Tag: Family and Relationships

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Having only one child, also known as being a “singleton parent,” has its own of pros and cons. The choice to have a single child can be a deliberate choice or the outcome of various circumstances. Parents with an only child also frequently encounter reactions of sympathy, surprise, and judgment.

Despite societal perceptions, there are several notable benefits to having only one kid.

Read the article to learn the benefits of only having one child.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/one-child-parent-benefits-goog_l_65bbd9b1e4b01c5c3a3a46a2

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does “to be met with something” mean, “As a parent of one child, you’re often met with surprised, dismissive or pitying comments from others.” Use this idiom in a sentence.
2. What does “one-and-done” mean? “But there are also plenty of folks who happily chose the “one-and-done” path.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
3. Define “tag-team“. “You can tag-team with a partner more easily.” Make a sentence with this word.

Discussion Questions:

1. What are your thoughts on the “one-and-done” approach?
2. In your opinion, what are the pros and cons of having only one child? 
3. How does having just one child contribute to a better work-life balance?
4. Is it common in your country to only have one child? Why or why not?
5. In what ways can parents challenge or change societal perceptions regarding the decision to have only one child?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

As the first born in the family, older sisters serve as role models, caregivers, and companions, among other things. The effect they have grows beyond the limits of familial connections, bringing an influence on the larger social sphere.

Perhaps it’s time for everyone to admit that they are indeed the unsung heroes of every family unit in the world.

Click on the link to learn more about the so-called elder sister revolution.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/acknowledge-older-sisters-backbone-of-society_l_654ebb35e4b0373d70b22ad4

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does “to be put on notice” mean in the sentence, “Younger children everywhere, you’ve been put on notice: Your oldest sister is tired of doing it all.”? Use this in your own sentence.
2. What does “to hit a nerve” mean in the sentence, “Though not an actual psychological diagnosis, the pop psychology phrase “oldest daughter syndrome” has hit a nerve with many oldest daughters.”? Use this in your own sentence.
3. What does “the backbone of something” mean in the sentence, “Elsewhere on social media, big sisters joke about how it’s time we acknowledge that older sisters are the backbone of society.”? Use this in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

1. Talk about some concepts: “good daughter trauma” and “oldest daughter syndrome”.
2. How do older sisters contribute to the well-being and development of their families and communities? In what ways do older sisters serve as mentors and caregivers within their familial roles?
3. Can you provide examples of the wisdom gained through experience that older sisters bring to their roles as the backbone of society?
4. How does acknowledging the importance of older sisters contribute to the celebration of familial bonds?
5. Share your thoughts on this, “On TikTok, youngest brothers ― those diametrically opposed to oldest daughters in responsibilities ― jokingly apologize for doing the bare minimum in life and skirting the emotional labor that’s second nature to women.“.
6. In your country, to what degree does birth order impact individual roles and responsibilities within a family? Please share.

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The question of whether parents should allow their teenagers to consume alcohol in the condition that it is under their roof sparks a controversial debate as it involves striking a delicate balance between encouraging responsible behavior and accepting the inevitable curiosity of adolescence.

As long as it is believed that teenagers may experiment with alcohol in any case, there will be discussions about the benefits and drawbacks of parents introducing their children to alcohol at an early age.

Should parents condone alcohol consumption at home in order to explain the experience, or does such an approach mistakenly endorse a potentially harmful behavior?

Click on the provided link to learn more.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/parents-teens-drink-alcohol-home_l_6564aeace4b0f35896f6c78f

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does “under no illusion” mean in the sentence, “I’m under no illusion that they’re going to college and not drinking.” ? Use this in your own sentence.
2. What does “find oneself in a bind” mean in the sentence, “It’s a sensitive subject, and parents of teens find themselves in a bind. ”? Use this in your own sentence.
3. What does “draw a hard line” mean in the sentence, “Some parents may feel like their kids won’t be honest with them if they draw a hard line when it comes to underage drinking, but research shows that kids whose parents have a “permissive stance” on alcohol are more likely to drink and to experience negative consequences as a result of their drinking.” ? Use this in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

1. Share your perspective on this article.
2. What are the potential benefits and risks of allowing teenagers to consume alcohol under parental supervision? Tell me more.
3. What role does parental guidance play in shaping responsible drinking behavior among adolescents?
4. In what ways can parents effectively educate and communicate with their teens about responsible alcohol consumption?
5. Were you given the green light by your parents to drink alcohol either at home or when you’re out socializing in your teenage years? Please talk about it.

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Parenting is a complex and demanding role that comes with its own set of challenges. As parents, it’s only natural to want the best for our children, but sometimes, in our pursuit of nurturing, protecting, and equipping them for what lies ahead, we may unintentionally engage in a phenomenon known as “parentification.”

Click on the link provided to learn more about the term.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/parentification-parentified-children_l_6536b883e4b0689b3fbd8ac2

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does “extreme end of this spectrum” mean in the sentence, “On the more extreme end of this spectrum, they might be facing serious poverty or war or living under a violent regime or in a neighborhood where kids have to grow up too fast.”? Use this in your own sentence.
2. What does “to be born out of something” mean in the sentence, “Other ways in which parentification comes about is born out of a parent’s need for emotional support.”? Use this in your own sentence.
3. What does “to be not afforded something” mean in the sentence, “They may struggle with being assertive and advocating for themselves, feelings of guilt, depression, and a sense of loss and grief over the childhood they were not afforded the opportunity to experience.”? Use this in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

1. What is parentification and how does it manifest in parenting?
2. Why is parentification considered a problematic phenomenon in child development?
3. What are some common signs that a child may be experiencing parentification? Tell me more.
4. Are there specific strategies parents can employ to avoid unintentionally parentifying their children? Please share.
5. How can parents strike a balance between nurturing their children and allowing them to develop age-appropriate independence?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the modern era of dating, arranged marriage and old-fashioned courtships are considered outdated. People now resort to dating apps for finding the right person for them. No doubt, dating now differs from what it used to be in the past.

Read the article to know how dating has changed throughout history.

https://www.thelist.com/162252/how-dating-has-changed-through-history/

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What is the meaning of the idiom “to take the guesswork out of something”? “Sure, people still meet in bars, through friends, or even at work, but dating apps have taken a lot of the guesswork out of modern dating.” Use this expression in a sentence.
2. What does the phrase “equal playing field” mean? “In today’s world of dating, it’s an equal playing field, for the most part.” Use it in a sentence.
3. What does the word “fraught” mean? “The famed author was known for being able to perfectly capture how it felt to be in love, even in a time when relationships were fraught with drama and the pressures of social class.” Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you think dating now is different from what it used to be in the past? Share your thoughts.
2. Why do you think dating apps have become so popular nowadays?
3. Do you think men and women have different views on where to meet a prospective partner? Explain.
4. Share your views on this statement, “Choosing a partner on a dating app is the same as choosing a fridge in a shop — there’s nothing romantic about it.”.
5. What are other ways to meet a potential partner?
6. What is your idea of an ideal date?
7. What was the most memorable date for you and why?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the world of relationships, the the timeless concept of “opposites attract” has long been a source of fascination and debate. Recent scientific research, however, has helped shed new light on this idea, and is encouraging us to take a look at some of our assumptions when it comes to the nature of romantic relationships.

The topic of this article goes deep into some of the results of an innovative research study that assesses the question of whether partners are more likely to be similar or different, debunking common belief and offering fresh perspectives into the intricate interaction of personalities in intimate relationships.

To find out more, click on the link provided.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/do-opposites-attract-a-new-study-may-have-given-us-the-answer_l_65037cabe4b045a142a48f2c

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does the idiom “birds of the same feather, flock together” mean, “Our findings demonstrate that birds of a feather are indeed more likely to flock together.”? Use this in your own sentence.
2. What does “nitty gritty” mean, “82% and 89% of traits examined were similar among partners, ranging from political leanings and the age you lost your virginity to nitty gritty physical traits like whether people needed to wear glasses or their waist circumference.”? Use this in your own sentence.
3. What does “high strung” mean in the sentence, “For example, there was little evidence of partner correlations for irritability, nervousness, or being ‘high strung’ — characteristics which potentially could play an important role when deciding whether you want to enter into a relationship with somebody else.”? Use this in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

1. What’s your take on this subject?
2. What is the basis for the idea that people with different personalities are attracted to one another?
3. How has this traditional belief been challenged in recent times?
4. In what ways can partners with shared values build a solid foundation for their relationship? Explain.
5. Does the latest study on relationship similarity suggests that partners must be completely similar to one another? Why or why not?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Friendship is an essential part of human connection, offering support, mutual understanding, and shared memories that lead to one’s personal development and a sense of well-being. Even so, the nature of friendships tends to shift significantly after one becomes a parent. While it is generally believed that the biggest drive to this sudden change is the all-consuming demands of parenthood, there are more complex psychological and societal factors at work.

Through the provided link, you can learn more about how friendships and shifting priorities become more complicated after having children.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/friendships-parents-child-free_l_65031c76e4b008b66733cd20

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does “succumb to a slow fizzle” mean in the sentence, “When a new parent and their child-free friend have unrealistic expectations for what’s to come, it’s a perfect recipe for the relationship to succumb to a slow fizzle.”? Use this expression in your own sentence.
2. What does “in the picture” mean in the sentence, “It’s hard to make plans once kids are in the picture, but structural issues in our society compound the problem. ”? Use this expression in your own sentence.
3. What does “both sides of the fence” mean in the sentence, “Chris Choy Bush, a mother of one in Minneapolis, feels that for her and her partner, having a child later in their lives was an advantage, as they got to experience this challenge from both sides of the fence: first as the child-free couple and then as the new parents.”? Use this in your own sentence.

Discussion Questions:

1. How does the arrival of a child impact the dynamics of friendships?
2. What are the potential challenges in bridging the gap between parents and childless friends?
3. Why is it important to recognize and address these changes in friendships for parents?
4. Why is it helpful for parents to have a support system that includes both other parents and friends without children? Tell me more.
5. Are there people in your circle who are at a similar life stage? Please share.

B2 – Upper Intermediate

In the 1900’s, Austrian psychotherapist Alfred Adler formed a theory that the development of our personalities is influenced by our birth order within our families. He proposed that due to this personality development, consequential life outcomes could follow.

Let’s read the article and know more about birth order and its possible effects on one’s personality.

http://headsupenglish.com/index.php/advanced-english-students/advanced-mini-lessons/160-birth-order

Vocabulary Questions:

1. What does the adverb “profoundly” mean? “The order in which a person is born profoundly affects development.” Use it in your own sentence.
2. What does the word “indelible” mean in this context? “ It leaves an indelible impression which influences how the individual deals with love…” Use it in a sentence.
3. Define “hogwash“. “Quite a number of psychologists view birth order and its effects on personality as utter hogwash.” Give two synonyms and use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

1. What is birth order? What is your birth order?
2. According to the article, how does birth order affect one’s development?
3. In your opinion, what shapes one’s personality?
4. Share your thoughts on this statement, “It’s often said that first-borns tend to be more conservative, as well as focus on achievement. The youngest sibling tends towards rebelliousness.”