Relationships between Generations

 

I. Study the active vocabulary:

1. argument – спор, дискуссия;

to get into an argument

an argument about studies

an argument between children

an argument with parents

2. behaviour – поведение, обращение;

to be on one’s best behaviour;

3. experience – жизненный опыт, впечатление;

to learn by experience

to know from experience

the first experience

4. priority – приоритет, порядок очередности;

first priority

high priority

5. relationship – родственные отношения, взаимоотношение;

warm relationships

valuable relationships

relationships between parents and children

6. to trust – доверять

trust in somebody or something – доверие (вера) по отношению к к-л., ч-л.

7. value – ценность;

family values

cultural values

to be of great value

8. view – мнение, точка зрения;

in my view

exchange of views

9. honest – честный, искренний, откровенный.

to be honest with somebody

an honest man

honesty (n): Honesty is the best policy. Honesty is the foundation of good behavior.

10. reasonable – рассудительный, благоразумный

It is not reasonable to demand (требовать) so much from them. You must try to be reasonable.

11. to care [ke] – беспокоиться; ухаживать; интересоваться

to care much about smb. or smth.

to care for smb.: He cares for his old mother.

12. to compromise – идти на компромисс, соглашаться

13. to escalate into – обострять(ся); перерастать в…

The conflict was escalated. Difference of opinion escalated into argument.

14. to find (found, found) – считать, полагать;

to find something difficult (impossible, easy, acceptable): She finds books boring.

I don’t find your behaviour acceptable.

15. to firm – укреплять;

to firm up on one’s view – настаивать на своей точке зрения

16. to involve – привлекать к-л к ч-л

to be involved in housekeeping

to be involved in taking care of smb.

17. to negotiate – договариваться;

to negotiate with smb. about smth.

18. to rank – классифицировать, давать оценку; ставить к-л. или ч-л. в приоритеты

to rank family above work

to rank the family highly on the list of properties. He does not rank anything above family.

19. to share – делить; разделять взгляд с кем-либо

to share a room

to share the same point of view

20. to talk something through [ru:] – обсудить что-либо до конца;

Talk your matter through with your parents (the Dean, the staff).

 

II. Read the text:

Being Part of a Family

 

Families provide your first relationships and while friends come and go, your family is generally always there. Usually this is your first experience of emotional support and love. This is where you learn about your family's values, about their rules, and about how to live with others and how to have valuable relationships with different people. Living as part of your family, you learn to respect and care about other people, and how to be part of a community.

But it doesn’t necessarily mean that you share the same points of view. You may have differences of opinion or believe some things are more important than others. Listening and negotiating are valuable skills not just in the family but also for life and the outside world.

Your parents have certain rules that they find acceptable. Having lived with these rules for a long time you should know them well. Where things go, what you can and cannot say, who does what, what is or is not acceptable behaviour. Perhaps you want to make your own rules for yourself; so you have to learn to discuss this with your parents or guardians. Those of you that try to talk things through with your parents usually find this period of life less difficult to deal with.

You firm up on your own views about many things: smoking, clothes, drugs, animal rights, crime, or whether you want to continue going to your church or youth group. As you begin to shape your own ideas, there are some conflicts with your parents. From the things they buy, to whether or not you turn vegetarian – everything is a possible flashpoint.

Try to stay calm, be reasonable, negotiate and compromise. Your parents often try to involve you in the care of your grandparents and great-grandparents. It is a valuable experience for you. Trust, honesty, openness and respect are the foundations for good relationships with your parents and grandparents. If you rank family highly on your list of priorities, carrying about the older generation is what you have to do.

 

III. Translate these sentences into English:

1. Друзья приходят и уходят, а семья, главным образом, всегда со мной.

2. К сожалению, я не всегда разделяю их точку зрения.

3. Для меня некоторые вещи являются более важными.

4. Я должен научиться обсуждать проблемы с родителями.

5. Начиная с вещей, которые покупают мои родители, и, кончая вопросами вегетарианства – все может стать причиной конфликта.

6. Конфликт перерастает в ссору.

7. Умение слушать и договариваться является важным в семейных отношениях.

8. Иногда я настаиваю на своей точке зрения, например, что касается одежды, поведения, учебы.

9. Нужно стараться быть спокойным, благоразумным, договариваться и находить компромиссы.

10. Жизнь в семье учит меня тому, как вести себя в обществе.

 

IV. Read the text once more and retell it.