STANAG 6001 Level 3 – Speaking Task (Discussion): Reasons Why Young Adults Live with Their Parents for Longer
Examination Task
Nowadays more and more young adults are deciding to start living on their own later in life. Look at the list of possible reasons below and decide which one is the most and the least influential. Justify your choice.
- Poor job opportunities
- House prices
- Laziness
Sample Discussion
A: Let’s look at the list of possible reasons why young adults start living on their own later in life and decide which one is the most and the least influential. Personally, I believe that house prices are the most significant factor. What’s your opinion?
B: I fully agree. The high cost of housing is absolutely crucial because it directly affects the ability of young people to become independent and start their own lives. In many Polish cities, property prices and rental costs have reached levels that are simply unaffordable for the average young adult, even for those who are employed full-time. As a result, many young people are forced to continue living with their parents or share overcrowded apartments, which limits their personal development and financial stability.
A: Exactly. Housing prices in Poland have been rising at a staggering pace in recent years. This creates an imbalance between income and living costs. Warsaw, in particular, has remained the most expensive housing market for years, making it especially difficult for young professionals to settle there despite better job opportunities than in smaller cities. Consequently, high housing costs delay independence, as many young people are unable to afford to move out of their family homes and must rely on their parents for longer than they would like.
B: Yes, it’s true. In addition, even those with stable jobs often have relatively low salaries compared to rental costs. Moreover, before granting a mortgage, banks require a stable source of income and assess creditworthiness, which young people rarely have at the beginning of their careers. As a result, staying with parents becomes a necessity rather than a sign of dependency.
A: On the other hand, people sometimes say that young adults stay at home because they are lazy or too comfortable. However, this is a simplification. In many cases, it is not about unwillingness, but about lack of money.
B: That’s an important point. In fact, many young people consciously decide to stay with their parents even after graduation, because it allows them to save money for the future. Some even see it as a temporary strategy to accumulate savings for a deposit or better job opportunities.
A: Exactly. In addition, family living arrangements are sometimes based on mutual support. Young adults may help with household duties, while benefiting from lower living costs and a stable environment. So it is not necessarily a negative or passive lifestyle.
B: True. However, I still think that poor job opportunities are the second most influential factor. Even though housing is the main issue, unstable employment, temporary contracts, and low wages significantly delay independence.
A: I agree. Particularly in the early stages of their careers, many young people face financial difficulties. In some cases, they may have a higher degree but still earn too little to live independently. This creates uncertainty about the future and discourages taking financial risks.
B: On the other hand, highly qualified individuals, such as IT specialists or dentists, do not have problems finding employment. Therefore, while important, poor job opportunities do not affect everyone, and for this reason, this factor is secondary compared to housing costs.
A: That makes sense. Now, regarding laziness, I believe it is clearly the least influential factor. In fact, describing young people as lazy is often unfair and misleading.
B: I completely agree. This stereotype ignores the complexity of the situation. Many young adults are actually highly motivated, working or studying hard, but still unable to afford independence. Others consciously choose to stay at home to build financial security or support their families.
A: Exactly. In addition, some people value the family environment, especially when relations are positive and supportive. Living at home can be a practical and emotionally stable arrangement rather than a sign of immaturity.
B: At the same time, it is true that prolonged cohabitation with parents can have some disadvantages. It may delay full independence or make it harder to adapt to shared living with a partner in the future.
A: Yes, but it also has advantages, such as the ability to save money, reduce stress, and plan life decisions more carefully. Therefore, the phenomenon is not purely negative or positive.
B: So, to sum up, we agree that house prices are the most influential factor, followed by poor job opportunities, while laziness is the least significant and often unfair explanation.
A: Exactly. Overall, the issue is mainly economic, but it also includes social and family aspects, so it cannot be reduced to simple stereotypes.
Photo: View of Warsaw