Teen Life
BasicTeen life: school, friends, hobbies.
- Teen life has three parts: school (lessons, tests), social life (friends, clubs) and growing up (independence, responsibility)
- Peer pressure appears when classmates show off expensive sneakers or the newest smartphones
- How to respond (from the passage): say no politely; friendship matters more than fashion
文體小知識：A slice-of-life article about a Hong Kong teenager — school, friends and growing up.
§Text Passage
1Kevin is a typical adolescent growing up in Hong Kong. Every morning he wakes up at half past six, grabs his homework folder and rushes to the MTR station with his younger sister. At school he balances lessons, tests and his social life, and by Friday afternoon he is always exhausted. The best part of his week is the extracurricular basketball club, where he trains with his friends on the outdoor court. For two hours, he forgets about exams and just enjoys the game.
2However, teenage life is not always about fun and games. Sometimes Kevin feels peer pressure when his classmates show off expensive sneakers or the newest smartphones. He once saved three months of pocket money just to follow the trend. Luckily, his best friend Amy reminded him that friendship is more important than fashion. Thanks to her, he has learned to say no politely and to spend his money more wisely.
3At home, Kevin's parents now give him more independence than before. He takes responsibility for washing the dishes, buying groceries and keeping his room tidy. In return, he has to finish his revision before he can play computer games. Through these experiences, he is slowly building his own identity. Being a teenager is not always easy, but Kevin enjoys finding out who he really is.
§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation
Kevin is a typical adolescent growing up in Hong Kong.
Kevin是在香港成長的一個典型青少年。
Every morning he wakes up at half past six, grabs his homework folder and rushes to the MTR station with his younger sister.
每個早上他六點半起床，拿起功課文件夾，同妹妹一起趕去港鐵站。
At school he balances lessons, tests and his social life, and by Friday afternoon he is always exhausted.
在學校，他要兼顧課堂、測驗同社交生活，到星期五下午他一定累到不得了。
The best part of his week is the extracurricular basketball club, where he trains with his friends on the outdoor court.
他一星期最開心的就是課外籃球學會，可以和朋友在露天球場練球。
For two hours, he forgets about exams and just enjoys the game.
那兩個小時，他會忘掉所有考試，只享受打球的樂趣。
However, teenage life is not always about fun and games.
不過，青少年生活不只是玩樂。
Sometimes Kevin feels peer pressure when his classmates show off expensive sneakers or the newest smartphones.
有時同學炫耀貴價波鞋或者最新款手機，Kevin就會感受到同儕壓力。
He once saved three months of pocket money just to follow the trend.
他試過為了跟潮流，儲了三個月零用錢。
Luckily, his best friend Amy reminded him that friendship is more important than fashion.
幸好他最好的朋友Amy提醒他，友誼比潮流更加重要。
Thanks to her, he has learned to say no politely and to spend his money more wisely.
多虧她，Kevin學會了禮貌地拒絕，以及更精明地花錢。
At home, Kevin's parents now give him more independence than before.
在家，Kevin父母現在給了他比以前更多獨立空間。
He takes responsibility for washing the dishes, buying groceries and keeping his room tidy.
他負責洗碗、買菜同收拾好自己的房間。
In return, he has to finish his revision before he can play computer games.
作為交換，他要溫完書才可以打電動。
Through these experiences, he is slowly building his own identity.
透過這些經歷，他慢慢建立屬於自己的身份。
Being a teenager is not always easy, but Kevin enjoys finding out who he really is.
做青少年不一定輕鬆，但Kevin享受發掘真我的過程。
1Summary 重點摘要
Teen life: school, friends, hobbies.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Teenager.
Pressure from friends.
After-school activity.
School work at home.
Relationship with friends.
Being self-reliant.
Duty to do things.
Who you are.
3Step by step Steps
- School lifeSchool routine comes first. Example: Kevin wakes up at half past six every morning, grabs his homework folder and rushes to the MTR station with his younger sister. At school he balances lessons, tests and his social life — by Friday afternoon he is always exhausted.
- Social lifeFriends and activities come second. Example: the best part of Kevin's week is the extracurricular basketball club, where he trains with friends on the outdoor court for two hours and forgets about exams for a while.
- Growing upGrowth comes third. Example: Kevin's parents now give him more independence, so he takes responsibility for washing the dishes, buying groceries and keeping his room tidy — and he must finish revision before playing computer games.
- Key vocabularyLearn these eight words: adolescent, peer pressure, extracurricular, homework, friendship, independence, responsibility and identity. Try writing one sentence about yourself with each word.
- Facing peer pressurePeer pressure appears when classmates show off expensive sneakers or the newest smartphones. Kevin once saved three months of pocket money to follow the trend, but Amy reminded him that friendship matters more than fashion — that is how he learned to say no politely.
- Think about itAsk yourself: what is Kevin's daily routine? How does he deal with peer pressure? How do freedom and duty balance at home? Support every answer with a line from the passage, such as say no politely or finish his revision first.
- Write about itUse this lesson's words to write your own teen life: present simple for routines (I wake up at half past six) and present perfect for changes (I have learned to say no politely). Five sentences can cover study, hobbies, pressure and growth.
5Worked example Example
Based on the passage, write five sentences about your own teenage life: school routine, activities, peer pressure, and the freedom and duties at home.
- Step 1: School routine — Every morning I wake up at half past six and rush to the MTR station.
- Step 2: After-school activity — The best part of my week is the extracurricular basketball club.
- Step 3: Pressure — Sometimes I feel peer pressure when classmates show off expensive sneakers.
- Step 4: How you respond — I have learned to say no politely and spend my money more wisely.
- Step 5: Freedom and duties at home — My parents give me more independence, but I must finish my revision first.
- Answer: I am a typical Hong Kong teenager with a busy life. Every morning I wake up at half past six and rush to the MTR station with my younger sister. The best part of my week is the extracurricular basketball club, where I can forget about tests for two hours. Sometimes I feel peer pressure when classmates show off expensive sneakers, but my best friend reminds me that friendship is more important than fashion. At home, my parents give me more independence, and in return I take responsibility for my chores and finish my revision before playing computer games.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1What is peer pressure?
Q2What is extracurricular?
Q3What is independence?
Q4What is responsibility?
Q5What is identity?
8Recap Recap
- Teen life has three parts: school (lessons, tests), social life (friends, clubs) and growing up (independence, responsibility)
- Peer pressure appears when classmates show off expensive sneakers or the newest smartphones
- How to respond (from the passage): say no politely; friendship matters more than fashion
- Independence comes with responsibility — freedom at home means chores and revision first
- Main idea: being a teenager is about building your own identity