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Generation Gap

Advance Level

Unit 1: Video and Photograph

A Quote

Parents often talk about the younger generation as if they didn't have anything to do with it.

- Haim Ginott

Idioms About Generation Gap

You will often hear english speakers using these terms to talk about generation differences. Review these common idioms and try to use them in your next conversation with a friend.

1) As stubborn as a mule - a person who is unwilling to change their ways. She is shy, rigid and as stubborn as a mule; but surprisingly enough, she is also my best friend. 2) Donkey's years - A very long time. People have been trying for donkey's years to increase the efficiency of our government.

The Origin and Meaning of Idioms Throw Out the Baby with the bath water If we reject the influence of Christianity on our society, we may be throwing the baby out with the bath water. No one knows for sure where this idiom originated. One belief is that it dates back to England in the 1500's, when it was a common practice for people to bathe once a year. Whole families would take turn using the same bath water, but by the time the children got to bathe the water would be so dirty that a child could be lost in it.

Unit 2: Reading

I want to go back to the time when.....................

By John Watson

Decisions were made by going "eeny-meeny-miney-mo."
Mistakes were corrected by simply exclaiming, "do over!"
"Race issue" meant arguing about who ran the fastest.
Money issues were handled by whoever was the banker in " Monopoly ."
Catching the fireflies could happily occupy an entire evening.
It wasn't odd to have two or three "best" friends.
Being old, referred to anyone over 20.
The net on a tennis court was the perfect height to play volleyball and
rules didn't matter.
The worst thing you could catch from the opposite sex was cooties.
It was magic when dad would "remove" his thumb.
It was unbelievable that dodgeball wasn't an Olympic event.
Having a weapon in school, meant being caught with a slingshot.
Nobody was prettier than Mom.
Scrapes and bruises were kissed and made better.
It was a big deal to finally be tall enough to ride the "big people" rides
at the amusement park.
Getting a foot of snow was a dream come true.
Abilities were discovered because of a "double-dog-dare."
Saturday morning cartoons weren't 30-minute ads for action figures.
No shopping trip was complete, unless a new toy was brought home.
"Oly-oly-oxen-free" made perfect sense.
Spinning around, getting dizzy and falling down was cause for giggles.
The worst embarrassment was being picked last for a team.
War was a card game.
Water balloons were the ultimate weapon.
Baseball cards in the spokes transformed any bike into a motorcycle.
Taking drugs meant orange-flavored chewable aspirin.
Ice cream was considered a basic food group.
Older siblings were the worst tormentors , but also the fiercest protectors.
If you can remember most or all of these, then you have LIVED!!!!

Vocabulary Practice

Monopoly: Monopoly is a board game. The objective of the game is to accumulate wealth and real estate.
Cooties: the term given to a type of parasitic louse that attaches itself and infests humans beings.
Tormentors: a person who mocks, persecutes or causes others to suffer.

Questions

1. What did race issues refer to in the article? What do people take it to mean today?
2. What was "magic" about dad removing his thumb? Why do you think kids aren't impressed anymore?
3. What does the writer mean by stating: "if you can remember most or all of these, then you have LIVED!!!!"