Unit 1: Relationships (speaking)

Read these statements about friendship. Can you explain what they mean? What other statements can you add to the list?
Đọc những lời phát biểu về tình bạn sau đây. Bạn có thể giải thích ‎nghĩa của chúng là gì? Bạn có thể ghi thêm những câu bình luận khác vào trong bản này.
1. A friend is someone who accepts me as I am.
2. A friend is someone who looks up to in some way and yet you can be critical of.
3. A friend is someone who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.
4. In prosperity, our friends know us; in adversity, we know our friends.
5. A friend is someone who knows you and loves you just the same.
6. A friend is someone who cheers you up when you are feeling down.
7. True friends don’t drift apart even after many years of separation.
8. Good friends are hard to find, harder to leave, and impossible to forget.

9.  
10. 

Discussion. Consider the statements above and any you’ve added to the list. What are the three most essential elements of friendship?
Thảo luận. Xem xét những lời phát biểu trên và bất kỳ ý kiến nào khác mà bạn đã thêm vào trong bản trên. Ba yếu tố cần thiết nhất của tình bạn là gì?

Complete acceptance is one of the most important elements, as far as I’m concerned. You really need to be able to…

Expressing opinions:    As far as I’m concerned, …    In my opinion, …    From my experience,…

How similar do people need to be to become good friends? Do you agree with the statements in the list? Add two statements of your own.
Muốn trở thành những người bạn tốt, mọi người cần phải có những điểm tương đồng gì? Bạn có đồng ‎ý với những lời phát biểu trong bản sau? Hãy thêm vào hai ý kiến của riêng bạn.

Friends…	Agree	Disagree
1. should be close in age.
2. should have a similar social background.
3. should have similar ideas about religion.
4. should come from similar kinds of families.
5. should have the same educational background.
6. should have similar values.
7. should enjoy doing the same kinds of things.
8. should have similar personalities.
9.
10.

Discussion. What are the three most important things for friends to have in common? Discuss with a partner.
Thảo luận. Ba yếu tố quan trọng nhất mà những người bạn cùng chia xẻ với nhau là gì? Thảo luận với bạn của mình.

“You can meet more people and make more friends on the Internet because it outs you in touch with the whole world.”	“I’ve made some really good friends of the gym I go to. People there are very friendly. Talking to them as you walk is a good way to get to know them.”	“I hang out mostly with people from work. When you’re with people all day, you really get to know what they’re like and how easy they are to get along with.”

Discussion. Read what these people say about meeting new friends, and discuss the questions below.
Thảo luận. Đọc những thông tin của các nhân vật trên nói về việc kết bạn mới và thảo luận những câu hỏi sau.
1. Do you think these are good ways to meet potential friends? Why or why not?
2. What are some other good ways to make friends?
3. How did you meet your friends?
4. What advice would you give someone who wanted to make more friends?

Love doesn’t only mean romantic love. There are many different kinds of love-different levels of feeling towards people, places and things.
Number these words from 1 to 9 in the order you think is best (1 - positive feeling, 9 = negative feelings).

be fond of adore dislike

worship like idolise

not like very much love hate

Choose five of these words and tell about people, places or things you know, using those five words.
Chọn năm trong số những từ trên và thực hành nói về những người, những nơi hoặc những vật bạn biết, sử dụng năm từ đã chọn.

Think of some more endings for “Love is. . .” (You needn’t be too serious about this!).
Tìm thêm một vài phần kết cho cấu trúc “ Tình yêu là …” (Bạn không cần phải nghiêm túc quá về điều này!)
Here are some comments made by young children about love. What experiences or observations do you think are behind these comments?

Dưới đây là một vài nhận xét của trẻ em về tình yêu. Theo bạn, những trải nghiệm và những nhận thức nào ẩn chứa sau những nhận xét này?

Think and talk together
Suy nghĩ và thảo luận với nhau
1. Now for a more serious think about partnerships between men and women. Form a men’s group and a women’s group. The men’s group should make a list of what they think men usually look for or fall for in women, and the women should make a list of what women look for or fall for in men. Then, you can make any comments you want - in agreement or in disagreement with your classmates' opinions.
2. Here are some English proverbs which have the word “love” in them. They are general comments on love. Make suggestions about their meanings.
a) One cannot love and be wise.
b) Love is blind.
c) Love me, love my dog.
d) Love will find a way.

Discuss these questions, then read the article, and compare your ideas with the author’s.
Thảo luận về những câu hỏi sau, sau đó đọc bài báo, và so sánh quan điểm của bạn với quan điểm của tác giả bài báo.

1. How can you maintain a romantic relationship? What are some important things to remember?
2. What problems might you face if you have been going out with the same person for a long time?

Even the best relationships sometimes run into trouble, so you have to work at maintaining the spontaneity and romance you took for granted when you first started seeing each other. Here’s what the experts say about the secrets of romantic success.

Discuss with the others about the following:
Thảo luận với các bạn về những ý kiến sau:
1. Can one be just friends with members of the opposite sex? Present your views.
2. “In order to marry someone you must really love them? Present your views.
3. Have you got good relationships with other people around you? Why/ Why not?
4. Do you agree that even the best relationships can run into trouble?
5. What do you think about the way love has become commercialised? Has it become too commercialised?