Germany and Spain scramble to reverse the flight of youth

This is a list of key vocabulary and expressions from the article in order of how useful they are. The student must choose 6 items from the list to study in the lesson. The expressions in italics are additional and cannot be found in the article.

To lack something

To threaten

To be willing to do something

To hire someone

To boost

In the long run

A hurdle

Sustainable

Profound

To show up

A shortage of something

A proportion

Steep

To sneak in/ out

To run the risk of (doing) something

To scramble (meaning to hurry)

To do away with something

To lose out (on something)

To put a strain on something/ someone

To flock (meaning to move or come together in large numbers)

To struggle to make ends meet

To bear the brunt of something

To be tarred with the same brush

15 conversation-provoking questions related to the article.

  1. Does your country or your hometown have an ageing population?

  2. What can nations do to tackle the problem of an ageing population?

  3. Is immigration from outside of Europe the solution?

  4. Do you think that poor countries and rich countries both benefit from migration?

  5. Is it wrong for Britain to hire doctors from third world countries?

  6. Do you think that free movement of people in the EU is a good thing?

  7. What type of people migrate to your country?

  8. What type of people emigrate from your country?

  9. What is the best thing about moving to another country?

  10. If you had to move to another country, where would you go?

  11. How is your country culturally different from the UK?

  12. What problems will the world have with migration in the future?

  13. Are you proud to be from your country?

  14. Would you like to live in a rural area?

  15. Do you think the world would be better if there were no borders?

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It’s time to tune in: why listening is the real key to communication