Level 6 - 22nd December, 2022

South Koreans to become a year or two younger

Contents

The Article 2 Discussion (Student-Created Qs) 15

Warm-Ups 3 Language Work (Cloze) 16
Vocabulary 4 Spelling 17
Before Reading / Listening 5 Put The Text Back Together 18
Gap Fill 6 Put The Words In The Right Order 19
Match The Sentences And Listen 7 Circle The Correct Word 20
Listening Gap Fill 8 Insert The Vowels (a, e, i, o, u) 21
Comprehension Questions 9 Punctuate The Text And Add Capitals 22
Multiple Choice - Quiz 10 Put A Slash ( / ) Where The Spaces Are 23
Role Play 11 Free Writing 24
After Reading / Listening 12 Academic Writing 25
Student Survey 13 Homework 26
Discussion (20 Questions) 14 Answers 27
THE ARTICLE

A new law in South Korea means South Koreans will be a year or two

younger. The law was passed last Thursday. Before it was passed, there

were three different ways that people could tell their age. South Koreans

could have three ages. One was an "international age". This is the same

as how most people in the world calculate their age. A baby is zero at

birth and becomes one year old a year after it is born. The second was a

"Korean age". Under this system, babies are considered a year old on the

day they are born, and then a year is added every January the 1st. The

third method was a "calendar age". This makes babies zero years old at

birth, and a year is added to their age every January the 1st.

The new law simplifies age in South Korea. Lawmakers hope it will

end confusion about how old people are. From June 2023, all official

documents must use the standard international age. It will be used for

the legal ages for drinking, getting married, smoking, and military

service. It should help to end legal and social problems caused by the old

system. However, many people will continue to use the Korean age in

informal situations. A Korean Twitter user was relieved there is a new law

to make things simpler. She tweeted: "I'll become two years younger.

I'm so happy. I turned two years old two weeks after I was born, as I

was born in December. Finally, I'm about to get my real age back."

Sources: https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2022/12/113_341243.html

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/12/09/asia/south-korea-international-age-law-intl-hnk/index.html
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/dec/09/all-south-koreans-to-become-younger-as-
traditional-age-system-scrapped

2
WARM-UPS

1. BEING YOUNGER: Students walk around the class and talk to other students
about being younger. Change partners often and share your findings.

2. CHAT: In pairs / groups, talk about these topics or words from the article. What will
the article say about them? What can you say about these words and your life?

law / South Korea / age / international / calculate / being born / calendar / birth /
lawmakers / confusion / documents / legal ages / military service / happy / December

Have a chat about the topics you liked. Change topics and partners frequently.

3. BEING YOUNG: Students A strongly believe being young is better than being
old; Students B strongly believe being older is better. Change partners again and talk
about your conversations.

4. AGE: What are the good and bad things about these ages? Complete this table with
your partner(s). Change partners often and share what you wrote.

Good Things Bad Things

Five

Fifteen

Twenty-five

Forty-five

Sixty-five

Ninety-five

5. LAW: Spend one minute writing down all of the different words you associate with
the word "law". Share your words with your partner(s) and talk about them. Together, put
the words into different categories.

6. THE BEST AGE: Rank these with your partner. Put the best age at the top.
Change partners often and share your rankings.

• 5 • 45
• 10 • 65
• 15 • 85
• 25 • 105

South Koreans to become a year or two younger – 22nd December, 2022

3
VOCABULARY MATCHING
Paragraph 1

1. law a. A way of doing something.

2. pass b. Vote on and OK something like a law so it

becomes part of a system.

3. calculate c. The time when a baby is born.

4. birth d. A rule of a particular country that everyone

must follow (or go to prison or get in
trouble).

5. system e. A chart or series of pages showing the days,

weeks, and months of a year.

6. method f. Find out the amount or number of

something.

7. calendar g. A set of things working together as parts of

a bigger thing.

Paragraph 2

8. simplifies h. A level of quality or attainment.

9. confusion i. About an authority or public body and its

activities and responsibilities.

10. official j. The time people must spend in the army.

11. standard k. Makes easier to do or understand.

12. legal l. Uncertainty about what is happening,

intended, or required.

13. military service m. Having a relaxed, friendly, or unofficial

style, manner, or nature.

14. informal n. About the law.

South Koreans to become a year or two younger – 22nd December, 2022

4
BEFORE READING / LISTENING

1. TRUE / FALSE: Read the headline. Guess if a-h below are true (T) or false
(F).
1. A law in South Korean means people can choose to be a year older. T/F
2. It was possible for South Koreans to have three different ages. T/F
3. The "Korean age" means adding a year to your age every January 1. T/F
4. The "Calendar age" in Japan means you are one year old at birth. T/F
5. Official documents will use the calendar age from June 2023. T/F
6. The "International age" will be used for military service. T/F
7. All Korean people will stop using the "Korean age". T/F
8. A woman on Twitter was happy she would be two years younger. T/F

2. SYNONYM MATCH: (The words in bold are from the news article.)

1. law a. believed to be
2. ways b. lawful
3. calculate c. easier
4. considered d. methods
5. babies e. casual
6. confusion f. newborns
7. legal g. rule
8. informal h. actual
9. simpler i. uncertainty
10. real j. work out

3. PHRASE MATCH: (Sometimes more than one choice is possible.)

1. The law was a. could tell their age

2. three different ways that people b. real age back
3. the same as how most people in the c. age in South Korea
4. babies are considered a year old on the d. end confusion
5. a year is added to their age e. for drinking
6. The new law simplifies f. passed last Thursday
7. Lawmakers hope it will g. world calculate their age
8. the legal ages h. situations
9. in informal i. every January the 1st
10. I'm about to get my j. day they are born

South Koreans to become a year or two younger – 22nd December, 2022

5
GAP FILL

A new law in South Korea (1) _____________________ South Koreans second

will be a year or two younger. The law was (2) _____________________
tell
last Thursday. Before it was passed, there were three different
birth
ways that people could (3) _____________________ their age. South
Koreans could have three ages. One was an "international age". means

This is the same as how most people in the world method

(4) _____________________ their age. A baby is zero at birth and
calculate
becomes one year old a year after it is born. The
passed
(5) _____________________ was a "Korean age". Under this
(6) _____________________, babies are considered a year old on the system

day they are born, and then a year is added every January the
1st. The third (7) _____________________ was a "calendar age". This
makes babies zero years old at (8) _____________________, and a
year is added to their age every January the 1st.

The new law (9) _____________________ age in South Korea. caused

Lawmakers hope it will end confusion about how old people are.
official
From June 2023, all (10) _____________________ documents must use
turned
the standard international age. It will be used for the
(11) _____________________ ages for drinking, getting married, informal

smoking, and military service. It should help to end legal and simplifies
social problems (12) _____________________ by the old system.
back
However, many people will continue to use the Korean age in
legal
(13) _____________________ situations. A Korean Twitter user was
relieved there is a new law to make things simpler

(14) _____________________. She tweeted: "I'll become two years

younger. I'm so happy. I (15) _____________________ two years old
two weeks after I was born, as I was born in December. Finally,
I'm about to get my real age (16) _____________________."

South Koreans to become a year or two younger – 22nd December, 2022

6
LISTENING – Guess the answers. Listen to check.

1) A new law in South Korea means South Koreans will be a year ______
a. or two youngish
b. and two younger
c. or too younger
d. or two youngers
2) Before it was passed, there were three different ways that people could ______
a. tell them age
b. tell their age
c. tell their aged
d. tell them aged
3) This is the same as how most people in the world ______
a. calculates their age
b. recalculate their age
c. inculcate their age
d. calculate their age
4) A baby is zero at birth and becomes one year old a year after ______
a. it is borne
b. it is born
c. it is bourn
d. it is barn
5) This makes babies zero years old at birth, and a ______
a. year be added
b. year get added
c. year is added
d. year have added
6) simplifies age in South Korea. Lawmakers hope it ______
a. will end confusion
b. will end confusing
c. will end confuse on
d. will end confuse in
7) From June 2023, all official documents must use the ______
a. standard dint a national age
b. standards international age
c. standard into a national age
d. standard international age
8) used for the legal ages for drinking, getting married, smoking, ______
a. and military serviced
b. and military service
c. and military services
d. and military servicing
9) many people will continue to use the Korean age ______
a. in formal situations
b. in informal situations
c. in informal situation
d. in formal situation
10) as I was born in December. Finally, I'm about to get my ______
a. really age back
b. real age back
c. real aged back
d. real age backs

Level 3 South Koreans to become a year or two younger – 22nd December, 2022
7
LISTENING – Listen and fill in the gaps
A (1) ____________________ South Korea means South Koreans will be a

year or two younger. The law was passed last Thursday. Before it was

passed, there were three (2) ____________________ people could tell their

age. South Koreans could have three ages. One was an "international age".

This is the (3) ____________________ most people in the world calculate

their age. A baby is zero at birth and becomes one year old a year after it is

born. The second was a "Korean age". Under this system, babies are

(4) ____________________ old on the day they are born, and then a year is

added every January the 1st. The third method was

(5) ____________________. This makes babies zero years old at birth, and

a year is added (6) ____________________ every January the 1st.

The new law (7) ____________________ South Korea. Lawmakers hope it

will end confusion about how old people are. From June 2023, all official

documents must (8) ____________________ international age. It will be

used for the legal ages for drinking, getting married,

(9) ____________________ service. It should help to end legal and social

problems caused by the old system. However, many people will continue to

use the Korean (10) ____________________ situations. A Korean Twitter

user was relieved there is a new law to (11) ____________________. She

tweeted: "I'll become two years younger. I'm so happy. I turned two years

old two weeks after I was born, as I was born in December. Finally, I'm

about to get my (12) ____________________."

Level 3 South Koreans to become a year or two younger – 22nd December, 2022
8
COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1. When does the article say the law was passed?

2. How many different ways did Koreans have of telling their age?

3. What method do most people in the world use to tell their age?

4. How old is a baby at birth when using the "Korean age"?

5. In which method is a baby not zero years old at birth?

6. What does the article say the new law simplifies?

7. When will the new age system start?

8. When might some people still use the Korean age?

9. Who was happy about the new law?

10. What did a woman say she was relieved to get back?

Level 3 South Koreans to become a year or two younger – 22nd December, 2022
9
MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ

1) When does the article say the law 6) What does the article say the new
was passed? law simplifies?
a) last month a) birthdays
b) a year ago b) age
c) last Thursday c) being born
d) a few days ago d) birth certificates

2) How many different ways did 7) When will the new age system
Koreans have of telling their age? start?
a) three a) July 2023
b) two b) June 2024
c) many c) July 2024
d) countless ways d) June 2023

3) What method do most people in 8) When might some people still use
the world use to tell their age? the Korean age?
a) the world way a) outside Korea
b) the international age b) in informal situations
c) the counting way c) when they get married
d) the birthday way d) to lie about their real age

4) How old is a baby at birth when 9) Who was happy about the new
using the "Korean age"? law?
a) six months old a) parents
b) a day old b) a Korean Twitter user
c) zero years old c) a baby
d) a year old d) teachers

5) In which method is a baby not 10) What did a woman say she was
zero years old at birth? relieved to get back?
a) the International age a) her real age
b) the Birthday age b) her birth certificate
c) the Korean age c) a birthday present
d) the Calendar age d) her teenage years

Level 3 South Koreans to become a year or two younger – 22nd December, 2022
10
ROLE PLAY

Role A – Five
You think 5 is the best age. Tell the others three reasons why.
Tell them what is wrong with their age. Also, tell the others
which is the worst of these ages (and why): 25, 65 or 95.

Role B – Twenty-five
You think 25 is the best age. Tell the others three reasons why.
Tell them what is wrong with their age. Also, tell the others
which is the worst of these ages (and why): 5, 65 or 95.

Role C – Sixty-five
You think 65 is the best age. Tell the others three reasons why.
Tell them what is wrong with their age. Also, tell the others
which is the worst of these ages (and why): 25, 5 or 95.

Role D – Ninety-five
You think 95 is the best age. Tell the others three reasons why.
Tell them what is wrong with their age. Also, tell the others
which is the worst of these ages (and why): 25, 65 or 5.

Level 3 South Koreans to become a year or two younger – 22nd December, 2022
11
AFTER READING / LISTENING

1. WORD SEARCH: Look in your dictionary / computer to find collocates,

other meanings, information, synonyms … for the words 'year' and
'younger'.

year younger

• Share your findings with your partners.

• Make questions using the words you found.
• Ask your partner / group your questions.

2. ARTICLE QUESTIONS: Look back at the article and write down

some questions you would like to ask the class about the text.
• Share your questions with other classmates / groups.
• Ask your partner / group your questions.

3. GAP FILL: In pairs / groups, compare your answers to this exercise.

Check your answers. Talk about the words from the activity. Were they new,
interesting, worth learning…?

4. VOCABULARY: Circle any words you do not understand. In groups,

pool unknown words and use dictionaries to find their meanings.

5. TEST EACH OTHER: Look at the words below. With your partner, try
to recall how they were used in the text:

• Thursday • hope
• tell • official
• calculate • drinking
• becomes • social
• third • relieved
• January • back

Level 3 South Koreans to become a year or two younger – 22nd December, 2022
12
BEING YOUNGER SURVEY

Write five GOOD questions about being younger in the table. Do this in pairs.
Each student must write the questions on his / her own paper.
When you have finished, interview other students. Write down their answers.

STUDENT 1 STUDENT 2 STUDENT 3

_____________ _____________ _____________

Q.1.

Q.2.

Q.3.

Q.4.

Q.5.

• Now return to your original partner and share and talk about what you found
out. Change partners often.
• Make mini-presentations to other groups on your findings.

South Koreans to become a year or two younger – 22nd December, 2022

13
BEING YOUNGER DISCUSSION
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1. What did you think when you read the headline?

2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'young'?
3. What do you think of age?
4. How happy are you with your age?
5. What do you think of the new South Korean law?
6. What's the best way to calculate age?
7. When you were young, did you want to be older?
8. What's the best age to be?
9. What are the good things about being older?
10. What are the good things about being younger?

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BEING YOUNGER DISCUSSION
STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

11. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

12. What do you think of when you hear the word 'birth'?
13. What do you think about what you read?
14. Would you like to be younger or older?
15. Do you agree that you are as young as you feel?
16. What should the legal age for getting married be?
17. What should the legal age for military service be?
18. Do you like celebrating your birthday?
19. How old do you want to live?
20. What questions would you like to ask a young person?

South Koreans to become a year or two younger – 22nd December, 2022

14
DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)
STUDENT A’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student B)

1. ________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________________

6. ________________________________________________________

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

DISCUSSION (Write your own questions)

STUDENT B’s QUESTIONS (Do not show these to student A)

1. ________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________________

6. ________________________________________________________

South Koreans to become a year or two younger – 22nd December, 2022

15
LANGUAGE - CLOZE
A new law in South Korea (1) ____ South Koreans will be a year or two younger.
The law was passed last Thursday. Before it was (2) ____, there were three
different ways that people could tell their age. South Koreans could have three
ages. One was an "international age". This is the same as (3) ____ most people
in the world calculate their age. A baby is zero at birth and becomes one year old
a year after it is (4) ____. The second was a "Korean age". Under this system,
babies are considered a year old on the day they are born, and then a year is (5)

____ every January the 1st. The third method was a "calendar age". This (6) ____
babies zero years old at birth, and a year is added to their age every January the
1st.

The new law (7) ____ age in South Korea. Lawmakers hope it will end confusion
about how old people are. From June 2023, all official documents must use the
standard international age. It will be used (8) ____ the legal ages for drinking,
getting married, smoking, and military service. It should help to end (9) ____ and
social problems caused by the old system. However, many people will continue to
use the Korean age in informal (10) ____. A Korean Twitter user was relieved there is
a new law to make things simpler. She tweeted: "I'll become two years younger. I'm
so happy. I (11) ____ two years old two weeks after I was born, as I was born in
December. Finally, I'm about to get my (12) ____ age back."

Put the correct words from the table below in the above article.

1. (a) meaning (b) means (c) mean (d) meanings

2. (a) parsed (b) passed (c) psst (d) past

3. (a) whom (b) which (c) what (d) how

4. (a) bourne (b) born (c) borne (d) barn

5. (a) addition (b) add (c) adds (d) added

6. (a) gets (b) births (c) makes (d) calculates

7. (a) simplifies (b) simples (c) samples (d) sampled

8. (a) as (b) by (c) for (d) on

9. (a) legalized (b) legally (c) legality (d) legal

10. (a) situations (b) stations (c) situational (d) situated

11. (a) turned (b) twisted (c) rotated (d) revolved

12. (a) real (b) really (c) realism (d) realistic

South Koreans to become a year or two younger – 22nd December, 2022

16
SPELLING

Paragraph 1

1. The law was desspa last Thursday

2. an ntarontnielai age

3. people in the world uclalacet their age

4. Under this stsmey

5. babies are endsdocrie a year old

6. a nceadalr age

Paragraph 2

7. The new law sipmeiisfl age

8. it will end oicfnsnuo

9. all foficail documents

10. maiyrtli service

11. in fmiarlon situations

12. vereilde there is a new law

Level 3 South Koreans to become a year or two younger – 22nd December, 2022
17
PUT THE TEXT BACK TOGETHER

Number these lines in the correct order.

( ) age. South Koreans could have three ages. One was an

"international age". This is the same as how most people

( ) as I was born in December. Finally, I'm about to get my real age

back."

( ) getting married, smoking, and military service. It should help to

end legal and social problems caused by the old

( ) years younger. I'm so happy. I turned two years old two weeks
after I was born,

( 1 ) A new law in South Korea means South Koreans will be a year or

two younger. The law was

( ) passed last Thursday. Before it was passed, there were three

different ways that people could tell their

( ) system. However, many people will continue to use the Korean age
in informal situations. A Korean Twitter

( ) born. The second was a "Korean age". Under this system, babies
are considered a year old on the day they are

( ) in the world calculate their age. A baby is zero at birth and

becomes one year old a year after it is

( ) The new law simplifies age in South Korea. Lawmakers hope it will
end confusion about how old people are. From June 2023, all
official

( ) documents must use the standard international age. It will be used

for the legal ages for drinking,

( ) user was relieved there is a new law to make things simpler. She
tweeted: "I'll become two

( ) born, and then a year is added every January the 1st. The third
method was a "calendar age". This makes

( ) babies zero years old at birth, and a year is added to their age
every January the 1st.

South Koreans to become a year or two younger – 22nd December, 2022

18
PUT THE WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER

1. ways could Different people their age . tell that

2. world in the their Most calculate people age .

3. on old A born . year the day they're

4. old zero birth . This years babies makes at

5. South new age The Korea . simplifies in law

6. confusion old people It'll how about are . end

7. for It's ages used drinking . the legal for

8. the problems system . Social old caused by

9. turned after . old two weeks years I two

10. my about to age real I'm back . get

South Koreans to become a year or two younger – 22nd December, 2022

19
CIRCLE THE CORRECT WORD (20 PAIRS)
A new law in South Korea meaning / means South Koreans will be a year or

two younger. The law was passed / past last Thursday. Before it was passed,

there were three different weighs / ways that people could tell their

age. South Koreans could have three ages. One was an "international

age". This is the same as / was how most people in the world calculate /

escalate their age. A baby is zero at born / birth and becomes one year old a

year after it is birthday / born. The second was a "Korean age". Under

this system, babies are considered a year old on the day they are born,

and then a year is adds / added every January the 1st. The third method

was a "calendar age". This makes babies zero years old at / on birth, and a

year is added to their age every January the / a 1st.

The new law simples / simplifies age in South Korea. Lawmakers hope it will

end confusion / confusing about how old people are. From June 2023, all

official documents must use a / the standard international age. It will be

used for the legal ages for drinking, getting marriage / married,

smoking, and military service. It should help to / for end legal and social

problems caused by / at the old system. However, many people will

continue to use the Korean age on / in informal situations. A Korean Twitter

user was relived / relieved there is a new law to make things simpler.

She tweeted: "I'll become two years younger. I'm so happy. I twisted /

turned two years old two weeks after I was born, as I was born in

December. Finally, I'm about to get my real / really age back."

Talk about the connection between each pair of words in italics, and
why the correct word is correct. Look up the definition of new words.

South Koreans to become a year or two younger – 22nd December, 2022

20
INSERT THE VOWELS (a, e, i, o, u)

_ n_w l_w _n S__th K_r__ m__ns S__th K_r__ns w_ll

b_ _ y__r _r tw_ y__ng_r. Th_ l_w w_s p_ss_d l_st
Th_rsd_y. B_f_r_ _t w_s p_ss_d, th_r_ w_r_ thr__
d_ff_r_nt w_ys th_t p__pl_ c__ld t_ll th__r _g_. S__th
K_r__ns c__ld h_v_ thr__ _g_s. _n_ w_s _n
"_nt_rn_t__n_l _g_". Th_s _s th_ s_m_ _s h_w m_st

p__pl_ _n th_ w_rld c_lc_l_t_ th__r _g_. _ b_by _s

z_r_ _t b_rth _nd b_c_m_s _n_ y__r _ld _ y__r _ft_r
_t _s b_rn. Th_ s_c_nd w_s _ "K_r__n _g_". _nd_r
th_s syst_m, b_b__s _r_ c_ns_d_r_d _ y__r _ld _n th_
d_y th_y _r_ b_rn, _nd th_n _ y__r _s _dd_d _v_ry
J_n__ry th_ 1st. Th_ th_rd m_th_d w_s _ "c_l_nd_r
_g_". Th_s m_k_s b_b__s z_r_ y__rs _ld _t b_rth, _nd
_ y__r _s _dd_d t_ th__r _g_ _v_ry J_n__ry th_ 1st.

Th_ n_w l_w s_mpl_f__s _g_ _n S__th K_r__.

L_wm_k_rs h_p_ _t w_ll _nd c_nf_s__n _b__t h_w _ld
p__pl_ _r_. Fr_m J_n_ 2023, _ll _ff_c__l d_c_m_nts
m_st _s_ th_ st_nd_rd _nt_rn_t__n_l _g_. _t w_ll b_
_s_d f_r th_ l_g_l _g_s f_r dr_nk_ng, g_tt_ng m_rr__d,
sm_k_ng, _nd m_l_t_ry s_rv_c_. _t sh__ld h_lp t_ _nd
l_g_l _nd s_c__l pr_bl_ms c__s_d by th_ _ld syst_m.
H_w_v_r, m_ny p__pl_ w_ll c_nt_n__ t_ _s_ th_ K_r__n

_g_ _n _nf_rm_l s_t__t__ns. _ K_r__n Tw_tt_r _s_r

w_s r_l__v_d th_r_ _s _ n_w l_w t_ m_k_ th_ngs
s_mpl_r. Sh_ tw__t_d: "_'ll b_c_m_ tw_ y__rs y__ng_r.
_'m s_ h_ppy. _ t_rn_d tw_ y__rs _ld tw_ w__ks _ft_r
_ w_s b_rn, _s _ w_s b_rn _n D_c_mb_r. F_n_lly, _'m
_b__t t_ g_t my r__l _g_ b_ck."

South Koreans to become a year or two younger – 22nd December, 2022

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PUNCTUATE THE TEXT AND ADD CAPITALS

a new law in south korea means south koreans will be a year or two younger

the law was passed last thursday before it was passed there were

three different ways that people could tell their age south koreans could

have three ages one was an international age this is the same as how most

people in the world calculate their age a baby is zero at birth and becomes

one year old a year after it is born the second was a korean age under

this system babies are considered a year old on the day they are born and

then a year is added every january the 1st the third method was a calendar

age this makes babies zero years old at birth and a year is added to their

age every january the 1st

the new law simplifies age in south korea lawmakers hope it will end

confusion about how old people are from june 2023 all official documents

must use the standard international age it will be used for the legal ages for

drinking getting married smoking and military service it should help to end

legal and social problems caused by the old system however many people

will continue to use the korean age in informal situations a korean twitter

user was relieved there is a new law to make things simpler she tweeted ill

become two years younger im so happy i turned two years old two weeks

after i was born as i was born in december finally im about to get my real

age back

South Koreans to become a year or two younger – 22nd December, 2022

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PUT A SLASH ( / ) WHERE THE SPACES ARE

AnewlawinSouthKoreameansSouthKoreanswillbeayearortwoyoung

er.ThelawwaspassedlastThursday.Beforeitwaspassed,therewerethr

eedifferentwaysthatpeoplecouldtelltheirage.SouthKoreanscouldha

vethreeages.Onewasan"internationalage".Thisisthesameashowmo

stpeopleintheworldcalculatetheirage.Ababyiszeroatbirthandbecom

esoneyearoldayearafteritisborn.Thesecondwasa"Koreanage".Unde

rthissystem,babiesareconsideredayearoldonthedaytheyareborn,an

dthenayearisaddedeveryJanuarythe1st.Thethirdmethodwasa"cale

ndarage".Thismakesbabieszeroyearsoldatbirth,andayearisaddedto

theirageeveryJanuarythe1st.ThenewlawsimplifiesageinSouthKorea

.Lawmakershopeitwillendconfusionabouthowoldpeopleare.FromJu

ne2023,allofficialdocumentsmustusethestandardinternationalage.I

twillbeusedforthelegalagesfordrinking,gettingmarried,smoking,an

dmilitaryservice.Itshouldhelptoendlegalandsocialproblemscausedb

ytheoldsystem.However,manypeoplewillcontinuetousetheKoreana

geininformalsituations.AKoreanTwitteruserwasrelievedthereisane

lawtomakethingssimpler.Shetweeted:"I'llbecometwoyearsyounger

.I'msohappy.IturnedtwoyearsoldtwoweeksafterIwasborn,asIwasbo

rninDecember.Finally,I'mabouttogetmyrealageback."

South Koreans to become a year or two younger – 22nd December, 2022

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FREE WRITING

Write about being younger for 10 minutes. Comment on your partner’s paper.

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_ South Koreans to become a year or two younger – 22nd December, 2022

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ACADEMIC WRITING

Our youth is the best time of our lives. Discuss.

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_ South Koreans to become a year or two younger – 22nd December, 2022

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_____________________________________________________________________________
HOMEWORK

1. VOCABULARY EXTENSION: Choose several of the words from the

text. Use a dictionary or Google’s search field (or another search engine) to
build up more associations / collocations of each word.

2. INTERNET: Search the Internet and find out more about this news
story. Share what you discover with your partner(s) in the next lesson.

3. AGE: Make a poster about age. Show your work to your classmates in
the next lesson. Did you all have similar things?

4. BEING YOUNGER: Write a magazine article about being younger.

Include imaginary interviews with people who are for and against this.

Read what you wrote to your classmates in the next lesson. Write down any
new words and expressions you hear from your partner(s).

5. WHAT HAPPENED NEXT? Write a newspaper article about the next

stage in this news story. Read what you wrote to your classmates in the
next lesson. Give each other feedback on your articles.

6. LETTER: Write a letter to an expert on youth. Ask him/her three

questions about it. Give him/her three of your ideas on how we can stay
more youthful. Read your letter to your partner(s) in your next lesson. Your
partner(s) will answer your questions.

South Koreans to become a year or two younger – 22nd December, 2022

26
ANSWERS

VOCABULARY (p.4)
1. d 2. b 3. f 4. c 5. g 6. a 7. e
8. k 9. l 10. i 11. h 12. n 13. j 14. m

TRUE / FALSE (p.5)

1 F 2 T 3 T 4 F 5 F 6 T 7 F 8 T

SYNONYM MATCH (p.5)

1. g 2. d 3. j 4. a 5. f

6. i 7. b 8. e 9. c 10. h

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS (p.9) WORDS IN THE RIGHT ORDER (p.19)

1. Last Thursday 1. Different ways that people could tell their age.
2. Three 2. Most people in the world calculate their age.
3. The international age 3. A year old on the day they're born.
4. A year old 4. This makes babies zero years old at birth.
5. The Korean age 5. The new law simplifies age in South Korea.
6. Age 6. It'll end confusion about how old people are.
7. June 2023 7. It's used for the legal ages for drinking.
8. In informal situations 8. Social problems caused by the old system.
9. A Korean Twitter user 9. I turned two years old two weeks after.
10. Her real age 10. I'm about to get my real age back.

MULTIPLE CHOICE - QUIZ (p.10)

1. c 2. a 3. b 4. d 5. c 6. b 7. d 8. b 9. b 10. a

ALL OTHER EXERCISES

Please check for yourself by looking at the Article on page 2.
(It's good for your English ;-)

South Koreans to become a year or two younger – 22nd December, 2022

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