New Ageism Laws Let Older Bankers Sue for Millions

1. Traders in their 40’s in one bank are known as “dinosaurs”

2. Everyone is happy with the new laws.

3. New employment laws in the EU will make it harder for older people to get a job.

4. Many middle-aged bankers when fired often suffer financial ruin.

2. Match the following synonyms from the article “New Ageism Laws Let Older Bankers Sue for Millions” you are going to listen to:

1) speeding	a) limit
2) unacceptable	b) organizations
3) workers	c) hands-on
4) income	d) fed up
5) capped	e) bombing
6) disgruntled	f) inexcusable
7) males	g) sacked
8) companies	h) females
9) fired	i) employees
10) experience	j) earnings

3. Match the phrases from the article “New Ageism Laws Let Older Bankers Sue for Millions” you are going to listen to. Sometimes more than one choice is possible. Listen and check if you were right:

1. Compensation for unfair dismissal claims	a) not bad like speeding
2. Racism and sexism are viewed	b) many middle-aged bankers
3. Ageism is seen as	c) Age Regulations
4. Financial ruin for	d) is happy with the new laws
5. The new laws mean staff can	e) should not receive higher pay
6. The Employment Equality	f) was capped at around $110,000
7. However not everyone	g) like drunk driving - totally unacceptable
8. 16-24-year-olds believed older workers	h) have been introduced in the EU
9. New employment laws	i) call traders in their 40s “dinosaurs”
10. One bank allowed staff to	j) claim significant levels of compensation

4. Listen to the article and fill in the spaces:

New Ageism Laws Let Older Bankers Sue for Millions

New employment __________ have been introduced in the European Union that will help _______________ older workers. The Employment Equality Age Regulations became law on October 1 as part of an EU-wide initiative to stop __________ in the workplace. Legislators decided discrimination against older workers and older job seekers was on a par with _________________ and that against ethnic minorities. The new laws mean staff can claim significant levels of _________________ employers found guilty of firing staff for being “too old”. Sam Mercer, chief executive of the Employers’ Forum on Age told The Guardian newspaper: "Ageism is still seen as not that bad like speeding. While racism and sexism are viewed like drunk driving - totally unacceptable." However, not everyone ______________ the new laws. The Guardian reports a recent study which revealed 70% of 16-24-year-olds believed older workers should not receive higher pay because of ___________ or experience.

Those likely to most _____________ the new laws are middle-aged bankers, who are often “let go” by their employers for being less dynamic than their _____________ more ambitious counterparts. In effect, this means the law will give greater protection to white middle-aged men - called "pale, _____________" by human resource departments. The __________ reports that one bank allowed staff to call traders in their 40s "_________" and their desks as "Jurassic Park", according to a leading employment law solicitor. Before the new law was passed, these workers had a very hard time reconstructing their lives after being wrongly fired by companies. _____________ unfair dismissal claims was capped at around $110,000, which is a fraction of the income for many bankers in their 40s. This often meant financial ruin for many middle-aged bankers. The new laws change that. Companies now need to be extremely careful when “_________” older workers, or risk multi-million-dollar payouts to ___________ staff.

5. Listen to the recording once again and reproduce how the words below were used in the article:

1) dinosaurs

2) The Guardian

3) pale, stale males

4) bankers

5) 16-24-year olds

6) legislators

7) millions

8) par

9) guilty

10) racism

11) dynamic

12) age

Discussion

1. Discuss in pairs:

1. What do you think of ageism?

2. Do you know anyone who has been affected by ageism? If so, describe it.

3. Is there ageism in your country?

4. Were you aware of the new ageism laws before this lesson?

5. Could the new age discrimination laws endanger the minimum wage system?

6. Are you in favour of the new age discrimination laws?

7. Do you think the European Union is right to have introduced these new employment laws?

8. How do you see employers reacting to this new law?

9. Will employers try to get around it?

10. Describe your feelings on age discrimination being abolished in recruitment? Employment and training?

11. What are your thoughts on the enforced retirement age before 65 being abolished for most?

12. Will company pensions be affected by these new laws?

13. Do you think it’s a good idea for companies to push workers out because of their age?

14. Do you think the new laws will act as a lever to help more older workers to stay in employment, thus reducing the burden of paying pensions on both the state and private pension schemes?

15. Why do some companies ask for a photograph to go with a CV?

Writing

Write a letter to the Guardian newspaper. Tell them what you think of the new employment laws in the European Union. Ask three questions. Show your letter to your classmates in the next lesson. Your classmates will write a reply.

Unit 12. STYLE

Vocabulary

Look up the translation of the following words and word combinations in the dictionary:

1) assume (v) You’ll look at my clothes, which will probably be my friend’s clothes, and wrongly assumeI’m rich.

2) bargain (n) I got the hat in the sales – it was a bargain.

3) blunt (adj) A bluntknife is not sharp and does not cut properly.

4) eccentric (adj) Something that is eccentricis very strange or unusual.

5) to make ends meet (phr) I’m an artist but work in an art gallery three days a week to make ends meet.

6) be in sb’s genes (phr) Vanessa’s parents were interior designers, so style is in her genes.

7) go off (phr v) When your alarm goes offin the morning, it starts making a noise to wake you up.

8) grip (n) If we shake hands, you’ll notice that my gripis strong.

9) make a living (phr) If you make a livingfrom something, you earn enough money from it to live.

10) on a day-to-day basis (phr) On a day-to-day basisVanessa prefers comfortable clothes.

11) outcome (n) Put together outfits without too much thought and see what the outcomeis.

12) be in the public eye (phr) As I became more in the public eye, I became more aware of what I wore.

13) scare (v) The red carpet treatment scaresVanessa Paradis.

14) set eyes on sb If you’ve never set eyes on someonebefore, it is the first time you’ve seen them.

15) Small world. (phr) “Small world” is an expression used to show you are surprised that someone has visited the same places as you.

16) stroll (n) A strollis a short, relaxing walk.

17) work out (phr v) Working as a model helped to develop her style and to work outwhat suited her.

18) wouldn’t be seen dead in sth Most of my friends wouldn’t be seen dead insnakeskin cowboy boots!

Clothes & Fashion

1) baggy (adj) Baggyclothes are very loose on your body.

2) belt (n) Fran wears her red miniskirt with a brown leather belt.

3) bohemian (adj) A bohemianstyle is informal and considered typical of writers and artists.

4) brand-new (adj) A brand-newpiece of clothing has never been worn before.

5) checked (adj) A checkedshirt is one that has a pattern of squares on it.

6) cowboy boots (n pl) Al is really proud of his American snakeskin cowboy boots.

7) designer look (n) Carla Bruni thinks the head-to-toe designer lookis ridiculous.

8) elegant (adj) He was wearing an elegantwhite linen jacket.

9) fashion (n) The head-to-toe designer look is the opposite of fashion.

10) fit (v) These trousers are too tight – they don’t fitme any more.

11) floppy (adj) A floppyhat is soft and loose.

12) fur (n) Many people in Russia wear furhats in the winter.

13) go with (phr v) I’m trying to find a top that goes withthese trousers.

14) hoody (n) A hoodyis a top that looks like a small jacket, with a hood that covers your head.

15) leather jacket (n) The red miniskirt looks fantastic with my old black leather jacket.

16) long/short-sleeved (adj) Short-sleevedshirts are more comfortable in hot weather.

17) low-waisted (adj) I don’t like low-waistedtrousers. You take away the hips and the waist – the best bits.

18) match (v) Don’t forget to check that your socks match!

19) matching bag/hat etc (n) A matching bagand hatmakes you look like a hristmas tree!

20) miniskirt (n) In the early days, Vanessa loved wearing miniskirtsand leather jackets.

21) modelling (n) Through modelling, Carla learned how to use her body.

22) outfit (n) Jay’s favourite outfitis black skinny jeans with a black polo-neck top.

23) pinstripe (n) A smart pinstripesuit is made of material with a thin line woven into it.

24) plain (adj) A plainshirt etc is one that doesn’t have a pattern.

25) pointy shoes (n pl) Pointy shoeshave a point at the front.

26) polo-neck (n) A polo-necktop has a high neck that folds over.

27) put together (phr v) Vanessa likes putting togetheroutfits without too much thought.

28) shoulder pads (n pl) Shoulder padsare thick soft pieces of material inside the shoulders of a jacket.

29) silk (n) Silkis a thin, smooth, expensive material.

30) skinny jeans (n pl) Skinny jeansare extremely tight.

31) smart (adj) I wear smartpinstripe suits for work.

32) snakeskin (n) Al loves his snakeskincowboy boots.

33) stand out (phr v) If you stand outin a crowd, everyone notices you.

34) striped (adj) Stripedmaterial has lines woven into it.

35) style (n) I don’t think anyone can teach you to have style– you either have it or you don’t.

36) suede (n) Suedeis leather with a soft brushed surface.

37) suit (v) Working as a model helped to develop her style and to work out what suitedher.

38) take off (phr v) If the trousers feel a bit tight round the waist, I takethem offand try on another pair.

39) top (n) Jay likes wearing black skinny jeans with black polo-neck top.

40) try on (phr v) She tried ontwo or three tops before finding one that looked right.

41) V-neck (n) Do you prefer V-necksor polo necks?

42) woolly (adj) I decided to wear a thick, woollyjumper as it was so cold.

Physical Description

1) of average build He’s just under six feet tall and of average build.

2) bald (adj) A man who is baldhas no hair.

3) blond streaks (n pl) Blond streaksare lines of a lighter colour in someone’s hair.

4) bushy (adj) Bushyhair is very thick.

5) curly (adj) Do you prefer curlyor straight hair?

6) dark shadows (n pl) He looked very tired and had dark shadowsunder his eyes.

7) deep-set (adj) Deep-seteyes seem to be a long way back into your face.

8) eyebrow (n) He had a scar across the centre of his left eyebrow.

9) eyeliner (n) Eyelineris a line of black make-up that you put round your eyes.

10) face-lift (n) She looked as if she’d had a face-lift, but in fact she’d just had a makeover.

11) freckles (n pl) Frecklesare small brown spots on your skin.

12) ginger (adj) People with gingerhair often have a lot of freckles.

13) goatee (n) In Pirates of the Caribbean Johnny Depp has a small goateebeard.

14) have one’s clothes designed by a stylist (phr) Angela had her clothes designed by a stylistto improve her appearance.

15) have one’s ears pierced (phr) I had my ears piercedwhen I was 14.

16) have one’s eyelids lifted (phr) Tony had plastic surgery to have his eyelids lifted.

17) have one’s hair cut and coloured (phr) Having your hair cut and colouredcan really improve your appearance.

18) have one’s make-up done by an expert (phr) You can pay a lot of money to have your make-up done by an expert.

19) have one’s teeth whitened (phr) Having my teeth whitenedgave me more confidence.

20) have one’s wardrobe re-designed (phr) If you have your wardrobe re-designed, someone chooses a lot of new clothes for you to wear.

21) hazel (adj) Hazeleyes are light brown and slightly golden in colour.

22) in one’s late teens (phr) If you are between 17 and 19, you are in your late teens.

23) in one’s early/late thirties etc (phr) She became President when she was only in her early thirties.

24) just over/under (phr) If you are just undersix feet tall, you are nearly six feet in height.

25) makeover (n) After the makeoverAngela only looked about twenty-eight!

26) medium (adj) If you are of mediumbuild, you are neither thin nor fat.

27) messy (adj) Messyhair is not tidy.

28) mole (n) A moleis a brown spot on your skin that is permanent.

29) overweight (adj) Someone who is overweightis too fat.

30) plastic surgery (n) If you can afford plastic surgery, you’re bound to look better.

31) receding (adj) If your hair is receding, less and less of is growing at the front.

32) scar (n) A scaris a mark on your skin caused by an injury.

33) shoulder-length (adj) In Pirates of the Caribbean Johnny Depp has messy black shoulder-lengthhair.

34) sideburns (n pl) Sideburnsare the hair that grows down a man’s cheeks.

35) skinny (adj) Someone who is skinnyis very thin.

36) slim (adj) Someone who is slimis thin in an attractive way.

37) stocky (adj) Someone who is stockylooks strong but is not tall.

38) tattoo (n) A tattoois a picture drawn in ink on your skin.

39) tiny (adj) Someone who is tinyis extremely small.

40) transformation (n) Did you see Ten Years Younger last night? The transformationwas incredible.

41) wavy (adj) Wavyhair is slightly curly.

42) well-built (adj) Someone who is well-builthas a strong body.

Supplementary Reading

1. Read and translate the text:

Are Today's Teenagers Victims of Fashion?

A survey among the 1,300 pupils at Caldicot Comprehensive School, near Newport, Wales shows that teenage girls and boys are deeply affected by the images presented by the fashion industry in magazines.

When we asked whether superslim fashion models influence anorexia - the eating disorder in which people go without food - 100 per cent of our sample replied "Yes".

It's not just our schoolmates who hold these views. We interviewed psychologist Dr Glenn Waller of London's Royal Holloway College, an expert on the influence of fashion on adolescents. He told us that fashion photographs in magazines make a huge impact on young people’s self-image, particularly females aged 13-19.

Young people are guided by media standards while they are looking around for an identity," he said. "Magazines provide ideas and these can affect vulnerable people.”

“If women look at supermodels who are beanpoles, they may imagine that they themselves are fatter than they really are. If the media used a wider range of female shapes it would be better.”

Fortunately, many Caldicot students are not victims of the image-makers. Here’s what some of them said:

“If you are constantly dieting, you can’t enjoy life.”

“Fashion is something kids can control. It is a path many teenagers take to break free and have fun”

“I find nothing attractive about six-foot models who are too stone underweight; they just look ill.”

“Friends shouldn’t write you off for wearing unfashionable clothes; if they do, they aren’t very good friends.”

Exercises on the text

1. Choose six opinions expressed in the article. Find the sentences in the story where they are expressed:

1) True friends don’t expect you to be fashionable.

2) You can’t blame the fashion business for anorexia.

3) Clothes look better on thinner people.

4) Dieting takes the fun out of life.

5) Fashion allows teenagers to feel free and have fun.

6) Fashion models today are getting larger.

7) Images of very thin models may take ordinary women feel fat.

8) Underweight models are unattractive.

9) Pop groups influence teenagers’ ideas about fashion.

2. Do you agree or disagree with each of the statements in ex.1? Do you follow fashion? Why/Why not?