EY Y04 L14 Retirement

  1. There are many hobbies that are associated with retirement. Name one. Why do you think this is popular with retirees?
  2. Have you ever tried this activity? If yes, how was it? If no, would you like to? Why?
  3. What is the age of retirement in your country? Is it older or younger than other countries? Do you think it is a fair age? Why?
  4. Tell us about someone you know who is retired. How do they spend their time?
  5. Do you think they like being retired? Why?
  6. Are you retired? If yes, what do you do and how do you like retirement? If no, when would you like to retire and how would you like to spend your “golden years”?

Question 1

I think gardening is popular for some retirees. My mother maintains a big garden with a variety of flowering plants, vegetables, shrubs, succulents and bonsai plants too. I guess it is popular with retirees because you don't need to invest a lot of money on it. In the Philippines it's also popular to share cuttings or seeds with neighbors so you can enjoy it more with other enthusiasts.

Question 2

When I first started growing plants I ended up overwatering them so I guess the roots rotted and the plant died. Now I have 3 plants in our apartment and so far they have survived. I consulted my mother before buying them to make sure they are low-maintenance plants.

Question 3

The law says that 65 years old is the official retirement age. However for government employees, they can negotiate for an early retirement. From what I researched, 65 years old is also the same retirement age in Japan but I heard that they have plans to raise it to 70 years old in the future.

Question 4

My parents are now retired. They used to manage a fish shop and now they spend their time taking care of our dogs. My mother enjoys taking care of her plants while my father spends time taking care of roosters for cockfighting. He brings the roosters to an official cockfight on Sundays.

Question 5

I think they do enjoy being retired. They keep themselves busy by starting new hobbies. It's also a good thing that they moved back to their hometown so they are able to reconnect with childhood friends and a lot of relatives.

Question 6

I would like to spend my golden years travelling. I want to go on an architecture pilgrimage and visit famous buildings from all over the world.

Tough Vocabulary