Tag: Family and Relationships

Should Kids Financially Support Their Parents?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Watching your parents age can be a scary prospect, especially as they approach the point when they need more help from you more than ever.

If your parents have money troubles, they may come to you for financial help. It can be difficult to help your parents financially while you are also struggling with student loans, credit card debts, or providing for your own family. 

Read this article about turning of tables when children are the ones supporting their parents.

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20201203-should-kids-financially-support-their-parents

Discussion Questions:

  1. Do/Would you help your parents financially? Why or why not?
  2. In your opinion, should children be financially responsible for their parents when they’re old?
  3. How can you help your parents manage their finances?
  4. At what age should you stop asking your parents for money?
  5. Should parents support their child financially until they’re grown?

Are Children of Same -Sex Parents Disadvantaged?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

The well-being of children who are being raised by same-sex parents has gained more and more attention over the past few years. Opponents have argued that “same-sex parenting” adversely affects children. However, various scientific research show that gay and lesbian parents are as fit and capable as heterosexual parents. They do not raise their children any differently than heterosexual couples do.

Watch the video and be able to answer the questions that follow:

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on the points discussed in the video?
  2. In general, what are your thoughts on same-sex parenting? Why or why not?
  3. How is it like for same-sex parents in your country? Are there changes that still needs to be done for families in this setup?
  4. Is sexual orientation a problem when adopting a child? Does it affect the welfare of the child’s upbringing? Explain your answer.
  5. Are children in traditional families better than the non- traditional ones? Why or why not?

Paternity Leave Extended in Spain

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Effective 1 January 2021, fully-paid paternity and maternity leave will be the same duration of 16 weeks. This can be considered as one of the most generous for men.

Read on this good news for families in Spain.

https://english.elpais.com/spanish_news/2021-01-06/something-to-celebrate-for-new-fathers-in-spain-as-paternity-leave-extended-to-16-weeks.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on this new entitlement for fathers in Spain?
  2. What do you think are the pros and cons of this new rule?
  3. Discuss your opinion on this statement: “The fact that women are able to leave their jobs for longer is detrimental to them professionally as it makes them seem less committed to their jobs”.
  4. How can we change the norm where women are the ones who most often reduce their working hours for care purposes of children and elderly dependents?
  5. If you are a mom or a dad, talk about your experience during your maternity or paternity leave/s.

Can Exes Be Friends?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Are you familiar with “Can we still be friends?”, a very iconic song by Todd Rundgren from 1978. Until now, it has been a question on everyone’s mind whether ex lovers can remain friends. Some might say that it is possible if you are both matured enough but for others, it is only a complicated relationship that shouldn’t be considered.

Let’s watch the video below to learn more.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the usual reasons why lovers break up?
  2. Do you think that exes can really be friends? Why or why not?
  3. Is it healthy to be friends with your ex? Explain your side.
  4. What would be the complications if ever?
  5. Cite any benefits of being friends with your ex.
  6. Are you friends with any of your ex/exes? Why or why not?

When Adoption Is a Good Option For You

B2 – Upper Intermediate

There are couples who dream and desire to raise a child. When you adopt a child, you become a parent. One of the rewards that comes with it is the feeling of fulfillment in providing a home to a child and the joy of becoming a parent.

However, before venturing into this, there are some things you should consider if adoption is really a good option for you.

Read the article and be able to answer the questions that follow:

https://www.beingtheparent.com/when-adoption-is-a-good-option-for-you/

Discussion Questions:

  1. Is adoption common in your country?
  2. Do you agree with the article? What do you think of adoption?
  3. Do you think parents who adopt, have the same kind of love for their adopted child as biological parents have with their child?

Should Stay-at-Home Parents Be Paid?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

At this time, many would agree that both parents should be employed to sustain one’s family’s needs. However, this isn’t the case for everybody. Some couples decide that one parent should remain at home to take care of the children and of course, the household chores and that one parent isn’t paid either by the government or by their respective spouses.

It has been a much debated topic whether it is time to recognize the economic value of domestic labor.

Watch the video below to further understand this topic.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about domestic labor? Do you think it is a challenging job that needs to be paid? Why and why not?
  2. What are the downsides of paying stay-at-home parents? Do you think more parents would rather stay at home and never work outside? Is it necessarily bad?
  3. Do you think this idea would increase gender inequality?
  4. Could we consider this idea an investment in children?
  5. In your opinion, would you choose to be a stay-at-home parent? Would the possibility of a pay for such work affect your decision?

Is Childhood Today Over-Supervised?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Many have observed and compared how childhood evolved and embarked on changes as time goes by. It isn’t as free and wild as before when children used to venture on going to a forest with their buddies without any adult supervision. They could even enjoy some traditional games with their mates in the neighborhood not minding all the mess and stinky smell for as long as they are embracing that liberty to be closer to nature which is significantly different nowadays as we rarely see children running freely in an open space and discovering the outdoors or the world around them these days.

Read the article below for more information on over-supervised childhood.

https://lightlynews.com/2020/02/12/learning/is-childhood-today-over-supervised/

Discussion Questions:

  1. How would you describe your childhood? Would you say you were free?
  2. Did your parents allow you to discover the world around you when you were young or did they supervise your every move and made sure you were alright all the time?
  3. What are the advantages and disadvantages of unsupervised and supervised parenting?
  4. In your opinion, are children of today overly supervised? Why or why not?

Caring for Aging Parents

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Aging can be challenging for elderly parents and children alike. It is depressing for an aging parent to have to face their physical and mental downturn. On the other side of the fence, children of elderly people also have to take on the very challenging job of looking after their aged parents.

Read the article below on this real crisis on taking care of aging parents.

https://www.thetimesinplainenglish.com/a-real-crisis-caring-for-aging-parents/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are the effects of aging on a person, their children or family, caregivers, and workers and employers?
  2. How are old people’s lives like in your country?
  3. How are you preparing for and what are your plans for your twilight years?
  4. Talk about your experience caring for elderly members of your family. How was it like?
  5. Do you think you have enough family-friendly policies in your country? If yes, tell us about some of them. If not, what do you think are some policies needed?

Once Bitten, Twice Shy

B2 – Upper Intermediate

When we get hurt, it’s normal to cut off ties with the people who inflicted harm on us. It is human nature when we try to avoid a harmful situation to happen again. Oftentimes, we build armor around us to prevent ourselves from getting hurt again. But is it always good to react in such way?

Let’s watch the video and find out more about this expression.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/course/experiment/unit-1/session-6

Discussion Questions:

  1. What does the expression ‘once bitten, twice shy’ mean?
  2. What cases of ‘once bitten, twice shy’ have you had in the past? Has it brought you better results or did you miss out on certain opportunities?
  3. What other languages have a similar expression as mentioned in the video? How are they translated into English?
  4. Do you have a similar expression in your language? How do you say it?

The Charms of Unavailable People

C1 – Advanced

Love can be very tricky. Most of us grew up watching movies of amazing love stories with perfect endings. Thus, making us want someone who is too good to be true. But then again, not everyone is like that, a lot of us often fall in love with the wrong person or get attracted to someone in a complex situation. More or less love is love and no one can predict who we fall in love with.

Let’s learn more about it by watching the video below.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you experienced any of the sample scenarios that we have in the video?
  2. Are you more interested in people who are in a complicated situation? Why?
  3. What are the reasons why people tend to be in an impossible love affair?
  4. How would you describe your relationship now with your current partner or ex?
  5. Do you believe in happily ever afters? What are some keys to a flourishing romance?
  6. Do you agree or disagree that ‘love is fated to be unrequited or incomplete’?