M1U2 Growing pains Revision

I. Revision of Home alone

Mom and dad arrived home earlier than expected, only to find the room in a mess, with garbage lying around and the dog starving. Dad burst into anger and scolded Daniel before he could defend himself. This deeply upset Daniel, who shouted back rudely. Eric, Daniel’s brother, wanted to inform parents of the emergency but was stopped by Daniel. He insisted that their parents didn’t deserve an explanation. Mom wondered if they were too hard on Daniel, while Dad thought he couldn’t tolerate Daniel showing no respect to them.

II. A letter from my nephew

Dear Aunt,

I am writing to seek __________(guide) about my relationship with my parents. To tell the truth, I find it __ struggle to get along with them. They behave __ __ they do not love me at all.

_________ I watch a movie, they say I am wasting my _________(value) time and should spend more time on study. They even forbids me from ________(chat) with my friends online! I tell them I’m _______(stress) about schoolwork, but neither of them show any concern. To prevent upsetting them with an _________(argue), I do ___ they tell me. However, sometimes I just can’t tolerate ___________ (treat) like this.

People say home is a place ______ unhappiness and worries melt away, but it is not the case at my home. I feel _____________(misunderstand) and lonely. How can I improve our relationship?

Best regards,

Simon

III. Common parent-child conflicts

l  ___________________________________________________________________________

l  ___________________________________________________________________________

l  ___________________________________________________________________________

IV. Extended reading

Strangers under the same roof?

eq \o\ac(○,1)1Does every dinner with your parents seem to turn into a battle? Have your once warm and open conversations become cold and guarded? Do you feel that you just cannot see eye to eye with them on anything? You are not alone. Heated arguments and cold silences are common between teenagers and their parents.

eq \o\ac(○,2)2Teenagers' physical changes may result in such family tensions. You may feel anxious that you are developing at a different rate to your friends, shooting up in height or getting left far behind. You might worry about your changing voice, weight problems or spots. When it all gets too much, your parents are often the first targets of your anger.

eq \o\ac(○,3)3It can be a big headache to balance your developing mental needs too. You enter a strange middle ground--no longer a small child but not quite an adult. You have both a new desire for independence and a continued need for your parents’ love and support. You feel ready to be more responsible and make decisions on your own. Unfortunately, your parents do not always agree and that makes you feel unhappy. “Why can't they just let me go?” you may wonder. All of this can lead to a breakdown in your relationship.

eq \o\ac(○,4)4Although sometimes it may seem impossible to get along as a family, you can take action to improve the situation. …

eq \o\ac(○,5)5Just remember that it is completely normal to struggle with the stress that parent-child tensions create, and that you and your parents can work together to improve your relationship. The good news is this stormy period will not last. Everything will turn out all right in the end, and the changes and challenges of your teenage years will prepare you for adulthood.

Paraphrasing

Why do teenagers have conflicts with parents?

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Listening

How can teenagers deal with conflicts with parents?

1. The key to keeping the peace is ___________________________________________________

2. Try to understand the situation from _______________________________________________

3. Explain your actions and feelings calmly, listen carefully, and ___________________________

Writing:

新一期《南菁教育》开始征稿，请你写一篇题为 “My opinion on parent-child conflicts”的文章投稿，内容包括：1. 分析亲子冲突的原因  2. 改善亲子关系的方法。