Tag: Family and Relationships

When To Tie the Knot

B2 – Upper Intermediate

A person’s wedding day is considered to be important and special. Some weddings are small and intimate while some are extravagant.

Read the article below to know about the different factors that people consider before getting married.

Around the world, young people have delayed marriage and wait longer to tie the knot. There are many reasons for this trend, such as the pursuit of careers and personal goals and a fear of divorce. There is also the realization that marriage isn’t the first step of adulthood anymore. It is the last step. Some see this shift as positive. Of course, others are upset by the change.

Advocates of late marriage believe that couples should wait until their late 20s and early 30s because the average quality of marital life is improved. Couples are more likely to do things together, and are less likely to worry that their marriage is in jeopardy. They also aren’t as likely to consider divorce. In part, greater personal experience affects their outlook. A better understanding of oneself allows each person to choose the right life partner. Financial stability, a completed education, and the beginnings of a career also greatly add to the success of the marriage. However, many people who wait too long may simply never marry.

But a significant number of people favor the opposite view. They believe that marriage at a younger age is better. An early marriage means that the couple matures together because they discover the joys and pains of adulthood as a team. They rely on one another when faced with difficulties. New research also suggests that couples who get married by their early 20s were slightly happier than couples who waited until their late 20s. In addition, those who waited until their 30s or older to marry were significantly less satisfied with their relationships.

Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be an ideal age for marriage. No one can guarantee a happy and fulfilling life for those who get married at 28 instead of 23. Worldwide trends point to later marriages, but it remains undecided if this is a good thing.

Source: headsupenglish.com

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think is the ideal age for people to get married? Why do you think so?
  2. At what age do people usually get married in your country? Is this too young or too old?
  3. What does a successful marriage need? Please explain.
  4. Many couples live together before tying the knot. Do you think helps or harms a marriage? Why?
  5. Should couples stay married no matter what? Why/not?

Discovering Your Ancestors

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Knowing your roots and discovering your history is always a fascinating idea. There’s a sense of wonder and mystery as we try to find out who we are.

Websites such as Ancestry.com have been garnering a number of clients as more and more people are getting curious in tracing their genealogy.

Read the article below and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

There has been a surge in genealogy websites in recent years, proving that more and more Americans want to trace their family history. Records, such as ship registries and marriage and death certificates, are digitally scanned and available online for the sleuths, too. And now there’s a new option: photo detectives.

Armed with fashion magazines and an eye for detail, photo detectives hunt for clues in old photos. Hair styles, clothes and fashion, and the objects in the pictures help detectives pinpoint dates, places, and professions. The job also requires an expert’s knowledge in social history. For example, a photo of a woman with unusually short hair in the 19th century could mean that she had scarlet fever. A person sick with the disease often had their head shaved. Or a photo of a baby carriage in the mid-1800s could be an announcement that the infant had died, instead of recording his birth. The period had a very high infant mortality rate, and death cards were often sent to family and close friends. These are only some of the facts that photo detectives must have at their fingertips.

Photography was invented in the 1830s. The earliest photos usually required a visit to the studio by the whole family, which was a lengthy and formal process. But when Kodak invented the snapshot in the 1880s, family collections grew with shots of birthdays, holidays, and everyday life. Unfortunately, most people didn’t consider labeling the pictures. The descendents now find it troublesome to identify the old pictures.

Photo detectives can help. But customers may not always like the results, as sometimes the answers disagree with family lore.

Source: headsupenglish.com

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you think it’s important to trace your family’s history? Why/not?
2. What do you know about your grandparents? How about your great-grandparents?
3. Do you have old photos at home? If yes, are there people in the photos you can’t recognize?
4. Would you ever consider hiring a photo detective to tell you more about your family? Why/not?
5. How would you feel if you discovered one of your ancestors was a terrible person?

Bribing Children to Behave

B2 – Upper intermediate

When is it bribing and when is it a reward? It’s become a normal practice for most parents to give children something in return for good behaviour.

Read the  article below to know what’s wrong with modern-day parenting.

Some parents promise a child dessert if they finish their Brussels sprouts. Some parents purchase a video game if a child does well on a test. These shouldn’t be called treats or rewards. Promises of desserts, toys, or favors are bribes, especially when they are given for everyday, appropriate behavior.

Parenting experts agree that rewards are important. But some parents have gone too far. They pay their children to brush their teeth, go to sleep early, or even score a few goals at a soccer tournament! This may achieve results in the short term. But in the long term, children can become adults with an unrealistic viewpoint of the world. They think, “What are you going to give me?”

The modern world is partly to blame. There are many more material goods than before. In addition, both parents must now work and be parents full-time. It’s easier to bribe a child than to have a power struggle. However, with each bribe, children demand more and more.

Of course, it’s perfectly all right to reward children from time to time. The action should equal the reward, though.\

Source: headsupenglish.com

Discussion Questions:

1.Is this a problem in your country? If yes, please explain.
2.Do children behave better or worse than 10 years ago? 20 years ago? Why?
3.Will children behave better or worse in 10 years? 20 years? Why?
4.What is the most difficult part about being a parent? Why?

The Family That Eats Together

2002fall_the-family-that-eats-together_640x360

B2 – Upper intermediate

Family dinner builds good and positive relationship among the members. It also helps kids do better in school. But because of hectic schedules many families seldom have the time to do this anymore.

Read the article below to discover the benefits of dining together.

https://www.vision.org/family-eats-together-1336

Discussion Questions:

1. Do you agree with what the article is saying about family dinners?
2. Is this something that is usually practiced in homes in your country?
3. Does your country have very strong familial relationships?

A Kingdom For Your Birthday

emily2_2973796c

B2 – Upper intermediate

What was the best birthday present you’ve ever received? Read the article below to learn about a father’s unusual birthday present to her young daughter.

https://metro.co.uk/2014/07/14/american-man-claims-african-kingdom-for-his-daughter-so-she-can-be-an-actual-princess-4797666/

Discussion Questions:

1. What can you say about the father?
2. Would you do the same thing if you were the parent?
3. What was the most extreme thing you’ve done/given for a birthday gift?
4. How do you think the father’s actions will affect the child? Describe your idea of good parenting.