Why South Korean women aren't having babies

BBC

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.

To pick (someone/ something) up

To accuse (someone) of (doing) something

To rely on (someone/ something)

To point (something) out

Neither…nor…

On the outskirts of Seoul

To catch up (with someone)

To shrink

To sink

The vast majority (of something)

To plummet

Staggering

‘I wish I’d known more’

A chore

To fall behind (with something)

To haggle (with someone)

I’m off

To kick in

‘If she were to take time off to have a child, she might not be able to return to work.’

Grim

To be buzzing (about something)

Draining

To cram

To put (someone) through (something)

To bode well/ badly (for something/ someone)

15 conversation-provoking questions related to the article.

1.       In summary, what was talked about in this article?

2.       What was said in the section ‘A ‘national emergency’’?

3.       What was said in the section ‘A perpetual cycle of work’?

4.       What was said in the section ‘I know too much’?

5.       What was said in the section ‘A depressing social phenomenon’?

6.       What was said in the section ‘I’d have 10 children if I could’?

7.       ‘I’d have 10 children if I could’. Is this true for you?

8.       Why do you think some financial benefits are only available to married couples in South Korea?

9.       Do you know anybody who is consciously deciding not to have children?

10.      Is it possible for someone with a child to thrive in their career?

11.      What would happen to your career if you took a couple of years off now?

12.      Do you think it’s necessary for a child to have private tuition?

13.      When you were younger, were you part of after school clubs, or did you just hang out with your friends?

14.      In your native country, does the education system put a huge amount of stress on children and youngsters?

15.      Do you think parenting is more difficult now than it used to be?

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