Lesson 9,10 Life of Youth in the usa

1. Read the text, translate it, write out the new words from it into your vocabularies : Clubs and Societies

Many people in Britain and the US belong to at least one club or society. Club is often used to refer to a group of people who regularly meet together socially or take part in sport. Most young people’s groups are called clubs. A society is usually concerned with a special interest. National societies, such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, usually have local branches. Some have a children’s section. People usually have to pay an annual subscription or membership fee to join a club or society.

Social clubs have a bar where members can sit and talk to each other. Since people like to feel comfortable with those they see regularly, the members of a club often come from the same social background. Members of the upper class or business people may belong to a gentleman’s club. Some clubs combine social events with community service clubs.

In Britain, working men’s clubs were set up for men doing manual jobs. Nightclubs, often called simply clubs, are places where mainly young people meet to drink and dance. They charge admission fees rather than a subscription. Fees are higher at weekends and in large cities, especially London. Many Sport Clubs hold parties and arrange social events, as well as providing facilities for various sports. Country clubs are found in green areas near cities all over the US. They offer sports like swimming, golf and tennis, and hold dances and other social events in the restaurants and bars.

Youth Organizations

Young people in Britain and the US have a wide choice of clubs and organizations to join. Some clubs concentrate mainly on sports or public service or are connected with particular religion, though most provide a range of activities. Parents are often keen to support local clubs because they believe they will keep their children off the street and out of trouble. But although many children like to go to clubs, older teenagers are often less interested in organized activities and prefer to go to the cinema or a sport center, or to a club or bar, when they feel like it.

Scouts and Guides

Among the best-known youth organizations in Britain are the Scout Association and the Guide Association. They have total amount of about 1.5 million British members. Boys and girls have an opportunity to learn practical outdoor skills such as map-reading and camping. The equivalents American organizations are called the Boy Scouts of America and the Girl Scouts of the USA. They have over 8 million members. Scouts in the USA can join special troops and learn about different careers as medicine and communication.

Religious Groups

In the US many churches have youth groups that meet to discuss religion. There are also religious organizations not associated with particular church. These are usually established so that young Christians can meet together and encourage each other (Youth for Christ, Young Life, YMCA, YWCA). In Britain young children may go to a Sunday School.