Family. ( Olympiad. Form 8-9)

My family consists of my father, my mother and me, their son/ daughter. So I/m an only child in the family. I’d better start my story with my dad, who is the breadwinner in our family. His name is…. He is in his late forties, But he looks powerful and impressive. At present he is a director of a large plant. He is very busy, concentrated on his work and has very little free time.

My mother’s name is… She is an economist by education. She is very interested in her work and she is a good professional. My mother is attractive, kind and loving. She is a person who is always there for me. She is the one who makes me smile when I’m sad. Sometimes she tells me off when I’m lazy or messy. She never forgets about my homework and sometimes is a bit bossy. But actually she is friendly and helpful

We are a really happy and a close-knit family.

You can’t but agree that a happy family is the thing that every child needs. Of course there is no magic formula for happiness but some of its aspects are universal. They are freedom, sound health, the sense of belonging, an interesting occupation, a possibility to express yourself. Actually all these things have their beginning in the family. Nothing else but a family can be an emotional center of people’s life and a transmitter of culture. Such things as mutual respect, understanding, consideration for others, patience, tenderness are important in every family. And such things as hypocrisy, selfishness, rudeness, insincerity should never exist in family relationships. There are a lot of activities that make a family a strong, healthy unit. They are discussing all the family plans together, going on trips together. The members of a friendly family visit theatres, exhibitions and exchange opinions. They share their joys and troubles and help each other in everything. And of course every family should have some traditions. These traditions may be different, they may be serious or amusing, very unique or quite common. But they all are important because they unite the family and make it stronger.

The traditions of our family are quite common. We like to spend our weekends together. When the weather is nice we go on picnics. Very often we go to the country to visit my granny. We celebrate birthdays of our family members and other holidays together. The holiday I like best is New Year’s Day. We usually see the New Year in at home. Our flat looks really great with a brilliantly decorated fir-tree. When the clock strikes 12 we stand round the table holding up glasses of champagne and wish each other happiness, good luck, peace and understanding. I love this holiday for its magic and merry atmosphere, for the happiness it gives to me, my relatives, friends and to all the people. This holiday is surely worth celebrating

Family.

What will you ask your British friend about his/her family?

1. Why do you like your family? 2. How big is your family? 3. Have you got any brothers or sisters? 4. Do you get along well with your family? 5. What is the best thing about your mum/ dad? 6. What do you and your family like doing together? 7.Is it easy to decide what to do together? 8. Are you always ready to support your family?

What can you advise people who want to have a close and happy family?

If you want to have a close and happy family follow my advice. It will lead to understanding and friendship in your relationships with your relatives. When dealing with family members you need to remember that you should treat them the same way that you want to be treated. Make sure that you don’t offend family members. Always be polite, avoid being rude and hard. Secondly, take an active part in family occasions, such as birthdays or visiting elderly relatives Show that you are interested in family matters. You should always listen to them carefully. That will help to work through some misunderstandings and to get on well with everybody. And finally when disagreeing with someone never blame your nearest and dearest for what they do or say because they always wish you the best. Try to be understanding, loving and caring with all your family members.

Why are there many one-parent families? How does the state help such families?

It’s a well-known fact that half of all marriages in Belarus end in divorce so we see the increase in the number of families that are headed by only one person, usually the mother. They say all happy families resemble one another, each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. The reasons are different. I think that marriage is different from love, it involves responsibilities. Common interests, mutual respect and understanding are no less important than love. Unfortunately, not all the families can cope with their problems.

Many divorced men are required by law to help their wives support their children, but not all of them fulfill the responsibilities. Some of these difficulties are relieved by government programmers providing help to low-income families. Our law allows men and women to escape bad marriages, that’s why getting a divorce is not very difficult but it is one of the most stressful events in the life of grown-ups. Children also suffer from divorce. Nevertheless. Most people think that living with one parent is better for children than living with two parents who are unhappy with one another and fight most of the time.

Family

According to Eric Fromm (1900-1980), US psychologist, ‘the mother-child relationship is paradoxical and, in a sense, tragic. It requires the most immense love on the mother’s side, yet this very love must help the child grow away from the mother and become fully independent.’

In “The Merchant of Venice”, William Shakespeare wrote, ‘It is a wise father that knows his own child’

 

Do you agree that a loving mother and a wise father are of great importance to a growing child. What, in your opinion, makes a loving mother and a wise father?

Below you have got a list of symptoms. Which of them are success and which are failure ones? Categorize them and add some more

-valuing the child’s viewpoints, always inviting a child’s opinion

- commenting negatively on the child’s “fashionable’ appearance

- failing to complement a child when s/he does a good job

- using practical examples when explaining things and giving advice

- praising a child, trying to provide chances for his/ her success

- using ‘because I say so” principle in dealing with a child

- helping a child by practical advice

- giving little attention to the child’s opinion

- becoming angry or irritated too easily

- having no sense of humor and taking everything too seriously

- showing patience in dealing with a child

- cooperating with a child

- rarely showing anger especially in arguments

- showing no interest and non-interfering into a child’s school affairs

- maintaining a good sense of humor

- showing belief in a child’s abilities

 

Do young people have anything to learn from the older generation?

Main body

a) What may be learnt from the older generation?

- details of past times, historical events

- changing lifestyles, e.g. technology, social roles, social systems, environmental changes, attitudes, fashions and tastes

- ways of thinking

- how to deal with certain problems- old people have got a lot of experience, they are calmer and wiser

b) Drawbacks

- old people are often ‘set in the ways’, not open to new ideas

- may be out of touch with the experiences of the younger generation

- may only recall positive aspects of the past, not present a balanced view

Conclusion

Why young people should learn from the older generation

- to gain a broader understanding of life

- to learn how to deal with certain situations

- to form their own system of values

Family traditions.

You can’t but agree that a happy family is the thing that every child needs. Of course there is no magic formula for happiness but some of its aspects are universal. They are freedom, sound health, the sense of belonging, an interesting occupation, a possibility to express yourself. Actually all these things have their beginning in the family. Nothing else but a family can be an emotional centre of people’s life and a transmitter of culture. Such things as mutual respect, understanding, consideration for others, patience, tenderness are important in every family. And such things as hypocrisy, selfishness, rudeness, insincerity should never exist in family relationships. There are a lot of activities that make a family a strong, healthy unit. They are discussing all the family plans together, going on trips together. The members of a friendly family visit theatres, exhibitions and exchange opinions. They share their joys and troubles and help each other in everything. And of course every family should have some traditions. These traditions may be different, they may be serious or amusing, very unique or quite common. But they all are important because they unite the family and make it stronger.

The traditions of our family are quite common. We like to spend our weekends together. When the weather is nice we go on picnics. Very often we go to the country to visit my granny. We celebrate birthdays of our family members and other holidays together. The holiday I like best is New Year’s Day.We usually see the New Year in at home. Our flat looks really great with a brilliantly decorated fir-tree. When the clock strikes 12 we stand round the table holding up glasses of champagne and wish each other happiness, good luck, peace and understanding. I love this holiday for its magic and merry atmosphere, for the happiness it gives to me, my relatives, friends and to all the people. This holiday is surely worth celebrating