Peer Pressure

Rahul's friends pressure him to skip class and try smoking, but he learns to say no and explain his decision confidently.

Meanings in Rahul, Friends, Class teacher

Key words and phrases

peer pressurethe influence of friends or classmates to act a certain wayHe gave in to peer pressure and skipped homework.

to give into finally agree to something after resistingShe refused twice but finally gave in.

to stand up for oneselfto defend one's own opinion or decision firmlyIt's important to stand up for yourself with friends.

influencethe power to affect someone's behaviour or decisionsFriends have a big influence at this age.

bad habitsharmful or undesirable patterns of behaviourSmoking is one of the worst bad habits to pick up.

to say noto refuse a request or suggestionIt takes courage to say no to your friends.

self-respecta proper sense of one's own value and dignityHe walked away with his self-respect intact.

consequencesthe results or effects of an actionSkipping class has serious consequences.

to skip classto deliberately not attend a scheduled classThey planned to skip class and go to the mall.

true friendsomeone who respects your choices and supports youA true friend won't force you to do something wrong.

confidencea feeling of trust in one's own abilities and decisionsHe refused with quiet confidence.

assertiveconfidently stating one's opinion or needs without being rudeBeing assertive helped him say no without conflict.

personal valuesthe beliefs and principles a person considers importantHe stayed true to his personal values.

boundarieslimits a person sets for how others should treat themHe learned to set clear boundaries with his friends.

couragethe ability to do something difficult or frighteningIt took courage to walk away from the group.

temptationa strong urge to do something, especially something unwiseHe resisted the temptation to join them.

decision-makingthe process of choosing between different optionsGood decision-making comes from thinking clearly.

role modela person whose behaviour is worth imitatingHis older brother is his role model.

to conformto behave in the same way as most other people in a groupHe didn't want to conform just to fit in.

mutual respectrespect that is shared equally between two or more peopleTheir friendship is built on mutual respect.

Useful sentences

Ask Why don't you come with us and skip the class?
Answer No, thanks. I don't want to miss today's lecture.
Ask Just try one cigarette, nothing will happen.
Answer I'd rather not. It's not something I want to try.
Ask Everyone else is doing it, why not you?
Answer I make my own decisions, not based on others.
Ask Aren't you afraid we'll stop being friends?
Answer A true friend won't leave me over this.
Ask How do you handle pressure from your friends?
Answer I stay calm and explain my reasons clearly.
Ask Where did you get the courage to say no?
Answer I just remembered my personal values.
Ask Do you feel tempted sometimes to just conform?
Answer Sometimes, but I resist the temptation.
Ask Who taught you to be so assertive?
Answer My father is my role model for that.
Ask How do you keep your friendship strong despite disagreements?
Answer We build it on boundaries and mutual respect.
Ask Is good decision-making difficult under pressure?
Answer Yes, but staying confident makes it easier.

Dialogue

FriendCome on, Rahul, skip the class with us today.

RahulNo, I have an important test tomorrow. I can't miss this.

FriendYou're always so serious. Just relax for once.

RahulI do relax, but not by risking my studies.

FriendFair enough. We respect your choice.

RahulThanks for understanding. Let's meet after class instead.

FriendHonestly, I admire that you don't just conform to what everyone else does.

RahulThanks. It's about staying true to my personal values.

FriendIt must take a lot of confidence to be that assertive.

RahulIt does, but our friendship works because of mutual respect.

Common mistakes

Saying "I am under pressure of my friends" instead of "I'm under pressure from my friends."
Saying "give up" instead of "give in" when talking about finally agreeing to something after resisting.
Saying "stand for myself" instead of "stand up for myself."
Saying "I have confidence for saying no" instead of "I have the confidence to say no."
Saying "I resist from temptation" instead of "I resist the temptation."
Saying "he is my model" instead of "he is my role model."

Quick quiz

1. What does "to give in" mean?

2. The influence of friends or classmates to act a certain way is called ___.

3. Complete: "A true ___ won't force you to do something wrong."

4. What does "to conform" mean?

5. A strong urge to do something unwise is called a ___.

6. Confidently stating one's opinion without being rude is called being ___.

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