Family & Relationships

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Stmx3GpJnLo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkkethUVf-A

FAMILY

A FAMILY is a group of people who are related to one another.
One common type of family unit is a mother, a father, and a child.

People have close or distant relatives:

grandparents = a grandfather, a grandmother,
in-laws = a mother-in-law & father-in-law,
a sister-in-law, a brother-in-law,
uncles & aunts,
cousins,
nieces & nephews,
godparents = a godfather & a godmother, a godchild,
a stepmother & a stepfather, a stepsister & a stepbrother,
a half-brother & a half-sister

FAMILY STRUCTURES

THE NUCLEAR FAMILY/ THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY

The nuclear family is a very close family.
Here we find mothers, fathers, siblings (brothers & sisters).
They live together in one home and share specific goals and values.

FOSTER PARENTS/ A FOSTER FAMILY

The foster family is a family that adopts a child temporarily.
Foster parents usually adopt orphans or abandoned children who grow up in orphanages and foster homes.

A SINGLE-PARENT FAMILY

A single-parent family consists of a single person and a dependent child.

THE EXTENDED FAMILY

The extended family is a nuclear family together with grandparents.

A BROKEN FAMILY or A BROKEN HOME

A family that includes broken relationships is sometimes called a broken family or a broken home.

Many people get divorced, and later remarry. Therefore many children live with step-parents and have half-brothers and half-sisters or stepbrothers and stepsisters.

QUESTION TIME
Part I

How would you define the word FAMILY?
What does family mean to you?
Name four FAMILIAL STRUCTURES.
What do we call a family that adopts a child temporarily?
What is the difference between a nuclear and an extended family?
Define a single-parent family.
What do we call children who grow up in orphanages or foster homes?

BONUS QUESTION: Define the term FAMILY and FAMILY STRUCTURES.

FUNCTIONS OF THE FAMILY

To provide children with food and education.
To develop their emotions, talents, and knowledge.
To provide social stability and protection.
To bring them up / raise them.
To teach them real moral values and how to behave, e.g.:

- - how to greet people, to be friendly and polite, to care about others
  - to differentiate between right and wrong
  - to communicate, to keep secrets
  - to solve problems in life, to become independent
  - to work honestly

A good family relationship means that parents and children get on well. They don’t argue much and can discuss problems.
Parents are tolerant, an children respect them. A good and strong relationship is very important for everyone.
A true/real family has a lot in common.

Family members often:

share the same values
support and help each other
spend a lot of time together
laugh togethers
peak about everything
keep secrets
accept each other
respect each other
share happiness and sadness, as well
are people who are always there for you

HOUSEHOLD CHORES

All family members have specific social roles with various tasks and responsibilities. Everyone in our family has their daily or weekly tasks or domestic chores.

make the beds
do the ironing
make breakfast, lunch, dinner
do the washing–up
do the washing
water houseplants
do the shopping
do the hoovering/vacuuming
empty the rubbish bin
mop the floor
to sweep the floor with a broom
dry the dishes
set the table
clean the windows
tidy up my room
dust the furniture
fold laundry after washing

QUESTION TIME
part II

What are the main functions of a family?
What does ‚a good family relationship‘ mean?
What makes a happy, functional family?
Introduce your nuclear family and describe your familial relationships.
Explain the proverb „ In time of test, family is best.“
Which household chores/domestic chores can you name?
Have a think about how we can avoid household chores and save time.

BONUS QUESTION: Name the functions of a family, describe a functional family, and name at least eight domestic chores.

GENERATION GAP

Older and younger people often don’t understand each other.
Parents and children differ in opinions and everyday life.

The most common conflicts between generations are:

ways of dressing
hairstyle
behaviour
smoking and drinking alcohol
going out too often
coming home late
school results
housework
spending a lot of money
different opinions

CAUSES OF DIVORCE

Unfortunately, there are many divorced couples in our society.
The most common causes of divorce are:

addiction to alcohol, drugs, and gambling
lack of money
lack of trust
multiple generations under one roof
immaturity of parents
different opinions on bringing up children
intolerance, not knowing each other
unemployment

IMPORTANT FAMILY CELEBRATIONS AND ANNIVERSARIES

Families get together for various occasions and anniversaries such as:

birthday parties
name day parties
anniversaries
passing an exam
graduation
retirement parties
holidays (Christmas, or Easter, for example)
religious celebrations (All Saints‘ Day, weddings, christening/baptisms, confirmation, first communion, funerals, etc.

BIRTH

Before a baby is born, its mother is pregnant/expecting a baby. She then gives birth usually in hospital. Parents give a name to the child and Christian parents may baptise their baby in a church – a christening.

WEDDING

At a wedding, the two people who are getting married are the bride and the groom.

The bride has her maid of honor and bridesmaids, and the groom has his best man and groomsmen.

A few days before the wedding ceremony, the husband-to-be hosts a party for his male friends. It is called a stag party/a stag night. The wife-to-be hosts a party for her friends, called a hen party/night.

A wedding ceremony is a formal act that can be religious or in a church. This is a church wedding /white wedding with a priest. It can also be a civil wedding – in the town hall at a registry office with the mayor.

The engaged couple exchanges their wedding rings and promises to live together through good and bad times.

After the wedding, friends and relatives are invited to a wedding reception with a layered wedding cake. The newlyweds then go on a honeymoon.

DEATH

Death is the end of life.

When someone dies, the body may be cremated or buried in a cemetery/graveyard.

There are different religious or social ceremonies for death in different cultures.

At the funeral, the body is put into a coffin. The grave is marked with a gravestone.

The widow or the widower, together with close relatives, mourn for their beloved.

MARITAL STATUS

Marital status: single, engaged, married, divorced, widowed

QUESTION TIME
part III

What is a GENERATION GAP?
Name the most typical conflicts between generations.
What are the main reasons for divorce?
When do you as a family meet up?
What happens after two people decide to get married?
What is the difference between a CHURCH WEDDING and a CIVIL WEDDING?
Name five MARITAL STATUSES.

BONUS QUESTION: Think about some more conflicts between the young and the elderly. Suggest how these conflicts may be solved.

FAMILY IN THE PAST

In the past, mothers often stayed at home.
Parents had many children and enough time.
The father earned money to support the family = he was the breadwinner.

FAMILY NOW

Nowadays, mothers may work too.
Women are emancipated.
Parents often have an only child.

FAMILY LIFE IN ENGLISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES

People in English-speaking countries often only have one or two children.
Mothers may take care of their children or employ an au-pair, usually from abroad who helps in the household, plays with the children, or takes them to or from school. There are many au-pairs in these countries because they want to earn some money and improve their language skills.
Parents lead their kids to independence, and when they get into university, the children often leave home and begin their own life.

FAMILY IN SLOVAKIA

A typical Slovak family has two or three children, but to have four or five isn’t unusual.
Mothers usually stay on maternity leave until their children turn 3. The children are often very dependent on their parents.
When young people go to universities, parents support them financially.
Young Slovak couples usually prefer living near their parents. It is common for
three generations to live together in one house or the same town. They often have
a strong relationship.

QUESTION TIME
part IV

Compare a FAMILY IN THE PAST with a MODERN FAMILY.
What is the role of breadwinner?
What is an au-pair?
Talk about the differences between typical Slovak and English-speaking families.

EXTRA QUESTIONS