Comparing Generations Retelling a Story

An ESL Lesson on Comparing Generations is an ESL conversation lesson to learn adjectives to describe personality, talk in the past tense, English vocabulary, idioms, and phrases for having a conversation about comparing generations, and how things have changed over time.

Watch the ESL video on Earth Day and use the ESL Printable and Digital storytelling flashcards to practice using new vocabulary and expressions. Get the ESL printable worksheets on Comparing Generations, ESL printable and digital flashcards, ESL listening and reading exercises, and gamify lessons with badges and stamps.

Warm Up Questions

  1. How do you think things are different from your grandpa’s generation to now?
  2. Do you think the world is a better place than it was 20 years ago? Why?
  3. Make a list of things that are better and things that are worse.

ESL Video on Conversation About Comparing Generations

Watch the following YouTube video:

ESL Listening Questions

  1. Who is Mandy with?
  2. Where are they?
  3. What did Mandy suggest that her and her grandpa bring to the supermarket?
  4. According to mom, what does grandpa always complain about?
  5. Does grandpa think kids are hardworking nowadays?
  6. According to grandpa, do kids expect to pay for things?
  7. According to grandpa, do kids throw their trash in the bin?
  8. What does the expression, “to get the picture” mean?

Matching Vocabulary for Conversation About Comparing Generations

Match the words on the left with the meanings on the right.

1. suggest
2. complain
3. lazy
4. nowadays
5. appreciate
6. manner
7. litter
8. to get the picture
a. at the present time
b. to be thankful for
c. to throw or put trash on the ground or where it doesn’t belong
d. to tell someone what you think they should do
e. to understand something
f. to express dissatisfaction about something
g. the way in which something is done
h. unwilling to work or use energy

Discussion Questions

  1. How have things changed in your lifetime? Give examples.
  2. Do you think children have it easier nowadays?
  3. Do you think people are well-mannered compared to the past?
  4. Have people better workers now? Do people work as hard now as they did before?
  5. Do you litter? Do you see others litter? What do you do if you see someone litter?
  6. Do you think that people value things less now than in the past? Why or why not?
  7. Are people lazier nowadays? Explain.
  8. Do people complain about things now more than in the past?
  9. In your opinion, are people becoming more or less conscientious about the environment? Explain.
  10. Do you think people appreciate things more or less than in the past? For example, favors from other people, the value of things, friendship, etc. Explain.
  11. How do you expect today’s children will be different?
  12. Compare generations.

ESL Printable & Digital Flashcards to Littering & the Environment.

Use the flashcards to tell a story about littering and the environment.

Conversation About Environment
Conversation About Generations
Littering
Conversation About Comparing Generations

ESL Conversation about How Generations Have Changed

Mom: How are things going with Grandpa?

Mindy: Hey Mom…
Well… don’t talk about Earth Day to Grandpa!

Mom: Oh, no! What do you mean?
What did you do?!!

Mindy: Well, I asked him if he wanted to come to the supermarket with me.
I suggested that we bring our own bags.
So that we didn’t have to use plastic bags.

Mom: (EMOJI)

Mindy: What do you mean? I didn’t finish!

Mom: You don’t have to! I already know what he said…
(EMOJI)

Mindy: Seriously?

Mom: Yes! He always complains about “you kids these days!”
He thinks kids are lazy nowadays.
He always complains that nobody appreciates anything anymore.
And kids have no manners anymore.
They litter everywhere.
And kids don’t work hard like they used to.
They expect everything for free.

Mindy: Okay mom. I get the picture. I gotta go.Talk to you later.

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Reference: Spr05

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