Lesson 1: The family
Expressions
VocabularyFamilies
ListeningandSpeaking
The topic
UseofEnglish
ListeningHoofy&Boo:AdultsReturningtoLiveinParentsHouseDuetoToughEconomy
Writing
Reading
Familiesofthe21
st
Century
Readingcomprehensiontest
Grammar
A.Gerund(ingform)
B.Infinitive(withorwithoutto)
C.ingform/Infinitive
Phonetics
LinkinginEnglish
Extra information
Culturalfocus
Games
Additionalmaterial
U
N
I
T
English link for B2
UNIT 3 Lesson 1
Expressions
Vocabulary Families
Listen to the following expressions and repeat them:
o The reason grandchildren and grandparents get along so well is because they
have a common enemy .
o Spare the rod and spoil the child.
o The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home, Confucius.
o Accidents will happen.
o Like father, like son.
The listening is available in the virtual classroom
Choose the correct definition of the previous expressions:
o The reason grandchildren and grandparents get along so well is because they
have a common enemy :
a) The common enemy is the father, the mother, or both!
b) If grandchildren and grandparents didnt have a common enemy, they
wouldnt get along so well.
c) United we stand, divided we fall.
o Spare the rod and spoil the child:
a) Dont spend too much for the rod, but save your money for the child.
b) If you don't punish a child for misbehaviour, the child will not learn discipline
and will become spoiled, rude or uncontrollable.
c) Dont spend too much for the rod and send your child to a private school!
English link for B2
UNIT 3 Lesson 1
o The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home, Confucius:
a) If the White House is ok, the whole nation will be fine too.
b) The better the house, the stronger the nation.
c) Home is the basic cell of the society. If home life is ok, the nation will be fine
too.
o Accidents will happen:
a) Nostradamus said.
b) No matter what precautions you take, there is always a risk that something
could go wrong.
c) The end of the world is something inevitable.
o Like father, like son:
a) If the son behaves/is in a certain way or has a certain talent or defect,
b) If the father son behaves/is in a certain way or has a certain talent or defect.
c) The daughter is never the same way as the father is!
Check your answers
Listening and Speaking
Listen and repeat the following anonymous quote: In humour there is
truth, but in truth there is no humour.
The listening is available in the virtual classroom
o Do you agree? Explain your point of view and record yourself. The recording must
be at least one minute.
English link for B2
UNIT 3 Lesson 1
The topic
Use of English
Match the following words with their correct definition:
A. Poll
1. To rotate, to move to face the opposite
side.
B. Thrifty
2. Asking a large number of people what
they think about something.
C. Loser 3. To not do something at the right time.
D. To turn around
4. A person who is regularly unsuccessful
and people have a low opinion of
them/person. A person or team in sports
that is defeated.
E. To fall behind in
5. Careful and prudent about spending
money.
Check your answers
English link for B2
UNIT 3 Lesson 1
Listening Hoofy & Boo: Adults Returning to Live in Parents
House Due to Tough Economy
Listen to the following video about how adults are returning home due
to the financial crisis. Listen to the video and write down all the
vocabulary you can understand connected to the recession or money.
The video is available at:
http://youtu.be/oXo9XE8KS40
Listen to each of the following four expressions and then listen again
repeating with the presenter.
o by moving back in with my folks (minute 0:23).
o Im a loser! (minute 0:44).
o Privacy can be something of an issue at times (minute 1:01).
o hes seen better day (minute 1:39).
English link for B2
UNIT 3 Lesson 1
Have a look at the following words, expressions and phrasal verbs that
appear in the video and use the dictionary to look up the meanings.
Vocabulary Expressions Phrasal Verbs
Poll In close quarters To move back
Tough 1 in 4 To turn around
Wise Kind of To bury under
Thrifty Boomerang child To swing by
Loser Something of an issue To do without
Downside A regular Don Juan To fall behind on
Snag To see better days To tune in
Sweetie To come home
Twig
Household chores
Writing
Answer the following questions using full sentences. Write your answers
and compare them with the suggested ones.
o According to the video, what is the main advantage of moving back in with your
parents?
o What are the disadvantages of moving back in with your parents according to the
video?
Check your answers
English link for B2
UNIT 3 Lesson 1
Reading
Families of the 21
st
Century
Families of the 21
st
Century
For reference purposes:
http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Families_of_the_21st_Century.html
Families of the 21st Century come in all shapes and sizes. Divorce, remarriage, parenting out-of-
wedlock and a host of other variables have turned nuclear families into the exception rather
than the norm. As little as a half-century ago, children were typically raised in homes with two
biological parents, and chances are, those two parents had the support of extended family
members nearby. When one questioned their own parenting, they had only to turn to one of
these supporters for reassurance and a confidence boost.
Fast forward to the first decade of the 21st Century, and you will find that the traditional,
nuclear family is on the Endangered Species List. Even in nuclear families, homemaker and
breadwinner roles have evolved into something that makes it impossible to define and designate
an average family. In fact, the stereotypic breadwinner and homemaker roles rarely exist;
most households require the income of two full-time wage earners just to get by.
Another significant change is the support network parents once enjoyed. It was not uncommon
for extended family members to reside in close proximity to each other, if not under the same
roof. Today, more and more grandparents are flocking to Florida, Arizona, or similar location to
spend their retirement years while young adults are leaving the nest in search of greater career
opportunities. This trend of stretching families around the globe means that there are fewer and
fewer built-in support networks in our communities. Extended family members not only served
as mentors and role models, but often as a sounding board or emergency caregiver. Parents and
grandparents were respected and looked to for guidance during tough times. As a society, we
admired and respected their stories of endurance; surviving economic challenges, marital
troubles and a myriad of other circumstances associated with their times. As our role models
they inspired us to work hard and persevere.
In addition to the extended family, we have lost our sense of community. Our neighbors today
are essentially strangers. Fewer and fewer Americans attend church and therefore the support of
the congregation is non-existent for many families. Commuters and tele-commuters reduce the
opportunity to interact regularly with the people from our own neighborhoods. Instead, we drive
30, 60, 90 miles to work with people from nearby cities. This in itself is not a bad thing, but it
further diminishes our sense of community and the support network we once took for granted.
English link for B2
UNIT 3 Lesson 1
Todays families come in hundreds of shapes and sizes.
Stepfamilies are the most common form of non-traditional families, but think of the many
variables within stepfamilies: everything from two partners with custody of their respective
children to households where one partner has children and the other doesn't. There are still
even more types of families: single mothers, single fathers, grandparents raising grandchildren,
multi-generational households, the list is endless. Custody arrangements following separation
and divorce are almost as unique as snowflakes; no two are the same. Legal and physical custody
are no longer automatically awarded to the mother. More and more, kids are bouncing back and
forth between two households on a weekly basis.
Family educators and coaches are well suited to help parents meet the changing demands of
family life. While counseling and therapy may be necessary in some cases, generally speaking,
people are in need of resources that will assist them in major transitions, to move them forward,
to balance work and family. A family coach can support parents in aligning their personal goals
with their values and priorities. Family educators/coaches can also address a wide range of
issues, from parenting toddlers to teenagers, childcare and elder care and resources and
referrals to connect to existing community services. With a sea of services available, it can be
difficult and time consuming to identify exactly which one is best suited to meet your needs. A
family coach that is familiar with both the community and the familys unique needs can take
the time and guesswork out of the search.
Reading comprehension test
Answer the questions using full sentences:
o How have circumstances changed concerning the family over the last half a
century? Give three examples from the text.
o According to the text, which type of non-traditional family is the most common?
o Find the mistakes in some of the verbs and correct them (its the last paragraph of
the article).
It's time to do something about this! What about rebuild the support network that once
helped hold the family together? Stepfamilies in particular need encouragement and
insight help them recognize the inevitable hurdles before them and proving that it can be
done
Check your answers
English link for B2
UNIT 3 Lesson 1
Have a look at the following words, expressions and phrasal verbs that
appear in the text and use the dictionary to look up the meanings:
Vocabulary Expressions Phrasal Verbs
To raise
To come in all shapes and
sizes
To turn into
Boost
The exception rather than the
norm
To turn to
To fast forward Out-of-wedlock
To get by
Homemaker A host of
To flock to
Breadwinner Nuclear family
To stretch around
Role As little as
To serve as
Built-in Chances are
To look to
Caregiver The endangered species list
To award to
Myriad The support network
To connect to
Stepfamily In close proximity
Endless Under the same roof
To align Retirement years
Toddler To leave the nest
Elder care In search of
Referral To hold together
Guesswork Sounding board
Hurdles To take for granted
Time consuming
To bounce back and forth
To move forward
A sea of services available
English link for B2
UNIT 3 Lesson 1
Grammar
A. Gerund (-ing form)
The ing form can be used as a noun when it is the subject of a sentence, or the
object of a sentence or as an adjective when it qualifies a noun. Compare the
following examples:
verb Mark is smoki ng too much lately
noun subject Smoki ng is bad for your health
noun object My favourite hobbie is r eadi ng
adjective You can find lots of smoki ng cigarettes ends in the park
The gerund can also be used after special phrases, including the following:
Couldn't help
I couldn't help danci ng
when they put on the Cure!
No puedo evitar bailar cuando
tocan/ponen a The Cure.
How about
How about goi ng to the
theatre? Im sick of the
cinema!
Por qu no vamos al teatro?
Estoy harto del cine.
It's (no) good
I t's no good tr yi ng to
change her, shes too
stubborn!
No sirve de nada intentar
cambiar (a ella), es tan cabezota!
It's no use
I t's no use negoti ati ng a
pay rise! We are in a
recession!
No es el momento de negociar
una subida de salario! Estamos
en recesin!
What about
What about poppi ng into
the jazz club?
Y si entramos en el club de jazz?
Worth That film is worth seei ng. Vale la pena ver esa pelcula.
The gerund is used after all prepositions. For instance:
After studyi ng all night for the exam, I overslept and arrived late to school.
Before swi mmi ng you must put a cap on.
I n spi te of under standi ng all the text, she did a bad job with the translation.
English link for B2
UNIT 3 Lesson 1
She was able to tell me the bad news wi thout cr yi ng.
In English, there are certain verbs, nouns and adjectives which are followed by a
specific preposition. If these items are followed by another verb, as the rule
establishes, that verb is in ing form:
The woman was so looki ng for war d to chatti ng to Nick again.
Brian was accused of steali ng money from the till.
Sylvia i s afr ai d of sleepi ng alone at home.
Peter has no i nterest i n buyi ng a house nowadays.
In Lesson 4 in this unit, we will see specific verbs, nouns and adjectives followed by a
specific preposition.
There are some verbs which are followed by an ing form:
Admit Appreciate Avoid Consider Delay Deny Detest Enjoy
Escape Fancy Feel like Finish Forgive Cant help Imagine Involve
Mind Miss Postpone Practise Risk
Can't
stand
Suggest Understand
I enj oy tr avelli ng on my own.
I feel li ke danci ng and si ngi ng every time I listen to an ABBA song.
The doctor suggested sleepi ng more hours at weekends.
For a complete list of verbs followed by ing form:
http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/gerund2a.html
B. Infinitive (with or without to)
The infinitive is used with to
After the fi r st, the last, the next, etc.:
Gina was the fi r st to arrive to the restaurant.
Sandra was the last to hand in her exam.
She is the next to represent us in Congress.
English link for B2
UNIT 3 Lesson 1
After some adjectives:
Im sad to be leaving.
Its wor se not to say goodbye.
After question words:
She doesnt know when to do it.
Can they tell us how to return to Main Street?
After the following verbs:
Afford Agree Appear Arrange Ask Attempt
Can't
bear
Choose
Decide Expect Fail Help Hope Intend Learn Manage
Offer Prepare Promise Refuse Seem Want Warn Wish
Myles pr omi sed to phone me after he gets home.
I want to do a masters degree next year.
I manage to arrive to the interview on time despite the strike.
Some verbs they may take an object:
Advise Force Order Want Watch Help
Teach Ask Tell Invite Prefer Remind
Can you help me to clean the house?
John wants me to babysit for him tomorrow night.
The infinitive is used without to (bare infinitive):
After modals:
When I was young I could swim very far.
Joanna may go to Portugal this July.
I must call her now.
English link for B2
UNIT 3 Lesson 1
After had better and would r ather :
They had better decide on a plan soon.
He would r ather play tennis.
After the following verbs: (note: these verbs may be used with an object)
Make See Let Hear Feel
She felt the snowflakes fall on her hand.
I hear d hi m talk badly about his wife.
Let's go for a drink by the river.
Let me help you with your work.
She made Davi d and J uli an tidy up the mess.
For a complete list of verbs followed by infinitive:
http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/infinitive2a.html
C. ing form/Infinitive
Both the gerund and the infinitive can be used after the following verbs without
changing the meaning:
Start
She star ted r eadi ng the novel yesterday.
She star ted to r ead the novel yesterday.
Begin
She began maki ng muffins. She was very good at
it.
She began to make muffins. She was very good at
it.
Continue
My son conti nues speaki ng in English to me.
My son conti nues to speak in English to me.
Hate
I hate doi ng the ironing!
I hate to do the ironing!
Love
She loves playi ng with Barbie dolls.
She loves to play with Barbie dolls.
Prefer
Janet pr efer s ri di ng her bike.
Janet pr efer s to r i de her bike.
English link for B2
UNIT 3 Lesson 1
Like
I li ke checki ng my email.
I li ke to check my email every hour.
When we use would + like, love, prefer and hate, we use the infinitive with to (bare
infinitive):
Would you li ke to dance with me? Vs. Do you li ke dancing?
I d pr efer to go on bus rather take the train.
Brian would love to marry in Las Vegas.
Other verbs can be used with the gerund or the infinitive without changing the
meaning, but two different structures are possible:
o Gerund: verb + -ing
o Infinitive: verb + person + to-infinitive
Permit
The State does not per mi t hunti ng here.
The State does not per mi t us to hunt here.
Allow
The parents do not allow dr i nki ng beer at the party.
The parents do not allow us to dr i nk beer at the party.
Advise
The police officer advi ses par ki ng in the city center.
The police officer advi ses us to par k in the city center.
There is a difference in meaning with some verbs when they are used with the
gerund and infinitive. Please see the following examples:
Mean
You are still being naughty in class!
This means meeti ng with your
parents to discuss the problem.
As a result, I will meet with your
parents to discuss the problem.
I meant to stop by the pharmacy,
but by the time I got there it was
closed.
My intention was to stop by the
pharmacy, but I couldnt get there in
time.
Remember
I remember looki ng over my
shoulder before switching lanes.
Theres a blind spot!
I remember completing this action.
Remember to look over your
shoulder before switching lanes.
Theres a blind spot!
Dont forget to do this important thing.
Forget
She forgot seeing you before.
Forget that s.o. has done sth in the
past.
I forgot to study for the exam.
Forget that someone must do
something.
English link for B2
UNIT 3 Lesson 1
Stop
Stop talki ng to your neighbour. Cease the action of talking
Stop to talk to your neighbour.
Take a moment to talk with your
neighbour.
Try
Maybe you should try swi mmi ng
every day.
Try out this activity on a daily basis, as
an experiment.
I tri ed to swi m every day but I got
too tired.
I made the effort to carry out this
action.
Regret
I r egr et fai li ng the exam
To look back at the past, one is sorry
about what someone did.
I r egr et to tell you that its
raining
Announcements of bad news.
Exercises
Decide if the verb in brackets should change into the gerund or the
infinitive form.
Example: They carried on_______ (climb) the mountain.
Answer: They carried on climbing the mountain.
o The staff expected Paula (sell) a lot this month.
o I dont mind (work) a bit later today.
o I learned (tie) my shoes when I was five.
o I can't imagine ever (go) to that kind of film.
o They agreed (fix) the problem.
o I need you (answer) the phone.
o The couple asked me how (get) back to the hotel.
o Ill look forward to (hear) from you when you return.
o Is Marco thinking of (learn) Japanese?
o We decided (play) two balls.
Check your answers
Put the verbs between brackets in the gerund or the infinitive form.
Example: I promised ______ (give) him the key back.
Answer: I promised to give him the key back.
English link for B2
UNIT 3 Lesson 1
o I enjoy (talk) to my friends.
o I know exactly what (do) if there's a fire in school
o Avoid (see) him, youll feel better.
o My Mum wanted me (study) at Liverpool Poly.
o She dreams about (have) a dog.
o I'm hoping (visit) Nick some time soon.
Check your answers
Read the following situations and their possible replies. Choose the
correct answer:
o The test is too difficult, but you just haven't reviewed the chapter well
yet.
a) The test is too difficult? Try to review the chapter.
b) The test is too difficult? Try reviewing the chapter.
c) Both possibilities are correct.
o The story was so sad that she burst out crying.
a) She started to cry.
b) She started crying.
c) Both possibilities are correct.
o Yesterday I was thinking about last Christmas when my Grandmother
died. It was sad.
a) I remembered to be sad last Christmas.
b) I remembered being sad last Christmas.
c) Both possibilities are correct.
o If you go by the library, please pop in and pick up my book for me.
a) Remember to pop in the library and pick up my book.
b) Remember popping in the library to pick up my book.
c) Both possibilities are correct.
English link for B2
UNIT 3 Lesson 1
o At the weekend she packed away some books.
a) She began to do the move.
b) She began doing the move.
c) Both possibilities are correct.
o I was talking to Jo in the bar, but when my husband arrived I couldnt
talk to Jo any more, hes jealous you see.
a) I stopped to talk to Jo.
b) I stopped talking to Jo.
c) Both possibilities are correct.
o It might be finished on time, but it will be stressful.
a) We intend to finish on time.
b) We intend on finishing on time.
c) Both possibilities are correct.
o She is sorry now for something she did in the past.
a) She regrets to do that.
b) She regrets doing that.
c) Both possibilities are correct.
o The children began the work sheet, but then they stopped and only
talked. The teacher wanted them to continue, and she said,
a) Go on to do the activity!
b) Go on doing the activity!
c) Both possibilities are correct.
Check your answers
English link for B2
UNIT 3 Lesson 1
Phonetics
Linking in English
For reference purposes:
http://www.englishclub.com/pronunciation/linking.htm
To talk naturally in English, to understand and to be understood, it is necessary to
master the art of linking words, in other words, in speech words are not separated.
There are two types of linking:
consonant > vowel: the link between a word ending in a consonant or a
consonant sound and another word which begins with a vowel.
vowel > vowel: the link between a word ending in a vowel sound and another
beginning with a vowel.
Linking Consonant to Vowel
The consonant sound at the end of one word is shifted to the beginning of the next
word if it starts with a vowel sound. For example, if in the phrase is written "turn up", it
is said tur nup.
Another example: although have ends with an e it ends with the consonant sound
v. So we link "have" to the next word "a" which is a vowel sound: Ha-va-fantastic -
Christmas!
Linking Vowel to Vowel
The sounds /j/ and /w/ can be pronounced to separate vowels.
If the first word ends in a vowel sound like /I/ and the next word starts with any
vowel sound, we add the sound /j/ (Y)
Here I am (Iyam) the end (theyend)
English link for B2
UNIT 3 Lesson 1
If the first word ends in a vowel sound like /u:/ or / / and the next word starts
with any vowel sound, we add the sound /w/ (W). For example: too often,
(toowoften) who is she? (whowishe)
Linking 'r'
People in the UK don't pronounce the final 'r' to a word but they have to when the next
word starts with a vowel. ca(r) (no r in pronunciation)
The car is in the garage (r is pronounced and links to the following word) (the ca-
risin-the-garage)
Sounds twinning (germination)
A word ending in a consonant sound followed by a word beginning with the same
consonant sound: the sounds merge into one.
I'm a bit tired of all this.
We have a lot to check still.
Tell me what to do now please, Im lost!
He's slept very little.
I've finished, at last!
Sounds disappear (elision)
/t/ or /d/ occurring between two consonant sounds, are not usually pronounced.
I'm going to see my Mum nex(t) week.
That was the wors(t) job I ever had!
Jus(t) one person came to the party! I felt so sorry for Patricia!
He can'(t) speak English very well.
English link for B2
UNIT 3 Lesson 1
Extra information
Cultural focus
Listen to the following speech:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/sep/27/robin-van-persie-arsenal-
contract
The Arsenal Football Club manager Arsne Wenger says there is no need to make "an
immediate issue" of Robin van Persie's contract situation.
The Holland striker still has a couple of seasons to run on his current deal and is no hurry to
commit his long-term future to the club. Van Persie hit his 100th Arsenal goal in Saturday's
3-0 Premier League victory over Bolton Wanderers, and the continued good form of the new
captain could be the key to turning around the Gunners' poor start to the season.
The 28-year-old is understood to have sought assurances from Wenger that the club's future
was still bright following the sales of Cesc Fbregas and Samir Nasri, who refused to extend
his contract and was sold to Manchester City.
Van Persie's deal is not set to expire until 2013, and so the Dutchman is happy to leave things
on the backburner to switch his attentions to on-field matters.
Wenger said: "You have to respect that he has nearly two years to go, so let's not make an
immediate issue of something like that two years in football is a very, very long time.
"On our side we are quite clear, so that is no problem I do not say there is no problem
because it does not depend only on us, but we are clear with our intention."
Wenger added: "I have a high level of expectation for him and his performances are as high
as I expect them to be.
"He plays well with the team, with the other players, finishes well and his finishing record is
absolutely fantastic Robin has scored 26 goals in 31 games.
"Basically, I am very demanding with Robin and he does as well as I expect him to."
English link for B2
UNIT 3 Lesson 1
Games
Read and listen to the following brain teasers, and think!
o A man who killed his mother, was born before his father and married over 100
women without divorcing. Yet he was considered normal by all of his
acquaintances. How can that be?
Check your answers
o The maker doesn't need it, the owner doesn't want it, the user doesn't know he's
using it. What is it?
Check your answers
o Two women and two doctors walk into an ice cream parlour. They each order an
ice cream cone. When their ice creams come, there is only 1 strawberry, 1
chocolate and 1 vanilla. Why didnt they complain?
Check your answers
o Three big ladies stood under an umbrella but none of them got wet. Why not?
Check your answers
o Which word, if pronounced right, is wrong, but if pronounced wrong is right?
Check your answers
English link for B2
UNIT 3 Lesson 1
o Napoleon and Josephine are lying dead on the floor in a pool of water. The only
other thing noticeable in the room is that the French doors are wide open and the
curtains are flapping. How did they die?
Check your answers
Additional material
Grammar
Gerund/Infinitive: http://www.grammar-quizzes.com/gerundex1.html
Gerund: http://www.englishpage.com/gerunds/index.htm
Listening
Watch the first one and a half minutes of this episode from Cane and Lily - Move
back in with:
The video is available at:
http://youtu.be/I5OyW2e-T2Q
Pronunciation
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/pron/progs/prog1.
shtml#linking1
