Sleep

How many hours a week do teenagers spend on homework?

The average teenager spends more than 15 hours a week on homework. On a typical school night, they spend over 2
hours on homework. The more stress a teen feels, the more likely they are to spend even more time on homework.
What are the causes of stress for high school students?
Grades/test scores and homework are overwhelmingly the top two causes of stress for all teenagers. The more stress
a teen feels, the more likely they are to say grades/test scores and homework cause them stress.
What are the sleep behaviors of teenagers?
More than half of all teenagers do not feel they get enough sleep. More than three-fourths (79%) get 7 hours of sleep
or less on a typical school night. Only about one in five teens are getting 8 hours of sleep or more. 43% of teens are
going to bed at 11 p.m. or later and about one-third (33%) of these same teens are waking up at 6 a.m. or earlier. The
more stressed a teen feels, the more likely they are to get less sleep, go to bed later and wake up earlier. They are
also more likely to have trouble going to sleep and staying asleep – more often than their less-stressed peers.

1. How much sleep do you usually get

(or, have or need) every day?
2. Have your sleeping habits changed
since you were young(er)?
3. What time do you usually go to bed?
4. Do you like to read before you fall
asleep?
5. Do you (usually) take a nap in the
middle of the day?
6. Do you ever (or, often) stay up late? (If
yes, why, what do you do when you
stay up late?)
7. Is it easy to wake up in the morning if
you stay up late?
8. Do you stay up late more often now
than when you were younger?
9. What are some reasons why people
(or, you) get up early?
10. Do you think old people need as much
sleep as young people? 

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Offer Suggestions:
Why not…/Why don’t you… If I were you, I’d …
You could always …., right? What about (do)ing?
Perhaps you could…. Have you thought about…?

Fish  N
1. Fishing keeps you fit
By going fishing your main muscle groups, heart and lungs are all getting a good work out. Choosing a fishing spot
that's a 10 to 15 minute walk from your car is an obvious boost to aerobic exercise. But setting up, casting off and
then winding in hundreds of small fish calls for a bit of strength. Let alone some of the huge carp or pike you can find
in our waters. It engages the shoulders, back, arms, core and legs in an active workout. 
It’s a whole body work out without the drama of going to the gym. You might not have even noticed it!
2. Fishing increases your vitamin D
Even when skies are grey – which they often are – being outside means your body can top up on critical Vitamin D
reserves. Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in your body, keeping your bones and teeth
healthy. It boosts your immune system and has been linked to fighting depression.
3. Fishing improves your concentration
Being outside and taking notice of the environment around you improve your ability to concentrate, according to
research in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Walking in nature or simply spending time under leafy trees leads
to changes in the brain, which improve levels of concentration.
4. Fishing reduces stress
40% of adults lie awake at night through stress but just being near water lowers anxiety and instills a sense of calm.
More and more charities are realizing this and starting to use the therapeutic benefits of fishing to treat post-
traumatic-stress-disorder and other illnesses.
5. Fishing with friends
No matter what age you are, when you join an angling club you become part of a community, whether you take part
in competitions or just nod a greeting to the angler on the next peg. You can join in as much, or as little as you want
to, but being around like-minded people, sharing an interest and connecting with new friends is a great way to spend
the day.
6. Fishing improves your self esteem
Fishing is all about personal goals, and attaining those goals is a sure fire way to improve self-esteem. It’s also a
lifelong skill that you can enjoy at any age. Every angler remembers their first catch. Just look at the way their eyes
light up when they talk about it. Fishing is also the perfect skill to pass on. With grandfathers taking grandchildren out
to a local canal and showing them how to hook a maggot. Spending time with your family also promotes feelings of
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security and wellbeing, making fishing a worthwhile activity to learn.
7. Fishing lets you unplug
While most people go fishing at the weekend, we see plenty of after work anglers too along our canals.  So leave your
computer and emails behind, get away from the games console or tablet, and let your eyes rest on the gently
sparkling water.
1. Where can you
(or, we, or one)
see fish?
2. Do you like eating
fish?
3. Have you ever
gone fishing?
4. Is fishing a very
popular activity in
your country?
5. Why do people go
fishing?

Talking about the past:

When I was…, I used to (do)… I have (done)
I did I have been (doing)
Insects  N   
Insects are crucial components of many ecosystems, where they perform many important functions. They freshen
the soil, pollinate blossoms, and control insect and plant pests.
Insects have tremendous economic importance. Some insects produce useful materials, such as honey, wax, and silk.
Honeybees have been raised by humans for thousands of years for honey. The silkworm greatly affected human
history.
Insects, of course, are not just eaten by people. Insects are the sole food source for many amphibians, reptiles, birds,
and mammals, making their roles in food chains and food webs extremely important. It is possible that food webs
could collapse if insect populations decline.
Insects have also been used in medicine. In the past, fly larvae (maggots) were used to treat wounds to prevent or
stop gangrene. Gangrene is caused by infection of dead flesh. Maggots only eat dead flesh, so when they are placed
on the dead flesh of humans, they actually clean the wound and can prevent infection. Some hospitals still use this
type of treatment.
1. Are there many

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 (different types of)
insects around where
you live?
2. How do you like
insects?
3. How do you feel about
insects?
4. Is there any insect that
you particularly
dislike?
5. Do you think insects
are useful?  

Age  N
Getting older is something which terrifies almost everybody, except, it seems, those who have actually experienced
it.
Here are some things to remember to help you get over your fear of getting older.
1. As you get older, you become less anxious and more relaxed.
One thing I’ve noticed in my own parents, is that now they are in their 60s, they seem happier than ever both as
individuals, and as a couple.
I also notice that my best friend’s mother and her sister, who are both in their 60s, seem to be  enjoying a second
adolescence. They’re out and about having fun more than me or my friend, and, also, incidentally, seem to spend a
lot less time worrying about getting older than we do.
2. It seems that life starts anew at 60.
Another thing I’ve noticed, observing older people I know, is that they seem to undergo a transformation wherein
they find a new lease of life by pursuing some new interest or hobby.
My own mother discovered art in her 60s, never having picked up a paintbrush in her life before. She’s now
thoroughly art-mad and is even studying a degree in it. She spends all her time in the studio, has a whole bunch of
new friends who share her interests, and is frankly more joyful and enthusiastic than I’ve ever known her before.

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 1. Do you like (being) your
current age?
2. How do you feel about
getting older? 
3. At what age do you think
people are the happiest (in their
lives)?
4. What do you think is the
best age to learn to drive?
5. Do you think we should treat
people of different ages in the
same way (or, in different
ways)?

Shopping  N
The rise of the internet and the spread of mobile devices has changed the way shoppers shop, and today's leading-
edge retailers are changing their shopping experiences to match with much different consumer values and
expectations.
From the trend of subscription boxes to the rise of quality packaging and the conscious consumer, our shopping
habits have changed quite considerably over the years. Today, everything and anything can be purchased right away
and our shopping demands can be fulfilled with just a click! Did you know that 67 percent of millennials prefer
shopping online whereas only 28 percent of seniors prefer shopping online? Whether that’s news to your or not, the
number of digital buyers worldwide is increasing all time.
As well as the rise of digital buyers, there are now also more conscious and eco-aware buyers in today’s shopping
world. A conscious consumer is someone who considers the social, ecological, environmental and political impact of
products and makes positive decisions regarding a purchase. Have you noticed a rise in quality packaging and more
eco-friendly and sustainable shopping options? This is just one of the many ways in which shopping habits have
changed over the last few years.
1. Are there many shops near your
home? 
2. What (sorts of) things do you buy
the most? 
3. What do you usually go shopping
in a shopping mall, or in small, local
shops?
4. Do you usually make a shopping
list before going shopping?
5. Do you usually compare prices

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 before buying something (= making a
purchase)?
6. Do you think expensive items are
always better quality than cheaper
items?
7. (Similar to above) Do you think
the price of an item always reflects
the quality of that item?
Drinking Water  N    
1. Helps maximize physical performance
If you don’t stay hydrated, your physical performance can suffer. This is particularly important during
intense exercise or high heat. This can lead to altered body temperature control, reduced motivation, and
increased fatigue. It can also make exercise feel much more difficult, both physically and mentally.
2. Significantly affects energy levels and brain function
Your brain is strongly influenced by your hydration status. Studies show that even mild dehydration, such as
the loss of 1–3% of body weight, can impair many aspects of brain function. It can be detrimental to
working memory and increase feelings of anxiety and fatigue. This can easily occur through normal daily
activities, let alone during exercise or high heat.
3. May help prevent and treat headaches
Dehydration can trigger headaches in some individuals. Research has shown that a headache is one of the
most common symptoms of dehydration. For example, a study in 393 people found that 40% of the
participants experienced a headache as a result of dehydration. What’s more, some studies have shown that
drinking water can help relieve headaches in those who experience frequent headaches.

 Do you often drink water?

 (Alternative to above) How often do you drink water?
 What kind of water do you drink?
 (Alternative to above) Is there any particular type of water that you drink? 
 Do you prefer to drink bottled water, or tap water ?
Films  N (= Movies)

 Do you like to watch movies? 

 What’s your favourite movie?
 Do your friends also like that movie? (compare)
 What kinds of movies do young people like?

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  Do you often go to a cinema with your friends?
 Would you like to be a movie star?

Parks  N 
 Do you often go to a park?
 What do you do there?
 Do many people in your country go to parks?
 Did you (ever) play in a park (or, parks) when you were a child?
 What do they do there?
 Do you prefer going to natural parks or amusement parks?  
Travel  N
 Do you like travelling?
 What kinds of places do you like to travel to?
 What are some of the places (or cities) that you have travelled to?
 Which one of those places left the deepest impression on you? (Why?)
People, food, weather, entertainment, natural beauty, pace of life, tranquility
News & Newspapers   N
 Which do you prefer to read, newspapers or magazines?
 Do you prefer to read news online or in newspapers?
 What's your opinion of newspapers?
 Can you suggest why more and more people are seeing (or, reading) the news on their phones today?  
Tidiness   N

 Would you say you are a tidy person?

 Is your home very tidy?
 Are you a tidier person at home or at work?
 Did your parents teach you to be tidy?
 Do you think people should be tidy all the time?

Gifts   N

 Have you ever received an unforgettable gift?

 Have you ever given a handmade gift? 
 What kind of gift do you give to other people? 
 Are you good at buying (or, choosing) a gift?
 What kind of gift do you usually buy?

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Famous People  N
 Have you ever seen a famous person? 
 (If yes)  What did you do?
 What famous person would you like to see, and talk with?
Discussions   N    
 What topics do you usually discuss with your friends?
 What kinds of discussions did you have when you were a child?
 Do you often change your mind after having a discussion with someone?
 Do you tend to talk more than others when you are discussing something with other people?

Meeting New People   N

 Do you like meeting new people?

 What are some good places to meet people?
 Do you feel nervous when you are introduced to others for the first time?
 What would you do if you forget the name of someone who you had just been introduced to?