🧑🎤 Talk Boosters – Topic 33: 🗣️ From an Adult’s View, Was Teenage Life Better or Worse?
👣 Talk Boosters – Topic 33
🗣️ From an Adult’s View, Was Teenage Life Better or Worse?
🧑🏫 I. Instructions for Teachers
i. General Instructions:
Introduce the topic and ask learners to speak continuously for 3–5 minutes.
Encourage them to:
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Reflect on the teenage phase of life from an adult’s point of view.
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Compare the two stages: teenage life vs. adult life.
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Talk about changes in freedom, stress, responsibilities, friendships, or dreams.
While the learner is speaking, note grammar or vocabulary errors.
After the speech, provide corrections and model improved sentence structures.
Use the follow-up questions below to extend the discussion for 30–40 minutes.
ii. Topic Instructions:
Ask students to imagine they are adults looking back at their teenage years. Prompt them to answer:
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Was teenage life easier or more fun than adulthood?
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What are the best and worst parts of being a teenager?
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What do adults miss most about their teenage years?
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Are adults more free, or are teenagers?
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If you could go back in time, would you?
Encourage the use of opinion and reflection phrases like:
👉 I believe... / In my experience... / When I was younger... / Compared to now... / Looking back...
💬 Useful Verbs & Phrases:
👉 miss, regret, enjoy, handle, manage, compare, mature, stressful, carefree, freedom, pressure, responsibilities, expectations, self-discovery
🗣️ Example Starter:
“Looking back, I think teenage life had its ups and downs. On one hand, there was less responsibility and more time for fun. But on the other hand, we often felt confused and misunderstood. Now, as an adult, I have freedom, but also a lot of stress. So I think teenage life was simpler, but not always easier.”
🌍 II. Follow-up Questions to Extend the Topic:
1️⃣ What do adults miss most about their teenage years?
2️⃣ Was teenage life more fun or more stressful for you?
3️⃣ Do teenagers understand the value of their time?
4️⃣ What problems do adults face that teens don’t?
5️⃣ If you could relive one teenage memory, what would it be?
6️⃣ Do adults have more freedom or more pressure?
7️⃣ How do responsibilities change from teen to adult life?
8️⃣ Is school life easier than job life? Why or why not?
9️⃣ What advice would you give to your teenage self?
🔟 Which stage of life do you think is more meaningful—teenage or adult?
1️⃣1️⃣ Can teenagers enjoy life more than adults?
1️⃣2️⃣ Is it true that “youth is wasted on the young”?
1️⃣3️⃣ Do you think teenagers are more emotional than adults?
1️⃣4️⃣ What role does independence play in both stages?
1️⃣5️⃣ How do dreams and goals change after becoming an adult?
1️⃣6️⃣ Are teenagers prepared enough for adult life?
1️⃣7️⃣ What lessons did you learn only after becoming an adult?
1️⃣8️⃣ Is it better to be young and confused or old and tired?
1️⃣9️⃣ Should schools help students prepare more for real adult life?
2️⃣0️⃣ What makes someone feel truly grown up?
Looking back as an adult, I often feel that my teenage life was far better than adulthood in many ways. Those years were filled with a special kind of freedom and joy that is hard to recapture. In Kerala, teenage life had a unique flavor — a blend of simplicity, strong relationships, and connection with nature. We didn’t have many luxuries, but we had a life rich in moments.
I still remember my school days in Wayanad. I used to cycle 6 kilometers to school, and the roads were surrounded by paddy fields and small streams. That journey itself was part of the joy. Sometimes we’d stop by the canal, splash water, or pick wildflowers for our school notebooks. There were no smartphones or social media to distract us, but we never felt bored. Real-life friendships gave us all the connection we needed.
At school, even though exams and homework were part of our lives, we had many festivals and functions that made those days colourful. I can still hear the sound of drums during the Onam celebrations and remember the taste of banana chips and payasam served in plantain leaves. I took part in school arts festivals, wrote for our class magazine, and enjoyed lunch breaks sitting under the shade of a mango tree.
Unlike today’s fast-paced, competitive world, teenage life allowed us to enjoy the moment. We didn’t worry about EMIs, job interviews, or health checkups. Our biggest worries were test marks, secret crushes, or whether it would rain before our evening football match. There was a beautiful innocence in how we looked at the world — curious, hopeful, and without fear.
Family life was also different. We were not burdened with responsibilities. Our parents handled the financial pressures. All we had to do was study and obey a few rules. Grandparents told stories from the Mahabharata or their village youth, and we listened with wide eyes. Cousins came home during vacations, and the house would turn into a mini fair with laughter, card games, and late-night horror stories.
Today, as an adult, life feels heavy at times. There are bills to pay, targets to meet, family decisions to make, and very little time for myself. Relationships have become complicated, and friendships are often reduced to WhatsApp forwards and quick voice notes. The emotional pressure of adult life — job stress, parenting duties, and societal expectations — is often overwhelming.
Yes, adulthood gives you independence. But with that comes loneliness, anxiety, and exhaustion. We are constantly thinking about the next step — promotion, income, children’s future, aging parents — there’s no pause button. As a teenager, we had less control, but more peace.
When I see school students waiting at the bus stop or playing in the rain, I feel nostalgic. I envy their carefree laughter and the way they find happiness in a simple packet of mixture or a secondhand comic book. They may think they are restricted, but from where I stand, they are living the best part of life.
In conclusion, teenage life was not without its troubles — we had to face peer pressure, academic stress, and emotional ups and downs. But compared to adulthood, those struggles were light. They helped us grow, but didn’t crush us. So, from an adult’s view, I truly believe teenage life was better — more joyful, more honest, and more connected to the heart.
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While teenage life has its charm, I believe adult life is better in many ways—especially when viewed through the lens of growth, freedom, and purpose. When I was a teenager, I often felt restricted. I had to follow rules set by my parents, stick to a routine imposed by school, and live up to the expectations of society. There were moments of joy, yes, but there was also a constant undercurrent of confusion, pressure, and self-doubt.
As a teenager growing up in Kerala, I remember the pressure to perform well in board exams, the fear of making mistakes, and the inability to express myself freely. There were so many things I wanted to say or do but didn’t have the courage. Decisions were made for me, not by me. My dreams were shaped by what my elders thought was best. There were boundaries everywhere—curfews, dress codes, and ‘what will people say’ warnings.
Now, as an adult, I enjoy a different kind of freedom. I earn my own living, make my own choices, and design the kind of life I want. That doesn’t mean life is easy—it’s not. There are bills to pay, responsibilities to shoulder, and deadlines to meet. But there’s also a deep sense of satisfaction. When I solve a problem, support my family, or achieve a personal goal, it gives me confidence and strength.
One of the best parts of adult life is emotional maturity. In my teenage years, I would overreact to small issues, feel insecure about my looks, and often compare myself to others. Now, I have learned to manage my emotions better. I can look at challenges with calmness, speak my mind with clarity, and forgive myself when I make mistakes.
Relationships also improve with age. During adolescence, friendships are intense but fragile. Small misunderstandings can break strong bonds. Now, my friendships are more stable. I value depth over numbers. I have fewer friends, but they are genuine and supportive.
As an adult, I’ve also discovered the joy of giving back. Whether it’s helping my parents, mentoring a younger person, or contributing to my community, these acts give my life meaning. Teenage life is more about receiving; adult life is more about giving. And in giving, I find happiness.
Yes, adult life comes with stress—job pressure, health concerns, and time limitations. But it also brings freedom, respect, and purpose. I now understand why my parents worried so much. They weren’t being strict—they were being responsible. Now I am in their shoes, and I see the world with new eyes.
Life is not about choosing between teenage joy and adult responsibility. It’s about growing through every stage. If I had the choice, I wouldn’t go back to my teenage years—not because they were bad, but because I have grown into someone stronger, wiser, and more fulfilled.
In conclusion, adult life offers the freedom to live by your own rules, the ability to handle life’s ups and downs, and the opportunity to shape your own future. That, to me, is more valuable than the carefree joy of teenage years.
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