ENS

Level-graded English lessons with reading, listening, activities, and discussion.

Lesson Info

Type
Social Post
Level
2 / A2
Published
Title
He Lied About His Age
Webpage
https://eslnewsstories.com/smposts/he-lied-about-his-age/

Lesson Content

Warm-up, Vocab List, Reading and Audio

Understanding: Read the Comments, Why Did They Post?, True or False

Language: Vocab Match, Everyday Expressions

Use It: Reply Builder, Discussion Questions

Answers

Think Ahead: When you think about a partner, how much does age matter to you?

a) I'd like someone close to my age.

b) I'd be happy with someone older or younger than me.

c) I'd care more about other things than their age.

A woman in a cream sweater sits in the foreground on a sofa, looking sideways with slightly drawn brows. Behind her, a blurred man in a blue shirt looks toward her in a warmly lit room.
An uncomfortable conversation.

Vocab List

chemistry (n.) — a feeling of attraction between two people who enjoy being together
admit (v.) — to say that something is true, especially something wrong you did
turn out (phr. v.) — to be discovered to be true, often surprisingly
embarrassed (adj.) — feeling uncomfortable about something you did or something that happened
graduate school (n. phrase) — university study for a higher degree after a first degree
creep out (phr. v.) — to make someone feel uncomfortable or a little frightened
public records (n. phrase) — official documents or information that anyone can read
gross (adj.) — feeling very uncomfortable or disgusted about something
Reading

We dated for a month, talked almost every day, and had great chemistry. I trusted him. I thought he was in his 30s, ten years older than me. Turns out he’s in his early 50s. The gap is 25 years.

I was curious about his work, so I found his LinkedIn. He finished graduate school before I was born. Wait, what? I checked public records to find out his real age. Then I asked him about it face-to-face.

He admitted he lied because he wanted to date younger women. He said that young women usually don't want to date men in their 50s. I asked, “When were you going to tell me the truth?” No answer.

Then he tried, “But I’m still the same person.” I felt really disappointed. It’s not just his age. He lied so that I’d give him a chance. I feel embarrassed that I believed him, and honestly, creeped out. How do I stop feeling so gross about this?

He Lied About His Age

Level 2 Social
Warm-up → or → Check Understanding → Language → Use It

A woman in a cream sweater sits in the foreground on a sofa, looking sideways with slightly drawn brows. Behind her, a blurred man in a blue shirt looks toward her in a warmly lit room.
An uncomfortable conversation.
Poster
Astra

We dated for a month, talked almost every day, and had great chemistry. I trusted him. I thought he was in his 30s, ten years older than me. Turns out he’s in his early 50s. The gap is 25 years.

I was curious about his work, so I found his LinkedIn. He finished graduate school before I was born. Wait, what? I checked public records to find out his real age. Then I asked him about it face-to-face.

He admitted he lied because he wanted to date younger women. He said that young women usually don't want to date men in their 50s. I asked, “When were you going to tell me the truth?” No answer.

Then he tried, “But I’m still the same person.” I felt really disappointed. It’s not just his age. He lied so that I’d give him a chance. I feel embarrassed that I believed him, and honestly, creeped out. How do I stop feeling so gross about this?

Read the Comments

Read the Comments

  • Nina

    “Still the same person”? That person is a liar.

    This comment

    b. Pushes back on his excuse that nothing has changed.
  • Cal

    You weren't stupid for believing him. You were dating him, not checking every detail about his life. He knew his real age and chose to lie. He should be embarrassed.

    This comment

    c. Says believing his age does not make her foolish.
  • Jules

    I'd spend some time away from him and talk about what happened with a friend you trust.

    This comment

    a. Suggests time away from him and talking to a friend to help with her feelings.
  1. a. Suggests time away from him and talking to a friend to help with her feelings.
  2. b. Pushes back on his excuse that nothing has changed.
  3. c. Says believing his age does not make her foolish.

Speaker: American Female  Duration: 1:23  YouTube

Vocab Match

Loading vocabulary activity...

Language

Vocab Match

Write each vocabulary word next to its matching definition.

1. turn oute) To be found to be true, often as a surprise.

2. graduate schoold) University study for a higher degree after your first degree.

3. public recordsc) Official documents or information that anyone can read.

4. admitb) To say something is true, especially something wrong you did.

5. embarrasseda) Feeling uncomfortable about something you did or something that happened.

a) Feeling uncomfortable about something you did or something that happened.

b) To say something is true, especially something wrong you did.

c) Official documents or information that anyone can read.

d) University study for a higher degree after your first degree.

e) To be found to be true, often as a surprise.

Everyday Expressions

  1. Choose the meaning of 'turns out'. If a recipe turns out to be easy, you
  2. Choose the meaning of 'face-to-face'. When you discuss a plan face-to-face, you talk
  3. Choose the meaning of 'give someone a chance'. When you give someone a chance, you
  4. Choose the meaning of 'creeps you out'. If an empty house creeps you out, it makes you feel

Everyday Expressions

Choose the correct meaning.

  1. If a recipe turns out to be easy, you choose it because it looks simple. or find it simple when you try it.
  2. When you discuss a plan face-to-face, you talk through a video call. or in the same room.
  3. When you give someone a chance, you let them show what they can do. or teach them how to do something.
  4. If an empty house creeps you out, it makes you feel very lonely. or a little scared.

Reply Builder

  1. Reply to Astra. Show that you understand how she feels.

    I understand why you feel after he lied to you.

  2. Tell Astra what you think about her choice to check his age online.

    I think checking his age online was because you needed the truth.

  3. Suggest something Astra could do now to help her feel better.

    To feel better, you could for a few days.

Use It

Reply Builder

  1. Reply to Astra. Show that you understand how she feels.

    I understand why you feel after he lied to you.

  2. Tell Astra what you think about her choice to check his age online.

    I think checking his age online was because you needed the truth.

  3. Suggest something Astra could do now to help her feel better.

    To feel better, you could for a few days.

Discussion Questions
  1. What advice would you give Astra?
  2. How important is age when you choose a partner?
  3. What do you want to know about someone before a first date?
  4. What would you do if someone you were dating lied to you?
  5. What do you think about looking online for information about a new partner?
  6. What could make you stop dating someone you really like?

Discussion Questions

  1. What advice would you give Astra?
  2. How important is age when you choose a partner?
  3. What do you want to know about someone before a first date?
  4. What would you do if someone you were dating lied to you?
  5. What do you think about looking online for information about a new partner?
  6. What could make you stop dating someone you really like?

Answers He Lied About His Age / Level 2

Read the Comments:

  1. Nina: b. Pushes back on his excuse that nothing has changed.
  2. Cal: c. Says believing his age does not make her foolish.
  3. Jules: a. Suggests time away from him and talking to a friend to help with her feelings.

Why Did They Post?: She wants advice on how to stop feeling so bad about his lie.

True or False:

  1. True. She says they dated for a month, talked almost every day, and had great chemistry. She adds, “I trusted him.”
  2. False. She thought he was ten years older. She later learned that the real age gap was 25 years.
  3. False. She looked at his LinkedIn because she was curious about his work. His graduate school dates then made her question his age.
  4. True. She checked public records to find his real age. Then she asked him about it face-to-face.
  5. True. He admitted this and said young women usually do not want to date men in their 50s.
  6. False. She says, “It’s not just his age.” She is upset that he lied so she would give him a chance.

Vocabulary:

  1. turn out: To be found to be true, often as a surprise.
  2. graduate school: University study for a higher degree after your first degree.
  3. public records: Official documents or information that anyone can read.
  1. admit: To say something is true, especially something wrong you did.
  2. embarrassed: Feeling uncomfortable about something you did or something that happened.

Everyday Expressions: 1. b; 2. b; 3. a; 4. b

Reply Builder examples:

  1. I understand why you feel upset after he lied to you.
  2. I think checking his age online was a good idea because you needed the truth.
  3. To feel better, you could spend time with friends for a few days.

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