RELATIONSHIPS

SAYINGS
Look at these English sayings about relationships. What
do they mean? Do you agree with them?
•A friend in need is a friend indeed
•No man is an island
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
•Is the way we relate to others changing? How? (Think
about romantic relationships, friendships, parent-child
relationships, etc.)
•Has the internet revolutionised the way we interact? If so,
is this positive or negative? Why?
 What type of friend or person is each person talking about? Match each sentence with type of friendship:
acquaintance fair-weather friend fellow student flatmate girlfriend mutual friend old
friend travel companion true friend workmate

1 We’re not close friends – we’re just 7 Kate has always stood by me in times of
studying French at the same evening class. difficulty. If ever I’m in trouble, I know I
can rely on her for help.
2 I live with Sarah, but each of us has our
own group of friends that we hang out with. 8 Colin and I have been teaching at the
3 Olivia and I went on a trip to Peru together same school for years. We get on very well,
ten years ago and we’ve kept up with each even though we never really see each other
other ever since. socially. I think I’ve been round to his
house once.
4 I wouldn’t say we were friends really.
We’ve met a couple of times at parties. 9 Barney and I have known each other
since we were at school. It doesn’t matter if
5 Oh, do you know Tom? He’s a good friend we haven’t seen each other for a while; we
of mine too. We should all meet up some just seem to pick up where we left off.
time.
10 Jessica and I are going to go for a
6 Jacob always hangs around when he’s medieval-style wedding. Themed weddings
bored, but he never comes round when he’s are becoming very fashionable.
got something better to do.
 Find phrasal verbs in these sentences. What does each one mean? In pairs,
choose three and write a sentence illustrating its meaning.

1 I live with Sarah, but each of us has 5 Kate has always stood by me in times
our own group of friends that we hang of difficulty. If ever I’m in trouble, I
out with. know I can rely on her for help.
2 Olivia and I went on a trip to Peru 6 Colin and I have been teaching at the
together ten years ago and we’ve kept same school for years. We get on very
up with each other ever since. well, even though we never really see
each other socially. I think I’ve been
3 Oh, do you know Tom? He’s a good round to his house once.
friend of mine too. We should all meet
up some time. 7 Barney and I have known each other
since we were at school. It doesn’t
4 Jacob always hangs around when he’s matter if we haven’t seen each other for
bored, but he never comes round when a while; we just seem to pick up where
he’s got something better to do. we left off.
FRIENDSHIP: DISCUSS IN
SMALL GROUPS
Think about three of your friends. What kind of friend are they?
acquaintance fair-weather friend fellow student flatmate
girlfriend mutual friend old friend travel companion true
friend workmate
Think also about how often you see these people and what things you do
together. Discuss if your friendships are similar in any way.

! Try to use the phrasal verbs.

TOXIC
RELATIONSHIP
S
When do you think a relationship isn’t
healthy?
What are “warning signs”?

Do you know any cases of toxic

relationships?
What kind of behaviour do you think
shows a relationship is healthy?
 FAMILY: DOES FAMILY SHAPE
YOU? Has your family influenced the career path that you
Do you get along with your brothers and sisters?
Has it always been that way? have chosen? Did you want to follow in their
footsteps?
Would you say you are a close family? How much
time do you spend with family: When seeking advice, are you more likely to turn to
friends or family?
• out of a sense of duty? • because you choose to?
How important is it to you that your family approves
How conscious are you of your family’s history? of your partner?
Is there something that runs in your family? Would you say your family members see eye to eye
(examples: a quality, skill, interest, problem, about:
disease) Have you inherited it?
• money? • bringing up children?
Is there someone who wears the pants in your
Is there a black sheep in your family. Who is it? What
family? How important is it to have this person’s
makes this person the black sheep?
approval?
Are you similar to your parents? Do people think
Is there someone in the family you look up to? you’re the spitting image of them? Do people think
Why? you’re a chip off the old block?
ARE YOU GOOD AT GIVING
ADVICE?
•You should… /r/relationships and
/r/dating_advice
•I suggest…
Let’s read some posts by people looking for
•Why don’t… advice. What would you suggest?

•If I were you… Discuss in small groups and write something

you would post as a comment.
•How about…

•My advice would be…

•Have you thought…

Do I choose my relationship or my career?
I (32m) have been offered the position I have been trying to get for years, but it would
require me to move to Houston and I will be travelling a lot. I was hoping that I could stay
based out of NYC, but it didn't turn out that way. The move is temporary, but I will likely
be there for a few years, but maybe less. Career wise, this job is an amazing opportunity
and the experience is unparalleled. Plus it is a pretty substantial raise.
My gf(28f) of 3 years just doesn't think she wants to be in a relationship with someone who
travels a lot, and I can understand that. She may leave me if I take this job. Someone who
had the same job told me to expect to sleep at home less than half of the time. So being in a
new city, with no friends, and a boyfriend who isn't around much sounds pretty
overwhelming to me, so I complexly understand her apprehensions, as sad as it makes me.
Do I choose my career and financial stability or my relationship and start looking harder
for a new job?
Boyfriend of 6 years (M25) hates
my (f23) family and I don’t like
his.
Let me start by saying that our parents are very different. His are very comfortable
openly smoking weed in and around the house with their kids (both in their late 20s)
which is pretty cool. However his mom is depressed and unemployed and his father is a
retired self entitled jerk who makes the mom cry regularly. His house is kinda gross with
mad bugs all over. My family isn’t against weed, they just don't want me to smoke in the
house, backyard is fine. They're both working class people and have a successful
marriage. They're headstrong and speak their minds. My mom and dad both work very
hard to maintain their lives.
His dad has just invited himself to OUR vacation and my bf expects me to accept him
despite the fact that he’s a sexist jerk. And my bf can’t even come into my house when
picking me up because he says he can’t be himself there.
I don't know what to do. I feel l am always the one stepping up to spend time with my bf
despite him living with a toxic family when he can't be bothered to reciprocate.
 Inappropriate workplace
conversations, or am I just being
sensitive?
I'm a 24yo guy who's been employed full time for nearly six months. At my first serious full
time job, I’m having trouble navigating the relationship with my co-workers who are quite
friendly with each other and often discuss personal matters in the office.
One of them even mentioned she has a female cousin who's single and proceeded to show me
her photos, asking me if she was my type. I believe their intentions were good, but honestly I
felt quite uncomfortable because for one, I'm not even into women and don't know what to
comment exactly when ambushed with such a question, and secondly, I'm taken but don't care
to discuss such things in a professional setting. Therefore I just responded by awkwardly
laughing and telling them I'm not looking.
So I'm confused as to whether I'm uncomfortable with these private discussions because I'm
new to the environment, or if they could actually be considered inappropriate for a
professional setting?
My [26f] boyfriend [27m] told our best
friend [26f] that he was in love with
her.
I've been with bf for almost 8 years now, and met best friend about a month before I
met him and we've been amazing friends ever since. Bf and best friend are really
good friends too. I love my bf with all of my heart and always will.
It was my friend's birthday so we had a lot to drink in my house last night and we
were up pretty late. I went to bed after a while and left them up.
In the morning, my best friend told me that my bf said he was in love with her when
he was drunk. I confronted him and he admitted he still loves me more than
anything, but that he's fallen for her too from all the time we all spend together. She
has absolutely no romantic feelings towards him.
I am just a mess and don't know what to do or think. Our 8 year anniversary is this
Friday and my head is all over the place and I'm just fried. What should I do?
CREATE A SITUATION Be creative.

FOR THE OTHERS TO

Include as much detail as
posible.
It can be about any kind of
GIVE ADVICE ON. relationship.
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