SPEAKING ACTIVITY (GROUP DISCUSSION) SITUATION 1 Many teenagers today are stressed out because of various factors.

What do you think is a major cause of stress to teenagers? In your group, discuss which one of the following causes the most stress to teenagers. i. ii. iii. iv. v. Family problems School-related problems Boy-girl relationship problems Financial problems Inner self problems

At the end of the discussion, try to come to a group decision.

FAMILY PROBLEM A: Many teenagers today are stressed out. My neighbours son had been involved in a fight in school. His father told me that the reason was his son had boy-girl relationship problem. B: I agree that teenagers today are too stressed out. However, I think that is not the only reason. There are other several reasons such as family problems, school-related problems, inner self problem and even financial problem. C: I think the main cause that stresses teenagers today is family problem. Parents nowadays are too busy working. They do not spend much time with their children. Their children needs their attention, love and care. What do you think? D: Yes, I agree with that. They will be easily influenced by their peers and get involved with negative activities such as illegal racing and even involved with drugs. Their parents might not realize that their children are involved with social problems until it is too late. C: One of the major family issues is problematic marriages. Either the partners or just one of them is unhappy and causes plenty of problems at home which leads to heated arguments and in extreme cases divorce. A teen or child may think that because their parents yell and scream at each other and have a fight that they do not love each other anymore. They may feel upset, sad, angry at one or both of the parents or fearful of what the fight may mean. This may end up interfering with the school work and social activities of the child.

E: Quite reasonable. A: I believe that boy-girl relationship problem make teenagers today stressed out. There are many cases of teenagers fighting because of this. Some even commit suicide because they cannot handle this problem. B: But not every teenager have boy-girl relationship in school. Only a small number of students have this problem. E: I strongly believe that teenagers today have much school related problems. Exams, homework, peer influence and even parents high expectation make them really stressed out. After school, they have to attend tuition. Just imagine how tired they are. C: That is quite true. Majority of the teenagers especially students face this problem. Some parents send their children for tuition because they are too busy with work. However, one problem might arise. What if their children cheat them by telling their parents that they attend tuition but they go somewhere else and do something negative such as smoking and drinking alcohol? B: It seems like your opinion is quite right. My cousin cheated his parents that way. His father finally figured out that he was mixing with teenagers who drink and smoke. His father found him at the computer cyber caf. C: What about inner self problems? E: Some teenagers might have this problem. Low self-esteem. They feel that people around them are looking down of them. They feel not confident talking and socializing with others. In the end they will feel much stressed out. C: These teenagers also feel that nobody want to make friend with them. They are too worried about others think of them. A: Last month, I heard a case of a student beaten up in the hostel for stealing his friends money. I think this teenager have financial problems. He might be very stressed out because he had no money to pay for his bus fare and also buy food in the canteen. B: Pity that boy but I do not think that he should steal. It is the wrong thing to do. Maybe he can tell the school about his problems. A: I also heard that some secondary students have to work part time because to help their parents. This will definitely bother their study. Nevertheless, they have no other choice because life is so tough these days as the price of everything keeps on rising.

D: Well friends, what do you think as the problem that causes most stress among teenagers? A: I think majority of the teenagers have school related problems. It makes them really stressed out. Do you agree? B, D, C, E: Yes.

Jen : Nowadays, teenagers are stress out of various factors and I think the main factors that cause problems to teenagers are none other than family problem. Another major problem is alcoholism and drugs. Teenagers who begin using drugs at tender ages have a higher risk of getting addicted to it because a teenage brain isnt fully mature yet. There are various symptoms of drug abuse right from increased tolerance to complete intolerance, withdrawal from activities enjoyed earlier and various other challenges managing day to day activities. Besides, the other problem is sibling rivalry. It occurs when a brothers and sisters fight with each other and don't get along well. Often there is a certain amount of problems that arise out of one sibling being older that the other and being able to do more than the younger. They fight because they want a parent's attention, and the parent has only so much time, attention and patience to give. Other than that, media and technology can create problem between teenagers and their parents. It is whereby teenagers more prefer to technology such as smartphone that can make their secret life; also, with technology, the internet becomes their new father and guide so that many teenagers are not close to their family and remember them only at the time of needing money. This will cause decrease the communication between parents and their children

Mi Ran:

May I interrupt? I think school-related problems give more stress to teenagers. This is because in school, teachers attention is on the academic or curriculum. Students

who face problems have less way to release their feelings. Besides this, competencies between peers too cause teenagers to stress. Siew Fong: Mi Ran: Siew Fong: Excuse me, can you clarify how competency between peers cause teenagers to stress? Yes, teenagers will have more stress when they have to compete to achieve good results. Students normally compare between friends to take pride. Yes, now I agree with you. But apart from the family problems and school related problems, boy-girl relationship problems also cause of stress to teenagers. According to the research, more than half of the teenagers today stated that boy-girl relationship as a frequent cause of stress. Sorry, I dont really agree with you. As we know, teenagers are not encouraged to have a relationship at young age. Do you think so? That is the tradition way of thinking. The fact is teenagers still involved. Nowadays, teenagers experienced different types of stress from the boy-girl relationships. The problems lead them to stress when many conflicts in their relationship. For the boys, girl friend pressured them to provide the material items and also lead them to stress. Oh! Look at this modern trend of youngsters! Stress from the bog-girl relationship problems may also cause teenagers sleeping problems and emotion problems. Some teenagers may also hurt themselves or consider suicide because of stressful relationships especially for those breaks up with their boy friend or girl friend.

Mi Ran: Siew Fong:

Mi Ran: Siew Fong:

Julie Jessica : I think another factors that can cause stress is inner self problem. This problem also related with family problem, school related problems and financial problem. Do you agree with my opinion Balenty? Bell : Wow seems like this issue is getting hotter and hotter. Dont you think so Julie? Julie : Yes, I am agree with you. Bell : But anyway, may I add some point here? I think we should not forget that financial problems also contribute to the stress-making among the teenagers. This is because, as we all can see, nowadays we are living in a high demand and modern world and all you see that matters the most is status. Money were seeing as power and value. By doing so, teenagers who had not enough money will be stressed out. They will feel ashamed for example, their electronic devices are out-dated.