Read the texts below and discuss the questions that follow.

Nuclear Family. Extended Family

In the Far, Middle and Near East and in parts of Africa, South America and Europe, the first thing most Western people notice is the respect everyone has for the old. Older men and women live with their married children and are important members of the family. They look after the children, help with the cooking, give advice and often rule family life. Living in an extended family has advantages for everyone. A small child, for example, knows many people from the very beginning, not just his mother and father. When his mother goes out, it doesn’t matter. He’ll stay with someone who loves him. – an aunt or sister or grandmother.

For a young mother or father there are also some advantages. They can go out to work and grandmother will look after the house and the children.

This is especially important in farming communities, where both men and women work in the fields.

And the older woman, for example, has something important to do. She sees her children and grandchildren grow up. She is needed and loved. The nuclear family is the product of the West. The typical family consists of mother, father and two children. If the mother goes out, she must leave them with a stranger – someone who looks after them as a job, for money. If there is a divorce or separation the child’s life will change completely.

As for the old, too many older people live alone – in special flats or homes. They hardly ever see their children and grandchildren. They have nothing important to do. They are often poor and lonely. In the winter many old people die of cold or from falls in the house – because there is no one to look after them. Nobody cares.

In the USA, many old people go to Florida when they retire and live in large parks. Often these parks are for old people only. Neither children nor pets can live there.

Changes in the American Family

In the nineteenth century in the United States, it was not unusual for extended families of uncles, aunts, cousins and grandparents to live together in the same home. Then, in this century, nuclear families became popular. Only the parents and their children lived together. Recently, in the United States, many parents and children have begun living with grandparents again. Often, parents and children don’t want to send their parents and grandparents to a special nursing home for older people. They think it is better to take care of the elderly person at home.

Of course, there can be problems which people of three generations live in the same house. Grandparents are often more permissive than parents, and they let children do what they want. But most American parents feel that it is better to be strict; they feel that children should follow rules. Parents think that grandparents, who don’t make children mind, will spoil them. Then the children won’t obey anyone as they are growing up.

But having grandparents in the home can also be fun. For example, everyone enjoys the stories the older people tell and the interesting things that they can teach the other family members. Americans are learning that having elderly people in the home can be a wonderful experience.

Questions:

1. What do some foreigners notice when they visit some Oriental, Asian, African and even European countries?

2. What kind of families do people live there in?

3. What are the advantages of living in such a family for a young couple, according to the text?

4. How do old people benefit from socializing with younger children?

5. What problems are old people often faced with?

6. What changes took place in the American family in the 20th century?

7. What problems can people of three generations living together have?

8. What are advantages of having old people living in the same home?

2. Summarize both advantages and disadvantages of living in an extended/nuclear family? Use the texts and/or add your own ideas. Work with a partner.

Living in an extended family

Family members	Advantages	Disadvantages
The young couple	.............................. .............................. .............................. .............................. ..............................	............................... ............................... ............................... ............................... ...............................
The children	.............................. .............................. .............................. .............................. ..............................	............................... ............................... ............................... ............................... ...............................
The older relatives	.............................. .............................. ..............................	............................... ............................... ..............................

Living in a nuclear family

Дата добавления: 2015-11-16