Reading and speaking

Family problems.

Warming-up.

What is a generation gap?

How do you overcome the generation gap?

When do you feel the generation gap the most?

Is it possible to overcome a generation gap?

At what point in life does the generation gap seem to be the largest?

Read the essays on the problem of generation gap. Sum up the information of the texts and say which of them is closer to you. Write down your own thoughts about the problem.

Make sure you understand the meaning of the following words and word-combinations:

a difference of opinions

lack of emotional feelings

to tackle the problem

to accept new advance electronic technology

to accept each other as they are

the lack of time for communication and understanding

difference of mental situation

to grab new technologies

to learn to efficiently operate electronic gadgets

to try to understand and appreciate others

compatible with these electronic appliances, instruments and gadgets

willingness to understand, relate and accept each other

Generation gap

A generation gap or generational gap, is a difference of opinions between one generation and another regarding beliefs, politics, or values. In today's usage, "generation gap" often refers to a perceived gap between younger people and their parents or grandparents.

Generation gap means a difference of thinking and opinion among three generation of a family; these are the older one, the younger one and the middle one. It creates misunderstanding and lack of emotional feelings towards each other. It is completely depend on parents how they tackle with this and make balance between new and old generations. In this section, we are here providing you complete description on generation gap among people in the form of essays.

Generation Gap means a kind of difference in the thoughts, lifestyle, work of interest and opinions among people of different age group. Generation is generally divided in three partitions one is childhood, second is middle life and third is old age. Usually a family includes members of all these three generations with title of children, parents and grandparents under one roof having different thoughts and views. People of new generation are completely with a changed mind status, which are according to this new advanced technology of 21^st Mostly people of old generations are still neither want nor try to accept new advance electronic technology of 21^stcentury and this gap of physical and mental strength of people of different age group is called generation gap.
Difference of mental situation and lack of understanding among young and old people is called the real generation gap and is very difficult to fill up unless they would not spent time with each other and tries to accept each other as they are. Generation Gap can be viewed in many terms related to their spoken language, style of clothing and fashion, their own views and thoughts, values and morals etc. The main reason behind the generation gap is mainly the lack of time for communication and understanding each other inside the family members. Another reason of generation gap is the increased competition among people in area of education and professional life, which makes people so involved in their own life thus they don’t get time for their loved ones and just make their self, isolated world from others.

Technology in 21^st century has been completely changed, compare to it was in 19^thand the strength of understanding and grabbing this new technology is comparably easy for new generation than older. Today’s kids are so smarter and forwarded that they automatically learn to efficiently operate electronic gadgets faster than elders; in fact some time they teach their elders to use and operate this new advance technology. The best way for people to overcome generation gap among people of different age group is to spend their time with each other and try to understand and appreciate others with their own views and morals.

Time always runs and changes the generations, this is one of the biggest truths of life and no one can deny it. Children born in the time of 50s or 60s are now the old generation for the children and youngsters who are born in 80s and till now. And all the people of different generation have their own morals and values with different life style. Today’s world is full of modern technology having different number of electronic appliances and gadgets. And these new technologies of current time are not preferable by old age people thus make them isolated from this world.

In current time, people of new generation are well compatible with these electronic appliances, instruments and gadgets even they cannot imagine their life without these artificial things. Children get so much involved into these technical gadgets that they have no time for their parents and grandparents. On the other hand, parents are so much busy in their official and social life that they have no time for their children and elders, this kind of loneliness produces the generation gap. Changes in technology of current world are not limited to electronic appliances and gadgets but has involved in each and every field of work area that is connected to new generation in manner to their personal and social life. Competition has been spread in all fields for children and young people including educational, professional or other curriculum activities and does not allow people to connect with their elders at home, physically and mentally.

This type of gap and difference among people is called generation gap and let people to live their life with lots of loneliness and isolation. The best way to remove it depends completely on people and their willingness to understand, relate and accept each other with their own thoughts and preferences.

Questions to discuss:

Do you think you can be a better parent than your own parents in future?
Do you think it is OK to date or marry someone of a different generation to yourself, either older or younger?
What do you think are some of the advantages or disadvantages of another generation?
What role does music play in generation gaps?
How can you overcome a generation gap?
Can you talk to your parents about everything?
Do you ever disagree with your parents/grandparents about topics such as music, style and values?
How many years difference causes a generation gap?
Is it possible for parents and children to be friends?
What influences the styles, values and interests of a generation?
Are people from the "older" generation always more wise and correct in their ways of thinking and choices? Why or why not?
What is an example of a time you and your friends/parents/relatives/grandparents had an argument or disagreement? Do you think it was related to generation gap?
What are some topics that people of different generations disagree on? Is it possible for people of different generations to agree on things as well?
They say that each generation is about 10 years. Is it possible to "categorize" or "label" every generation (such as Generation X, the Baby Boomers, etc)?
Should teachers be aware of the generation gap between them and their students? What can be done about it? Can that gap be narrowed being adaptable, or should students adapt to their teachers?
Do you think that your life is easier/harder than your parents?
Which changes in traditional values could contribute to a generation gap?
Why do new generations frequently blame the last generation for many problems they are facing?
If you could give one important message to the next generation, what would it be?
Do you think you will experience a generation gap with your children? What are some differences in music, fashion, personality, mannerisms that are apparent when encountering a generation gap?

Feedback

Activities:

Study the opinion of your classmates on the following statements. How many of them agree with the suggested ideas about the reasons, effects and solutions to the problem? Ask your group-mates to give their own ideas how to avoid the misunderstanding between generations. Discuss the results of your survey in the group.

Reason of Generation Gap:

The biggest reason of generation gap is the lack of communication among elders and youngsters.
Lack of Joint family also creates generation gap where new generation could rarely meet their grandparents and this gap generates generation gap.
Children enjoy the company of their friends rather than to spend time with their parents or grandparents.
When parents do not behave as a friend with their children and always instruct their children to do things according to them.
Technological gadgets, electronic media and entertainment industry are another reasons for generation gap as these things involve people so much in their area of interest and does not allow connecting them with even with their family members.
Lack of mutual understanding, difference of age or experience and atmospheric changes are also the reasons of generation gap.

Effects of Generation gap:

Due to lack of communication and understandings among old and young generation, people of old age become isolated from outer world which is physically and mentally not good for them.
Misunderstanding and lack of emotional feelings among members of family are emerged due to generation gap.
Young generation have forgotten their morals and values which their parents have followed since many years due to their involvement in this fastest changing modern technology.
Unfortunately, children or youngsters got addicted of bad habits like smoking, drugs or alcohol to remove their loneliness or because of bad company which they found in outer world. These addictions are too hazardous for their physical and mental health.

Solution and Conclusion:

In spite of blaming each other for different values and morals, it is needed to understand and appreciate other’s thoughts and interest on different issues.
Old generation have to accept new generation’s technical and fashionable changes, and also new generation should understand and follow old generation’s traditions and rituals in the same manner.
Parents are required to keep updated with the technical changes so that they can easily answer their child in any technical issue or topics with satisfied answers, this will help them to easily cope up with their child in all manners. –
Nothing is possible until we do not try for it which is also proved in the elimination of generation gap.