the same places as you.
16) stroll (n) A stroll is a short, relaxing walk.
17) work out (phr v) Working as a model helped to develop her style and to work out what suited her.
18) wouldnt be seen dead in sth Most of my friends wouldnt be seen dead in snakeskin cowboy boots!
Clothes & Fashion
1) baggy (adj) Baggy clothes are very loose on your body.
2) belt (n) Fran wears her red miniskirt with a brown leather belt.
3) bohemian (adj) A bohemian style is informal and considered typical of writers and artists.
4) brand-new (adj) A brand-new piece of clothing has never been worn before.
5) checked (adj) A checked shirt is one that has a pattern of squares on it.
6) cowboy boots (n pl) Al is really proud of his American snakeskin cowboy boots.
7) designer look (n) Carla Bruni thinks the head-to-toe designer look is ridiculous.
8) elegant (adj) He was wearing an elegant white linen jacket.
9) fashion (n) The head-to-toe designer look is the opposite of fashion.
10) fit (v) These trousers are too tight they dont fit me any more.
11) floppy (adj) A floppy hat is soft and loose.
12) fur (n) Many people in Russia wear fur hats in the winter.
13) go with (phr v) Im trying to find a top that goes with these trousers.
14) hoody (n) A hoody is a top that looks like a small jacket, with a hood that covers your head.
15) leather jacket (n) The red miniskirt looks fantastic with my old black leather jacket.
16) long/short-sleeved (adj) Short-sleeved shirts are more comfortable in hot weather.
17) low-waisted (adj) I dont like low-waisted trousers. You take away the hips and the waist the best bits.
18) match (v) Dont forget to check that your socks match!
19) matching bag/hat etc (n) A matching bag and hat makes you look like a hristmas tree!
20) miniskirt (n) In the early days, Vanessa loved wearing miniskirts and leather jackets.
21) modelling (n) Through modelling, Carla learned how to use her body.
22) outfit (n) Jays favourite outfit is black skinny jeans with a black polo-neck top.
23) pinstripe (n) A smart pinstripe suit is made of material with a thin line woven into it.
24) plain (adj) A plain shirt etc is one that doesnt have a pattern.
25) pointy shoes (n pl) Pointy shoes have a point at the front.
26) polo-neck (n) A polo-neck top has a high neck that folds over.
27) put together (phr v) Vanessa likes putting together outfits without too much thought.
28) shoulder pads (n pl) Shoulder pads are thick soft pieces of material inside the shoulders of a jacket.
29) silk (n) Silk is a thin, smooth, expensive material.
30) skinny jeans (n pl) Skinny jeans are extremely tight.
31) smart (adj) I wear smart pinstripe suits for work.
32) snakeskin (n) Al loves his snakeskin cowboy boots.
33) stand out (phr v) If you stand out in a crowd, everyone notices you.
34) striped (adj) Striped material has lines woven into it.
35) style (n) I dont think anyone can teach you to have style you either have it or you dont.
36) suede (n) Suede is leather with a soft brushed surface.
37) suit (v) Working as a model helped to develop her style and to work out what suited her.
38) take off (phr v) If the trousers feel a bit tight round the waist, I take them off and try on another pair.
39) top (n) Jay likes wearing black skinny jeans with black polo-neck top.
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40) try on (phr v) She tried on two or three tops before finding one that looked right.
41) V-neck (n) Do you prefer V-necks or polo necks?
42) woolly (adj) I decided to wear a thick, woolly jumper as it was so cold.
Physical Description
1) of average build Hes just under six feet tall and of average build.
2) bald (adj) A man who is bald has no hair.
3) blond streaks (n pl) Blond streaks are lines of a lighter colour in someones hair.
4) bushy (adj) Bushy hair is very thick.
5) curly (adj) Do you prefer curly or straight hair?
6) dark shadows (n pl) He looked very tired and had dark shadows under his eyes.
7) deep-set (adj) Deep-set eyes seem to be a long way back into your face.
8) eyebrow (n) He had a scar across the centre of his left eyebrow.
9) eyeliner (n) Eyeliner is a line of black make-up that you put round your eyes.
10) face-lift (n) She looked as if shed had a face-lift, but in fact shed just had a makeover.
11) freckles (n pl) Freckles are small brown spots on your skin.
12) ginger (adj) People with ginger hair often have a lot of freckles.
13) goatee (n) In Pirates of the Caribbean Johnny Depp has a small goatee beard.
14) have ones clothes designed by a stylist (phr) Angela had her clothes designed by a stylist to improve her appearance.
15) have ones ears pierced (phr) I had my ears pierced when I was 14.
16) have ones eyelids lifted (phr) Tony had plastic surgery to have his eyelids lifted.
17) have ones hair cut and coloured (phr) Having your hair cut and coloured can really improve your appearance.
18) have ones make-up done by an expert (phr) You can pay a lot of money to have your make-up done by an expert.
19) have ones teeth whitened (phr) Having my teeth whitened gave me more confidence.
20) have ones wardrobe re-designed (phr) If you have your wardrobe re-designed, s omeone chooses a lot of new clothes for you to wear.
21) hazel (adj) Hazel eyes are light brown and slightly golden in colour.
22) in ones late teens (phr) If you are between 17 and 19, you are in your late teens.
23) in ones early/late thirties etc (phr) She became President when she was only in her early thirties.
24) just over/under (phr) If you are just under six feet tall, you are nearly six feet in height.
25) makeover (n) After the makeover Angela only looked about twenty-eight!
26) medium (adj) If you are of medium build, you are neither thin nor fat.
27) messy (adj) Messy hair is not tidy.
28) mole (n) A mole is a brown spot on your skin that is permanent.
29) overweight (adj) Someone who is overweight is too fat.
30) plastic surgery (n) If you can afford plastic surgery, youre bound to look better.
31) receding (adj) If your hair is receding, less and less of is growing at the front.
32) scar (n) A scar is a mark on your skin caused by an injury.
33) shoulder-length (adj) In Pirates of the Caribbean Johnny Depp has messy black shoulder-length hair.
34) sideburns (n pl) Sideburns are the hair that grows down a mans cheeks.
35) skinny (adj) Someone who is skinny is very thin.
36) slim (adj) Someone who is slim is thin in an attractive way.
37) stocky (adj) Someone who is stocky looks strong but is not tall.
38) tattoo (n) A tattoo is a picture drawn in ink on your skin.
39) tiny (adj) Someone who is tiny is extremely small.
40) transformation (n) Did you see Ten Years Younger last night? The transformation was incredible.
41) wavy (adj) Wavy hair is slightly curly.
42) well - built (adj) Someone who is well-built has a strong body.
Supplementary Reading
1. Read and translate the text:
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Are Today's Teenagers Victims of Fashion?
A survey among the 1,300 pupils at Caldicot Comprehensive School, near Newport, Wales shows that teenage girls and boys are deeply affected by the images presented by the fashion industry in magazines.
When we asked whether superslim fashion models influence anorexia - the eating disorder in which people go without food - 100 per cent of our sample replied "Yes".
It's not just our schoolmates who hold these views. We interviewed psychologist Dr Glenn Waller of London's Royal Holloway College, an expert on the influence of fashion on adolescents. He told us that fashion photographs in magazines make a huge impact on young peoples self-image, particularly females aged 13-19.
Young people are guided by media standards while they are looking around for an identity," he said. "Magazines provide ideas and these can affect vulnerable people.
If women look at supermodels who are beanpoles, they may imagine that they themselves are fatter than they really are. If the media used a wider range of female shapes it would be better.
Fortunately, many Caldicot students are not victims of the image-makers. Heres what some of them said:
If you are constantly dieting, you cant enjoy life.
Fashion is something kids can control. It is a path many teenagers take to break free and have fun
I find nothing attractive about six-foot models who are too stone underweight; they just look ill.
Friends shouldnt write you off for wearing unfashionable clothes; if they do, they arent very good friends.
Exercises on the text
1. Choose six opinions expressed in the article. Find the sentences in the story where they are expressed:
1) True friends dont expect you to be fashionable.
2) You cant blame the fashion business for anorexia.
3) Clothes look better on thinner people.
4) Dieting takes the fun out of life.
5) Fashion allows teenagers to feel free and have fun.
6) Fashion models today are getting larger.
7) Images of very thin models may take ordinary women feel fat.
8) Underweight models are unattractive.
9) Pop groups influence teenagers ideas about fashion.
2. Do you agree or disagree with each of the statements in ex.1? Do you follow fashion? Why/Why not?
