Viewpoint: How happiness changes with age
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.
A miracle/ Miraculous/ Miraculously
To hit rock bottom
15 conversation-provoking questions related to the article.
1. According to the article, what do most people assume about happiness, and why are they wrong?
2. What do you know about Professor Andrew Oswald’s study, and what does it show us?
3. What did the author say about the ‘frontal lobe’ in the brain?
4. How does the author think this information can be used to positively influence people’s behaviour?
5. What was the thing that made you happiest as a teenager?
6. What was the thing that bothered you most as a teenager?
7. ‘My grandparents are/ were very happy in their old age.’ Is this true for you?
8. ‘When you’re younger, being older is cool. When you’re older, being younger is cool.’ Do you agree?
9. ‘The next generation is doomed.’ Do you agree?
10. What advice would you give your younger self?
11. ‘Religious people are happier than non-religious people; married people are happier than unmarried people; and employed people are happier than people who don’t have a job.’ Do you agree?
12. ‘Work gets easier as you get older.’ Do you agree?
13. ‘The main thing that influences my happiness is my work. I think most people are the same.’ Do you agree?
14. ‘Kids, teenagers and the elderly discount unwanted information more than middle aged individuals.’ Do you agree?
15. ‘It’s important to listen to the advice of people who are older than you. That’s why I always did this when I was younger.’ Is this true for you?