Lesson 1B: Blame It on the Brain

Before we start...

Can you explain these words and phrases in English?

A Words, words, words

A1 Listen and repeat. Flip to check the meaning.

A2 Match.

A3 Listen and spell the words correctly. Translate them.

B Listening and reading

B1 Dr Mark Wilson, a psychologist, is giving a lecture to Charlie’s class on relationships between teenagers and their parents. Read the quote he gives them.

“Our youth now love luxury. They have bad manners, for authority; they show for their elders and love in place of exercise; they no longer rise when elders enter the room; they contradict their parents, chatter before company, their food and their teachers.”

Do you know who said it, and when? Listen and check.

Let’s look at the quote I have given you. You probably think that it’s about teenagers today. But you’ll be surprised to hear that it actually comes from Socrates, a Greek philosopher who lived four centuries before Christ. What does it tell us about the relationship between teenagers and adults? It seems that it has always been one of . The adults have always asked themselves the famous question: ‘What is wrong with the youth of today?’. Teenagers are often seen as being rude, , disrespectful and lazy. But, in truth, there is absolutely nothing wrong with teenagers today. And there has never been anything wrong with them. Today, we’re going to see…

B2 Read the second part of Dr Wilson’s lecture. Choose the topics that he talks about.

Modern science has found some answers to why teenagers act a certain way. The secret lies in the brain, your body’s control center. When you were six years old, your brain was already at 90 to 95 percent of its adult size. However, it wasn’t fully developed! In fact, your brain doesn’t stop developing until you’re an adult. It goes through many changes when you’re an adolescent. The way you behave, make decisions, or solve problems is controlled by the front part of your brain, which is the last to mature. Until it develops, you rely on the part of the brain that connects with emotions, aggression and instinctive behavior. That’s the reason you’re moody, easily annoyed or willing to take risks sometimes. And that’s why it’s harder for you to control yourself, so you end up talking back to your parents or slamming doors when you’re angry. This doesn’t mean you’re a bad child or student. It just means that your brain is still developing, and you sometimes find it hard to control your words and actions.

While the brain is often blamed for your lack of control of emotions, this should never be an excuse for inappropriate behavior. If you’re struggling to cope with your emotions, try to find someone to talk to. Why not turn to your family or friends? They love you and care about you, although it doesn’t always seem like this to you. You can also try talking to your teachers. They should understand what’s bothering you, because they’ve gone through the same thing, too. Remember that you’re responsible for what your brain is going to be like when you’re an adult. Try to do as much as you can to keep it healthy. Are you getting enough sleep and exercise? Are you eating healthy food? Your brain is affected by every decision you make on a daily basis. Now is also a good time to find out what you’re good at and learn more about it. Music, painting, sports, science, acting… The options are endless! And remember that it’s alright if you’re still not sure about what you like. You’ll find out, sooner or later.

B3 Read the text again, and choose the correct answer.

C Listening

C1 These are some of the things parents and teenagers argue about. Do you know their meaning?

C2 Charlie is talking to her parents about Dr Wilson’s assignment, “What did you argue about most with your parents when you were a teenager?”.

Listen and complete the summary of the conversation.

Charlie: Mom, Dad, I need to talk to you. Do you have a minute?
Mum: Of course. What happened?
Charlie: Nothing happened! You don’t have to worry all the time. I just have this school assignment, and I need to talk to you.
Dad: Sure, go ahead. How can we help?
Charlie: This morning we had a lecture on the teenage brain. We got a , and I have to prepare a report for tomorrow. It’s about what you were like as teenagers.
Dad: Oh, are you sure you want to know?
Charlie: Well, I’m sure you weren’t that bad! Or were you?
Dad: No, I was a pretty good kid, and I didn’t get into that many fights with my parents. But I remember constantly fighting with my dad about my . I had my ear pierced when I was fifteen. Actually, my friend pierced it for me. It was a pretty stupid thing to do, now that I think about it. But at the time I thought it looked great! And my dad really, really hated it.
Mum: Oh, I liked that earring! My parents also sometimes criticized my style. I often changed the color of my hair, and I wore ripped jeans, which I’m glad are fashionable again. But your grandparents didn’t think it was a good look on a teenage girl.
Charlie: I guess that’s why you never criticize me for my clothes…
Dad: I guess we remember what our teenage years were like. You know your grandparents. They aren’t as understanding as your mom and I are. They’re very traditional, and I grew up in a very strict household. When I was out with friends, I was always the first to leave, because I had to be home by ten. And I always had to be the ‘responsible one’ in the family. Your Uncle Jim was the ‘baby brother’, and could get away with almost anything he did. The one time I tried telling them it wasn’t fair, they grounded me!
Mum: My parents were a lot more liberal, so I could stay out longer. My best friend was in a punk band, and we often sat in the garage and listened to punk music. Whenever I listened to it at home, my mum would always shout ‘Turn that awful music down!’. Of course, I never would, and she’d get very angry at me.
Charlie: Wow, I didn’t know you were a punk. Cool! Is there anything else you want to tell me?
Mum: Hmm… Not that I can think of, no. But while we’re discussing this… Charlie, is there anything we do that annoys you?
Charlie: Well, Mom, you worry about me too much. I’m not a baby any more. You can relax from time to time, you know.
Mum: That’s easier said than done... But I get the point. Still, I’ll always worry about you. That’s just the way I am.
Dad: Charlie, you’re a really good kid, and we try not to be critical. We trust you, and we hope you trust us, too! You know you can always talk to us about anything.
Charlie: I know, I know. Now I have to go to my room and prepare the report... And choose my new hair color!
Mum: Ummm, yeah about that. I don’t…

D Grammar time

Active vs passive sentences

In the active voice, the subject of the sentence does the action.
In the passive voice, the subject of the sentence receives the action.

D1 Read Dr Wilson’s message to parents. Choose the active or the passive form of the verb.

D2 How to make a passive sentence?

D3 Charlie helps her parents with housework on a daily basis. They split the chores. Read what they do. When or how often are the chores done?

For curious minds

Learn more about your brain and various addictions. Report what you have learned to your teacher, and discuss the videos with the rest of your class.

Lesson 1B

WORD LIST