MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SCIENCE OF UKRAINE

National Aerospace University “Kharkiv Aviation Institute”

Department of Applied Linguistics

703

REPORT

Youth in English-speaking countries

Discipline: History, geography, culture and traditions of English-speaking countries
(Great Britain, USA, Canada and Australia)

Author: Burova Vlada

Group No. 723l (1)

Supervisor: M. Heletka

Kharkiv «KhAI» 2020

Contest
Typical U.S. teen.........................................................................................................................................3
Unemployment rate of high school graduates and dropouts........................................................................4
The Changing Face of America's Adolescents............................................................................................5
Number of Adolescents...............................................................................................................................5
Race and Ethnicity......................................................................................................................................6
Socioeconomic Status..................................................................................................................................8
Rural/Urban/Suburban.................................................................................................................................9
Teenagers reveal........................................................................................................................................11
Spotify.......................................................................................................................................................14
Instagram...................................................................................................................................................15
Twitter.......................................................................................................................................................16
Facebook...................................................................................................................................................17
The Modern British Teenagers..................................................................................................................18
Here is How is typical Teenager life in Britain..........................................................................................20
Graduation Requirements..........................................................................................................................20
Additional Resources................................................................................................................................21
Headstart program.....................................................................................................................................21
Special British High Schools.....................................................................................................................21
Weekend and Outside Activities...............................................................................................................21
Employment Options.................................................................................................................................22
British teenagers among least satisfied in western world...........................................................................22
Typical Australian Teens Life...................................................................................................................24
Language...................................................................................................................................................24
Worldview.................................................................................................................................................25
School.......................................................................................................................................................25
Work.........................................................................................................................................................26
Sports........................................................................................................................................................26
Leisure.......................................................................................................................................................27
Family.......................................................................................................................................................27
Food..........................................................................................................................................................27
Health Care................................................................................................................................................28
Forget the stereotype.................................................................................................................................29

References................................................................................................................................................31

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 Typical U.S. teen
What is an American teenager? An American teenager is an adolescent who,
much like other youth, must deal with generational gaps, hormonal changes, and
the forging of their own identity.

These young people transcend stereotypes and the teenage experience varies
from person to person. The teenage and adolescent population in the United States
has remained relatively steady over the last years. When it comes to analyzing a
country’s economic status or a market’s scope, teenagers have been recognized as
an important demographic group for a long time now, with their spending habits,
their working life, and their interests and leisure activities monitored, dissected,
and analyzed. Regarding American teenagers, data are abundant and frequently
collected.

Economically speaking, the U.S. youth is looking at a pretty stable set-up:

Despite a few hiccups, the U.S. youth unemployment rate has been decreasing over
the last decade, and employment prospects are better than in many other
economically stable countries. Also, the fact that the United States’ gross domestic
product (GDP) is expected to remain safely in its range between 2 and 3 percent
over the next five to ten years helps the economic confidence.

Fig. 1 – Some Statistics

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 Teenagers nowadays are often accused of spending too much time staring at
a screen and not enough time playing outside. One out of five teenagers reported
spending three or more hours watching television on an average school day in
2017, and almost 90 percent of teenagers have access to a computer nowadays.
However, certain outdoor activities still remain popular with modern teenagers,
with more than a third of American youth participating in biking outdoors, one of
the most popular outdoor activities in the U.S. in general.

These are only snippets of teenage lives and standards of living, but while
you may not be aware of everything your teenage daughter or son is involved or
interested in, a comprehensive selection of facts and figures to illuminate the
general lifestyle of U.S. teenagers is provided in our dossiers and statistics.

Unemployment rate of high school graduates and dropouts

This graph shows the unemployment rate of high school graduates and
dropouts not enrolled in school from 2000 to 2018. In 2018, around 13.7 percent of
high school dropouts were unemployed, compared to 14.1 percent of graduates.

Fig. 2 – Graduates and Dropouts

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 As seen from the timeline above, high school graduates are generally
employed at a higher rate than individuals who had dropped out of high school.
Since 2000, the share of high school dropouts to be employed has risen and fallen.
Unemployment of high school dropouts reached a low in 2018 at 13.7 percent,
almost matching that of graduates. In 2018, 89.8 percent of the U.S. population
who were aged 25 and above had graduated from high school.

Unemployment of high school dropouts is also much higher than the

national unemployment rate in the United States. As of 2018, unemployment in the
U.S. was at 3.9 percent, down from a high of 9.6 percent unemployment in 2010,
the highest yearly rate in ten years. Nationwide, unemployment is worst among
farming, fishing, and forestry occupations, with a rate of 10.5 percent in April
2019, followed by construction and extraction occupations and service
occupations.

Not only were almost 14 percent of high school dropouts unemployed in

2018, but working high school dropouts earned less on average than individuals of
any other level of educational attainment. In 2017, mean earnings of individuals
who had not graduated from high school were about 26,469 U.S. dollars annually,
compared to 38,145 dollars among high school graduates and 67,763 dollars
among those with a Bachelor's degree.

The Changing Face of America's Adolescents

Adolescents are increasingly diverse and reflect the changing racial/ethnic,

socioeconomic, and geographic structure of the U.S. population. If adults who
work with youth understand the demographic characteristics and diversity of
adolescents, they can do a better job of planning and delivering health services to
this population.

Number of Adolescents

Today, there are almost 42 million adolescents between the ages of 10 and
19 in the United States, and adolescents make up 12.9 percent of the population.1
As the U.S. population ages, adolescents will represent a smaller proportion of the
total. By 2050, estimates show that adolescents will make up 11.3 percent of the
population. While adolescents are predicted to represent a smaller portion of the

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total population, estimates show that the number of adolescents in the population
will continue to grow, reaching almost 44 million in 2050.

Fig. 3 – The number of U.S. adolescents

Race and Ethnicity

Differences by race/ethnicity in access to health care, health-related

behaviors, and health outcomes are well documented. Members of racial and ethnic
minority groups, in general, have less access to healthcare, receive worse
healthcare, experience more serious health conditions, and have higher mortality

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rates than whites. Use Healthy People’s Health Disparities widget to browse health
disparities linked to social, economic, and environmental factors. In part, these
disparities reflect higher poverty rates among racial and ethnic minorities, which
also are linked to poorer health. Health professionals can improve the delivery of
services to minority youth by incorporating culturally informed practices.The
proportion of adolescents who are racial and ethnic minorities is expected to rise in
the future. More than half of U.S. adolescents (53 percent) were white in 2016, but
by 2050 that proportion is projected to drop to about 40 percent as Hispanic and
multiracial teens, in particular, come to represent a larger share of the population.
Health equity among the diverse adolescent population will be difficult to achieve
if racial and ethnic disparities are not addressed.

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 Fig. 4 – Race and Ethnicity

Socioeconomic Status

Poverty is a reality for many adolescents in the United States. In 2017,

almost one in six adolescents (16 percent) were living in families with incomes
below the federal poverty line (defined as an income of $24,600 or less for a
family of four in 2017), and more than one in three adolescents (36 percent) were
living in low-income families (defined as less than twice the federal poverty line).
Poverty rates were especially high for single-parent families.
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 Growing up in poverty can have negative health implications for
adolescents. Compared to adolescents in higher income families, adolescents in
lower income families have worse academic outcomes. These adolescents are also
more likely to suffer from behavioral or emotional problems and engage in
unhealthy behaviors, such as eating unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, smoking,
and early initiation of sexual activity.

Fig. 5 – Poverty and Low-Income Status

Rural/Urban/Suburban

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 The area where adolescents live affects their health behaviors and the
availability of health services. Most adolescents in the United States live in or just
outside an urban area. Although adolescents in urban areas may be exposed to
higher levels of violent crime, they are more likely than their rural counterparts to
have access to playgrounds, community or recreation centers, and parks.

More than five million adolescents live in rural areas. Rural adolescents are
more likely to live in low-income households than adolescents in urban areas.
While children living in urban and rural areas are equally likely to have health
insurance, rural youth face barriers to accessing health services due to a shortage of
providers and transportation challenges. Moreover, mental health services are
notably limited in rural areas. Youth in rural areas, compared to youth in urban
areas, are more likely to be overweight or obese and to live with someone who
smokes. Youth in rural areas also have higher suicide rates and are more likely to
misuse opioids. However, rural youth (particularly those in small rural areas) are
more likely than other youth to live in supportive communities and share a meal
with their family every day of the week.

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 Fig. 6 – Where adolescents live

Teenagers reveal
Too often when writing about what teenagers like, scientists neglect to talk
to the most important group of all: teens. So scientist decided to put together a
State of the Union on the American teenager. To learn what American teenagers in
2016 really like, and what they don't, scientist polled about 60 of them from across

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the US. Scientist spoke with teens ages 13 to 19, in middle school, high school,
and college.

Scientist asked them about their digital lives and habits, the apps they use
and the games they play, pop culture, and politics. Their answers offer a glimpse
into what it's like being a teenager in 2016. We've drawn out the highlights below,
along with some data from other sources.

For survey on American teenagers, we talked to a group of about 60

teenagers from across the US, of various socioeconomic classes, grades, and ages.
We didn't want to focus on one particular geographic area, so we talked to
teenagers from across the country, including California, Colorado, Mississippi, and
Pennsylvania.

Every teen scientist spoke with owned a smartphone, and most owned or
regularly used a variety of devices, like gaming consoles, tablets, and desktop
computers.

On average, the teens scientists spoke with received smartphones from their
parents when they were 11 years old. At their youngest, they received phones when
they were 8; at the other end, one teen's parents made her wait until she was 16
before she got a phone.

Besides owning smartphones, most teens spent time in front of television

sets and gaming consoles (PlayStation 4 and Wii were popular answers) as well.
Some also used desktop computers.

On average, they said they spent 11 hours in front of screens every day —
answers ranged from two hours to 18 hours, which sounds as if it would be literally
every waking moment (and maybe it is). Teens aren't only spending a ton of time
online — they're shopping online too. Clothing has been relatively immune to the
rise of e-commerce because people still like to try things on before buying.

But when it comes to teenage shoppers, the option of being able to try on
clothing before buying is becoming less important, according to a survey
conducted by Piper Jaffray in 2015.

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 Fig.7 – U.S. Teens Preferences

Only 61% of US teens say they prefer to shop for clothing online from
retailers that also operate their own brick-and-mortar stores. That's a significant
drop from the 81% of teens last spring who said they preferred to shop at
omnichannel fashion (or cross-channel) retailers.

What are teens' favorite apps? Here are a few of the most popular answers:
The most popular by a landslide: Snapchat.

It's no surprise that teenagers love Snapchat. Here's what they had to say
about it:

 "It's how I communicate with most of my friends and it's fun." — 15-year-
old

 "Snapchat because it's pretty much just texting, but with pictures of my
beautiful face " — 16-year-old

 "Snapchat, because it is fun to send your friends what you're doing, and
where you are in a fast and easy way. I also like being able to make stories,
for all of my friends to see, and I also enjoy seeing stories of my friends on it
and see what they're up to." — 17-year-old

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 Fig. 8 – Snapchat logo

Spotify
Spotify was almost universally heralded as the best music app, and it was
also listed as a favorite app by a lot of respondents. Teenagers almost universally
named Spotify as their preferred music-streaming service — and some teenagers
said it was the best app on their phone overall.

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 Fig. 9 – Spotify logo

Instagram
Instagram is a standby favorite of teens, who swear by its filters and direct-
message feature. Here's what they said:

"I use Instagram to message my friends funny pictures I see on Instagram." — 15-
year-old

"Snapchat and Instagram, I love sharing photos all of the things I do and places I
go. I also like seeing what others are up to." — 15-year-old

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 Fig. 10 – Instagram logo

Twitter
You might not expect Twitter to be among teens' favorite apps. After all, the
company is having a hard time attracting new users. But a lot of teenagers we
talked to really liked the platform. Here what they had to say:

"Twitter because I can update everyone all the time quickly and it's not annoying
like Facebook." — 17-year-old

Twitter because "you can voice your opinion on anything you want to and
you can somewhat interact with celebrities." — 18-year-old

"My favorite app is Twitter because I am the kind of person who needs to get out
my thoughts, and Twitter may be like shouting into the void but at least I am heard
and often validated by my peers." — 19-year-old.

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 Facebook

The teens scientist talked to said they and their friends were still using
Facebook — but it wasn't their favorite app. Here's why:

"I use Facebook, but I feel like I can't be myself on it because my parents
and my friends' parents are my Facebook friends." — 16-year-old

"It's mostly outdated." — 14-year-old

"Facebook is good for group events and things but it's definitely not my
favorite app." — 15-year-old

Fig. 11 – Facebook logo

Google+. "I don't even really know a time where Google+ was a thing." — 16-
year-old
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Whisper. "People just don't use it anymore." — 17-year-old

Vine. "I watch Vine videos, but me and my friends don't have accounts or make
our own videos, same with YouTube." — 16-year-old

This pretty much lines up with what teens across the board are saying.

Fig. 12 – Most Important Social Networks

Instagram leads as the "most important" social network among US teens,

according to the 2015 edition of Piper Jaffray's teen survey, as reported by BI
Intelligence.

Most of the teens we talked to wouldn't acknowledge having fake Instagram

("finsta") accounts.

The Modern British Teenagers

Modern teenagers in Great Britain enjoy great democratic freedom.
However, research on teenage behavioural patterns shows that they typically feel
very depressed about their physical appearance, health, and social status. For
example, girls are in a constant fear of putting on weight. Therefore, they resort to
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various weight reducing methods. Some of these methods are very susceptible to
their health, and may even be the cause of psychologically effected diseases such
as anorexia.

A recent report from the World Health Organisation shows school going
teenagers in Wales and England are dissatisfied with their immense quantity of
school work. Recently, the Guardian published a feature article in this regard
quoting Dr. Joanna Inchley, who is the Deputy Director, Child and Adolescent
Health Research Unit, the University of St Andrews, saying that teenagers between
the age group of 11 and 15 have a very low satisfaction of life.

Meanwhile, a study carried out in North America and Europe among

220,000 teenagers life shows girls at the age 15 of those who responded to the
survey suffer from various physical problems. Every week, the study showed, they
have complained about some physical or mental problems more than once. Among
the boys who were part of the research, many were too obese. Fifty per cent of
girls feels that they are overweight, and every one of them was on a diet. In
Scotland, 55 per cent of girls and 27 per cent of boys were of the view that they
were too overweight.

However, a high percentage of teenagers now do not smoke. Instead, studies

shows, they prefer to drink alcohol. The girls get drunk more often than boys and
as a percentage, 31 per cent of girls drink alcohol while only 25 per cent of the
boys said that they drink alcohol from time to time. On the other hand, there is a
tendency among school-going teenagers to avoid attending to their school work.
Only 16 percent of girls and 22 per cent of boys responded saying that they like
doing their school work in the required forms.

A recent report from the Ofcom, a communication research giant, shows

teenagers between the age group of 16 and 24, spent more than 25 hours surfing
the Internet per week. The number of youngsters who roam the Internet in Great
Britain has doubled during the last decade, the report says. Meanwhile, sending
SMS has become one of the primary communication methods among English
teenagers. In fact, they use brief linguistic expressions whenever they send SMS to
their friends which have now become part of the major communication systems in
the world.
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 Instead of reading newspapers, printed books, and magazines, most
teenagers in England now read on the net. They watch films and TV programmes
online more than they watch them in Cinema halls and on TVs. However, a high
per cent of the youth still watches TVs in their leisure hours. Teenagers are very
much active in social media as well. Since 2007, the number of social media users
among teenagers has tripled, Ofcom reported. Nearly 85 percent social media users
among teenagers maintain their own profiles on the net.

Moreover, teenagers are not afraid to reveal their personal details through
social media anymore. Over 70 per cent of teenagers accept that they disclose their
personal data via social media almost on a daily basis. Mostly, they do not pay
enough attention to terms and conditions of these social media platforms. They
also tend to use one password on all the social media profiles that they maintain.

Here is How is typical Teenager life in Britain

The typical British high school calendar runs September to mid-July and is
from year ten to year twelve. Its day begins at 8:45 with registration. During this
15 minute period, students are given the news of the day and attendance is verified.
Classes begin at 9:00 with the school day ending at 3:10. There are five periods
each scheduled at an hour.

Typically, there is an hour break during the day. One is at 11:00 which is
recess and last generally 20 minutes. Activities such as tag and snowball fights are
typically played during the period. Lunch is later generally about 1 and lasts 40
minutes.

Graduation Requirements
The British academic requirements are stringent. Generally subjects are
studied for two years, however, the requirement does vary. Math, Science, and
Social Studies are two years. Physical Education and Fine Arts require only one
year, while English is required for all three years. An additional requirement for
high school seniors is planning for life after graduation.

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 Additional Resources
In order to help students who may be falling behind, many British high
schools offer tutoring resources. Often referred to as a Learning Center, a student
can request assistance through the teacher. The Center offers Teachers, Teacher
Assistants and Peers to help. Tutoring is offered in almost all subjects.

Headstart program
The British Head Start program can provide college prep classes as well as
training for a trade. In addition to advanced coursework, typical classes under this
program include gardening and cooking. The program has been expanded into
private businesses. Many companies offer specific courses and experience in
engineering and computer science. A number of programs specialize in getting
girls involved in male-dominated professions.

Special British High Schools

Britain has a number of high schools which specialize. One such high school
specializes in Math, Science, and Computers. The general education requirements
remain the same with the emphasis placed on technology.

Weekend and Outside Activities

Many, if not most British high school students participate in sports activities
after school and on the weekends. The teen group is no different than the
population as a whole, with most playing and watching football or cricket.
Surprisingly with the gray weather, swimming and diving is a favorite, along with
hiking and cycling. Daily playground activities include the tag game “It” along
with conkers. There are also the typical teen activities of video games and internet
surfing.

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 Employment Options
Teens have seen the job market slowly improving. However, students who
have found employment often find it is short term. The next downturn in the
business would likely result in a layoff. The typical high school student in Britain
is busy with school and outside activities. There are many high schools
specializing in any number of subjects. Students have many avenues available to
ensure success through the many tutoring programs available. Studies can pursue a
trade or attend advanced classes. The options are endless.

British teenagers among least satisfied in western world

Study finds English, Welsh and Scottish 15-year-olds feel pressured at
school, worry about weight and drink too much alcohol.

British teenagers feel pressured at school, worry they are too fat and drink
too much alcohol, according to an international study that finds they are among the
least satisfied with their lives compared with their peers around the world.

Researchers who conducted the study of children in 42 countries said 15-

year-old girls in England, Wales and Scotland appeared to be at particular risk,
suffering from high levels of stress and worries about health.

The World Health Organisation report found that 15-year-olds in England

and Wales were among the least likely to report high levels of satisfaction with
their lives, with only children from Poland and Macedonia being less satisfied.

Why are British kids so unhappy? Two words: screen time. Teenage boys
and girls in England, Scotland and Wales were also among the most stressed at
school, with Scottish 15-year-olds feeling most pressured by schoolwork in the UK
and coming second only to Malta. Eight out of ten 15-year-old girls in Scotland
said they felt pressured by schoolwork, compared with 59% of boys.

England’s teenagers, meanwhile, ranked fifth on the international table, with

73% of 15-year-old girls and 52% of boys the same age feeling pressured by
schoolwork. In Wales, 67% of girls and 52% of boys complained of pressure.

Dr Joanna Inchley, the deputy director of the child and adolescent health
research unit at the University of St Andrews, said researchers were struck by the
decline in life satisfaction among young people between the ages of 11 and 15.

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 “Particularly concerning is the increase in school-related stress which may
be contributing to poorer mental wellbeing, especially among 15-year-old girls. It
is essential that we look at ways of providing support to young people to help them
navigate the challenges they face during adolescence.”

The study of almost 220,000 young people across Europe and North
America found that girls reported poorer mental health than boys. By the age of 15,
20% of girls described their health as fair or poor, while half experienced multiple
health complaints more than once a week.

Obesity is higher among boys, yet girls were more likely to think they were
fat, with a quarter of 15-year-old girls being on a diet. In England, 50% of girls and
25% of boys were concerned they were too fat, higher than the international
average of 43% for girls and 22% for boys. In Scotland, 55% of girls and 27% of
boys said they were too fat, compared with 52% of girls and 30% of boys in
Wales.

One UK success story is that rates of weekly drinking and smoking have
halved in the last decade, but the report still showed that drunkenness among
British teenagers persists, with a third of 15-year-olds in Scotland having been
drunk twice or more. England is the only country where significantly more girls
report getting drunk on more than two occasions than boys: 31% compared with
25%

Teenagers in the UK also seem to like school less than peers elsewhere in
the world. Just 16% of girls and 22% of boys in England said they liked school a
lot, compared with the international average of 24% for girls and 22% for boys.

Internationally, sexual activity appears to have declined, with the rate for
boys dropping from 29% to 24% and for girls from 23% to 17%. Boys were more
likely than girls to say they had experienced sexual activity, except in England and
Wales where girls reported it more.

Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab, the WHO European regional director, said: “Health

behaviours and social habits and attitudes acquired in the critical second decade of
a young person’s life can carry on into adulthood and affect the entire life-course.

“Despite considerable advances in adolescent health, such as the welcome

reduction in adolescent smoking behaviours, many still face huge inequities; girls
and children from lower-income families consistently report poorer physical and
mental health and lower rates of physical activities than boys and children from
more affluent families.”

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 Typical Australian Teens Life
TWO-PARENT HOUSEHOLDS, single- parent families, and stepfamilies.
Sometimes grandparents live with their families, too. About two-thirds of famities
own their homes. A common dwelling is a one-story house made of brick with a
tile roof. A two-story house was once considered by many to be a luxury. Today
more people own larger homes. Most homes have their own yards andgardens.
About one in 10. homes has a pool.

In the hotter northern: part of Australia, many houses are built on stumps, or
stilts. The stumps allow air to flow under the house to keep the inside cooler. The
stomps also protect the homes from flooding, particularly during the summer and
autumn months, when cyclones or monsoons can drop as much as 40 inches (1,016
millimeters) of rain in a single day. Teens help take care of their houses and
families. Many teens have chores to do each day. A teen may take care of the
family pet and clean his or her bedroom.

Some teens help cook dinner and hang out clothes to dry on a clothesline.
Teens may get weekly allowances for helping around the house. In the Sydney and
Melbourne suburbs, teens may get an allowance of 25 to 50 Australian dollars
(U.S.$20 to $39), Teenagers use their allowance for transportation to school—
buses or inner-city trains—or for lunches and snacks. They might lose that
allowance, be grounded, or have television or computer privileges taken away if
they break their parents’ rules or do not do their chores. In their day-to-day lives,
Australians use a unique language they call Strine, a word that was created from a
pronun- Ciation of the word Australian, Strine is a version of English, but
Australians often shorten words to create new ones. They also tend to add an “ee”
or “0” sound to the end of shortened words. For example, the call a politician a
polly, and the word breakfast is turned into brekkie.

Language
Australia has always struggled with its identity on the world scene. As a
young country, the things that set it apart have already begun to be phased out by
globalization. Australia, like many other countries, is becoming more
“Americanized.”

This can be seen in our language. Words and phrases such as “fair dinkum”
(fair, genuine, honest or true) are being lost amidst the onslaught of technological
vocabulary and popular American slang. Yet Australian teens do still speak
“Aussie English,” not yet calling petrol “gas” or referring to mobiles as
“cellphones.”

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 Worldview
To the average “Aussie,” Australia seems to be an important part of the
world. However, the rest of the world is still rather uneducated about Australia.
Some people believe Australian children ride kangaroos to school; others think we
just keep them alternatively with koalas and possums as pets. Still more believe
that “G’day” is actually a common greeting. Only one of these is true!

Life for the average Australian teen is similar to that of teens in America or
England. Most go to school, have jobs and prefer to spend time with friends over
family.

Australians are, however, a more relaxed, laidback society compared to

other nations. Personal pleasure, entertainment and fun are the main objects in the
lives of most Australians. This ideal springs mostly from the citizens’ “convict
heritage.” Due to this, Australians are informal and tend to have a rebellious
attitude toward authority.

Although the ages of 13 to 19 are generally thought of as teenagers,

Australians consider 12- to 17-year-olds as teenagers. During these years, teens go
to high school. After graduating and turning 18, an Australian is then considered
an adult and is legally allowed to purchase alcohol and cigarettes, and to vote.

School
Each state has a different education system; most have a 13-year schooling
system, including a mandatory pre-school year. Students start primary school when
they turn age six, and continue for seven years.

High school begins in year 8, continuing through to year 12. The school year
begins at the end of January and finishes sometime in November or December
(when summer in the Southern Hemisphere begins), depending on the school and
year. A school year is broken up into two semesters, which are each broken into
two terms: a small holiday break separating each, and a longer break separating
one year from the next.

Each school decides how many subjects a student can take, somewhere
between five and seven. English and Mathematics are both compulsory in most
states throughout all school years. Students can choose any subject they wish. If
the school does not offer it onsite, Distance Education (DE) can be arranged.
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 Children living in the outback do all their schooling through DE. Upon
entering senior (year 11 and 12), students must choose subjects that will be
continued until graduation. In senior year, students can also choose to take a
school-based traineeship. This enables them to complete a certificate or begin an
apprenticeship while still studying at school.

Rural schools are so small that they usually have only one or two teachers on
staff. Due to the low number of students and teachers, the classes are merged into
one or two rooms. It is also difficult for schools to find teachers to employ, as not
many want to live in the country, where they will miss the many luxuries that city
life offers.

Almost every school in Australia has a mandatory school uniform that is

designed to minimize discrimination. Most school uniforms are similar, mainly
differing in colour.

There are a large number of state and private schools sprinkled throughout
the country. School is normally within walking distance or along a bus route.

Work
Most teens do not like to rely on their parents for financial support; many
take on casual (part-time) work at the local supermarket or fast-food restaurant.
Teens under the age of 16 are not allowed to work more than 12 hours a week.
Those under 16 must have parental permission to be employed.

Sports
Sports are an integral part of nearly all Australians’ lives, with cricket,
football (soccer) and swimming being the most popular. Most teens participate in
at least one after-school sport throughout the year. Most girls choose netball
(similar to basketball), and boys often choose rugby or cricket.

Competition between states and countries is high in Australia. Lately, flags

or certain songs and chants have been banned within stadiums due to the high
spirits they incite and the rowdy—sometimes violent—behavior that accompanies
them.

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 Leisure
With 80% of Australians living within 100kms (62 mi.) of the beach, a trip
to the ocean is often a means for fun. Anticipating this, swimming lessons are
compulsory in nearly all primary schools, and upper primary and lower high
school often teach survival swimming and resuscitation techniques.

There are many other activities available in which teens can participate.
Within cities there are several shopping centres, bike paths, skating bowls, bowling
alleys, movie theatres and a popular favourite: laser tag and paintball facilities.

Sadly, many teens spend their free time on Friday or Saturday night
partying. Just over 10% of Australian teens binge drink every week. Drugs are
relatively easy to obtain for parties as well—more than 20% of teens interviewed
in 2001 claimed to have recently used marijuana.

Family
Family is taken for granted by most teens, therefore it usually comes last.
Teenagers tend to spend a vast amount of time text-messaging, IM-ing and online
chatting with their friends rather than with their family—thus a gap is forming in
family life.

Ironically, a 2006 survey by Families Australia showed that the majority of

teens consider time to be the most important thing they would like from their
parents (youthfacts.com.au).

Divorce is increasing in Australia. New data shows that the likelihood of

divorce is 32% (abs.gov.au). The proportion of divorces involving children is
above 50%.

Despite the facts and figures, family is family, and Australians feel a deep
loyalty and pride toward their relatives.

P.S. Australians really do say “G’day.”

Food
Australian tucker, or food, is a unique blend of traditions. The diverse
population prepares many kinds of food. As a result, Australian tucker is a
combination of many flavors and cooking styles. A typical breakfast consists of
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bacon and eggs, cereal and orange something more Australian, a dark brown salty
spread made from brewers’ yeast extract. “ usually eat Vegemite on toast or
Nutella on toast with a glass of juice,” Rhiannon Hughes said, Nutella is a hazelnut
and chocolate spread that originated in Italy.

Lunchtime meals are usually light. Salads, sandwiches, and meat pies are
common fare. Afternoon snacks of lamingtons—small, square cakes dipped in
chocolate and rolled in coconut — or little pancakes called pikelets with cups of
tea tide most people over until their evening meals.

Many families eat their evening meals together. They may gather around the
dining room table and eat while talking about the day’s events. A typical meal
includes meat, potatoes, and a vegetable. Asian, Greek, and Italian dishes and
spices are popular. Eggplant, zucchini, shiitake mushrooms, garlic, and bok choy
were brought to Australia by immigrants but are now ‘commonly found in
Australian dishes. Especially on the weekends, families may gather outside and
enjoy ‘a meal fresh from the barbie, or barbecue. Favorite grilled foods include
fish, shellfish, chicken, and lamb chops. Dessert often includes fresh fruit, such as
apples, bananas, oranges, papayas or pineapple. Another popular treat is pavlova, a
concoction of meringue, cream, and fruit.

Health Care

Australians love to eat, and many enjoy sweets. However, many citizens also
take care of their health, visiting doctors and dentists regularly. All Australian
citizens can get health care through a program called Medicare, which is paid for
using taxes on people's incomes. Medicare covers most doctors’ fees and care in
public hospitals. While most teens see themselves as being in good health, they
face health problems as well. Among the widespread problems is excessive alcohol
consumption. Four out of five high school students report using alcohol, which can
lead to other problems, such as alcoholism and accidents resulting from drunken
driving.

Another health concern for Australian teens is drug abuse. Marijuana is the
most commonly used illegal drug by teenagers. More than one-third of teens report
using ‘marijuana at least once, Between 4 percent and 9 percent of teens report
using other drugs, including amphetamines, cocaine, ecstasy, and hallucinogens.
Male teens are more likely than females to try illegal drugs.

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 Cigarettes remain popular among Australian teenagers as well, but their use
is declining, thanks in part to massive media campaigns. In 1984, 17 percent of 12-
to 14-year-olds reported smoking cigarettes. By 2002, hat number had dropped to 9
percent. Teenagers who smoke and drink are more likely to experiment with illegal
drugs than are those who don’t use cigarettes or alcohol.

Forget the stereotype

Typical Australian teenagers are more likely to be found helping around the
house after school than using Facebook or playing computer games, University of
Canberra researchers have found.

Teenagers were asked about their typical after school activities with
computer games only just scraping into the top 10 in 10th place and Facebook
ranked ninth. Family time topped the list, with sport, homework, hobbies and odd
jobs also in the top 10, compiled as part of a report commissioned by the
Australian Computer Society Community Engagement Board.

“We really need to re-think our stereotypes of modern teenagers,” the

report’s author, Dr Karen Macpherson from the University of Canberra Education
Institute, said.

“No one would argue against the fact that teenagers have welcomed digital
technologies into their lives with open arms. But it may be that the popular
stereotype of teenagers as being consumed by Facebook and computer games
needs some rethinking. Although technology is now woven into their lives, for
example on a daily basis almost half of the teenagers surveyed access Facebook,
this study suggested that young people today spend most of their time doing what
they have done after school for generations: spending time with family; playing
sport; doing jobs around the house; and doing homework. And as they get older,
casual jobs are also common.”

Dr Macpherson said it was important to understand the role of technology in

young people’s lives to have a clearer picture of what might influence them to take
up a career in technology, to help meet the nation’s critical skills shortage. The
study gathered comprehensive information from teenagers about the role of
technology in their out-of-school lives; their attitudes to the use of technology in
schools; their interest in studying technology at school and later; and in taking it up
as a career.

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 “The driver of this project was a question of Australian national interest,” Dr
Macpherson said. “We need more young people to take up careers in Information
and Communication Technology.”

More than 200 teenagers aged 12-18 years participated in the survey, which
was administered at a sample of ACT government and non-government schools
during Terms 3 and 4, 2012.

The study found, as with many adults, the mobile phone is usually within
arm’s reach. In fact by the age of 18 years, 82 percent of the students in the sample
slept with their mobile turned on next to their bed either “always” or “sometimes”.

The research suggested a large discrepancy between teenagers’ confidence

in using technology – which was high; and their competence. For example
information literacy skills that are fundamental to effective internet searching need
improvement.

The study suggested that use of Facebook increases for both boys and girls
with age; while playing computer games is very much gender related, and peaks
with boys aged 13-15 years.

Results indicate that early high school is a critical time in which to engage
teenagers in the study of Science, Maths and Technology.

“In early high school, we see a mismatch between the number of students
who are interested in ‘how computers work’, and the lower numbers of students
who are interested in ‘studying ICT’. After these early years, interest in both
declines. We have a clear opportunity to interest more students in ICT if we engage
with them at around 12-14 years of age,” Dr Macpherson said.

A final issue is the significant gap between young people’s perceptions of

work available in ICT careers, which many see as fairly limited, and their stated
ambitions of working in interesting and well paid jobs that ‘make a difference’.

“Our job is to provide learning opportunities to students that help them join
the dots between their stated career objectives, and the fact that many ICT and
science careers can meet those objectives,” Dr Macpherson said.

30
 References
1. 60 teenagers reveal what they think is cool. [Electronic Resource]
Retrieved from: https://www.businessinsider.com/what-teens-are-like-in-
2016-2016-1
2. Topic: Teenagers. [Electronic Resource]
Retrieved from: https://www.statista.com/topics/1063/teenagers/
3. U.S. high school graduates and dropouts: unemployment rate 2018.
[Electronic Resource]
Retrieved from:
https://www.statista.com/statistics/184996/unemployment-rate-of-high-
school-graduates-and-dropouts/#statisticContainer
4. The Changing Face of America's Adolescents. [Electronic Resource]
Retrieved from: https://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/facts-and-
stats/changing-face-of-americas-adolescents/index.html
5. The Modern British Teenagers Life. [Electronic Resource]
Retrieved from: https://tv-english.club/articles-en/discover-
great-britain-en/the-modern-british-teenagers-life/
6. British teenagers among least satisfied in western world. [Electronic
Resource]
Retrieved from:
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/mar/15/british-teenagers-
among-least-satisfied-in-western-world
7. Forget the stereotype. [Electronic Resource]
Retrieved from:
https://smartamarketing2.wordpress.com/2013/06/10/forget-the-
stereotype-typical-australian-teenagers/

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