B2 – Upper intermediate
Around 10 per cent of British people in their early 70s are now working. It is the highest figure since records began. How do you feel about this? Do you think that the government should do something about this?
Read the article below and answer some discussion questions.
http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1511/151110-working.html
Discussion Questions:
- At what age do you want to stop working and why?
- Is it wrong for people in their 70s to work? Explain.
- What are the difficulties for people when they retire?
- How important is a pension?
5 replies on “More and More 70-year-olds Working”
1. At what age do you want to stop working? I don´t like to think about it very often as when time comes, it will mean I am quite older but at the same time, I guess it has to be nice to have time for yourself not depending on any boss so I would say at 65 (or 67, not sure now) as it is established in Spain.
2. Is it wrong for people in their 70s to work? It depends on the reason why they continue working. We should divide this population in 2: people who work in their 70´s because they love their jobs and people who do it because it is a necessity.
3. What are the difficulties for people when they retire? For some people, money could be a difficulty and for other people, not money buy they might feel lonely if they do not have any hobby or family around.
4. How important is a pension? From my point of view, a pension is a right that all workers should have when they retire.
Things are getting difficult in Spain regarding pensions as natality is decreasing so it is thought there won´t be enough money for pension in some years time.
Pleasure to see you do this exercise in order to keep improving your writing skills. Well done.
To improve this sentence a little, see how it can be revised:
Keep it going with your writing practice.
1. At what age do you want to stop working?
Now. While I’m young. I know that this option is not feasible.
I think the best retirement age is 60.
2. Is it wrong for people in their 70s to work?
Yes.
We spend all of our youth and active years working. When you retire at your 70s, you are already older and your vitality and your physical form don’t allow you to enjoy your retirement. And you don’t know how much time
you have left to enjoy it, at best.
3. What are the difficulties for people when they retire?
If your economy can be the same as when you worked.
In many countries, pensions have been frozen or even lowered. This forces many people to have a private pension plan in order to support themselves or if any problem/emergency occurs
4. How important is a pension?
I believe that it is a right of every citizen who has paid his taxes throughout his life. On that is based a welfare state: you work and you generate wealth for your country, so that when you need to stop working you can do it and continue to have a good quality of life
Well done writing down your responses. Keep up the good work!
Here is a sentence you can improve a bit more:
Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this topic.
Hi!
The headline isn’t very optimistic, because it’s moving you to think that you’re going to be working all your life.
To be honest, If I had enough money for me and for my family, maybe I would spend my time in them and in other activities better than working. Nowadays a lot of people have to get a job because they have to survive, not because they love the things that they’re doing.
I think that If you’re on your 70s and you love your work and want keep going is a fantastic idea, but as a common rule, I think that having to work for survive at that age is a problem. With that age you have had enough years to work and you deserve at least having a properly pension.
I suppose that the current pensions aren’t enough and nowadays life is very expensive, so many families have to continue working to get more money for all expenses. Having a minimum and a properly pension is quite important for everybody and I think that we should enjoy the last part of our lives with some guaranties and conditions, don’t you think?
Bye, bye!!