ESL WORKSHEET - Ageism against older workers

LESSON PLAN FOR ENGLISH TEACHERS

STEREOTYPES AND THE OLDER WORKER

LinguaHouse

Apr. 7, 2025

Level: Upper-intermediate (B2-C1)
Type of language: Business English
Tags: Work; Problems at Work; Business Law; Office Life; Ethics and Conduct; Giving Opinions; Article Based; 16-18 Years Old; 18+ Years Old
Publication date: 04/07/2025

This lesson looks at ageism against older workers. Students will read an article that looks at stereotypes (and why they’re not true) and listen to three people talking about their experience of ageism. Exercises focus on reading and listening comprehension, related vocabulary and idioms, and offer discussion on the topic. (by Joe Wilson)

• CLICK HERE to download the student’s worksheet in American English.
• CLICK HERE to download the teacher’s lesson plan in American English.
• CLICK HERE to download/listen to the audio in American English.
• CLICK HERE to download the student’s worksheet in British English.
• CLICK HERE to download the teacher’s lesson plan in British English.
• CLICK HERE to download/listen to the audio in British English.

AUDIO TRANSCRIPT

ONE
Christine, 50: Almost certainly, particularly with hiring. It’s very difficult to prove as no company is going to admit that your age is a negative, but there’s been no other explanation at times. I went for a job teaching English online during the pandemic with well over 15 years of experience behind me. The interview went well, and I had to demonstrate my teaching ability which was easy. I got really positive feedback at the time from the interviewer. Then I got an email a few days later saying that I wasn’t right for the role with no explanation as to why. It wasn’t my ability, so what else could it have been? I wasn’t born yesterday. I also didn’t get a job that I did for three years for the same company once. I don’t know if that was because they’d have had to pay me more or there were office politics involved. But it’s very difficult to argue that someone can’t do a job that they’ve already successfully done in the past. It’s a horrible feeling as I’m better now than ever, but it just feels like everyone thinks you’re past your prime.
TWO
Rupert, 50: Yes, but it’s disguised as teasing, so you know that if you say anything, it will just make you look like you take yourself too seriously. Like, if I was carrying something, I’d get comments like ‘Do you need some help, Grandpa?’ I’m pushing 50, but I’m a long way from having grandchildren. You just don’t get included in the same way as you used to. No one asks me to go for drinks after work or really acknowledges the work I do. I feel as though I’m just like the furniture here. It might be me, maybe I need to advertise myself a bit more. But it's a horrible feeling as though you’re over the hill, even though inside, I feel exactly the way I did when I was in my early 20s. It feels as though of the types of discrimination, age is the one that you can still get away with. Sexist or racist comments will get you in trouble quickly these days. But make a comment about someone’s age and nothing happens.
THREE
Julia, 55: Yes, but I think I do it to myself sometimes. You feel as though you have to play along with it, so if I make a mistake, I say things like ‘Oh, I’ve had a senior moment’ when it’s nothing to do with my age, I’ve just got it wrong like everyone does from time to time. I was passed over for a promotion last year and one of my younger colleagues got it. I’ve got more than enough experience to do the role, so I’m fairly sure it was my age. The thing is, older workers tend to be more settled, so they’re really a better choice in a lot of ways, but I can see how younger people seem more exciting. More people are watching them, whereas older people tend to get forgotten. It’s scary because you worry that you just won’t be able to get work after 50, but you’ll be too young to retire. I’m getting on in years, but I’ve got just as much energy as ever. If we don’t do something about ageism, we could lose a lot of great experience in our workers. When the younger workers are older, they won’t realize that it’s still a problem until too late and they are facing the problems.

Adapted from: https://www.linguahouse.com/esl-lesson-plans/business-english/stereotypes-and-the-older-worker. Accessed on April 11, 2025. LinguaHouse.com © 2008–2025. All rights reserved.