UNIT 1: THE GENERATION GAP
Lesson 7: COMMUNICATION AND CULTURE

I. Communication 1. Practise asking the following questions and take notes of their answers.
*1. What kind of family do you live in? *2. What do you think the advantages and disadvantages of living in an extended or a nuclear family are?
1. Practise asking the following questions and take notes of their answers.
1. What kind of family do you live in?
Type of family

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nuclear family
Extended family
2. What do you think the advantages and disadvantages of living in an extended or a nuclear family are?

- Can make independent decisions.

- Financial stability

- More personal space, freedom

- be less conflicts & generation gaps
- Become isolated from other family members.

- No care and children do not get a chance to have fun with family

- Childrens' insecurity -> Both parents pursue careers hence children may feel neglected

- Lesser financial burden

- Can get more support

- old people can become more active

- children can develop relationships with adults other than their parents

- Have less personal space, independence and privacy

- Have more quarrels, conflicts
Type of family

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nuclear family
Extended family
- Can make independent decisions.

- Financial stability

- More personal space, freedom

- be less conflicts & generation gaps
- Become isolated from other family members.

- No care and children do not get a chance to have fun with family

- Childrens' insecurity -> Both parents pursue careers hence children may feel neglected

- Lesser financial burden

- Can get more support from others.

- old people can become more active

- children can develop relationships with adults other than their parents

- Have less personal space, independence and privacy

- Have more quarrels, conflicts

2. Report your group\\'s opinions II. CULTURE
*The return of the extended families in the UK and the USA
Over the past few years, in both the USA and the UK, the number of multi-generational households with three or four generations living under the same roof has increased. This trend has been the result of several economic factors. High unemployment rates, part-time work and low-paid jobs have forced young adults to move back with their parents. In addition, families now face higher costs of housing and heavier pressures of both childcare and elderly care. Living under the same roof with three or four generations can be frustrating because of the lack of space, independence and privacy, and the daily conflicts brought about by differences in values and attitudes. However, its advantages outweigh the disadvantages. When living with members of their extended family, young children can develop relationships with adults other than their parents, and old people can become more active when interacting with the younger generations. Whether we accept it or not, the trend keeps growing as more and more people are choosing traditional extended families.

1. Read the following text about the coming back of the extended families and answer the questions.
*What family trend has increased in the USA and the UK?

2. What are the reasons for this family trend?

3.List some disadvantages of living in an extended family.

4. How do young children benefit from living in an extended family?

5. How can old people benefit from living in an extended family?
The number of multi-generational households with three or four generations living under the same roof.

Unemployment, part-time work and low-paid jobs have become more common. The cost of housing has become higher. The pressures of childcare and elderly care have become heavier.

The disadvantages are the lack of space, independence and privacy, and the daily conflicts.

They can develop relationships with adults other than their parents.

Old people can become more active when interacting with the younger generations.

1. What is the current family trend in Viet Nam?
The Vietnamese family now exists in two major forms: nuclear families (two generations) and extended families (from three generations upwards). The nuclear family is the most common.
2. What are the reasons for the current trend?

Western values have been adopted into Vietnamese society.

Today, many young people embrace their freedom and independence. Besides, they can afford to buy their own house/ flat and take care of their children without depending on their parents. Some of them work in other provinces or abroad, so they live far away from their parents.

2. Discuss with a partner

3. Do you think children are happier growing up in extended family?

Yes, I do. When living with members of their extended family, young children can develop relationships with adults other than their parents. They can also play with cousins that are around their ages.