I. Introduction:

Family relationships are an important part of our lives, from birth of children, to weddings, to our old age. However, learning to get along with everyone is sometimes a challenge. Listen to the words below and consult a dictionary if you need a definition. Write a sample sentence for each word to learn how it is used in context. You can use the Internet to find such sentences and related information.

[ What's the Difference? ]

1. brother
2. cousin
3. ex-husband
4. family
5. father
6. father-in-law
7. fiancée
8. girlfriend
9. grandparents
10. husband
11. mother
12. nephew
13. niece
14. sister
15. step-brother
16. twin
17. widow / widower
18. wife

• get a long (well) with
• get divorced
• get married / tie the knot
• hang out with

III. Follow-Up: Top

Talk about your family, including what they do for a living, if they are married or not, and how well you get along with each member. Then, discuss what things contribute to a happy family (e.g., having things in common, sharing the same ideals and feelings, etc.). Search for advice and keys on raising a happy family. Finally, are these keys to success different from culture to culture?

Online Listening Practice (from www.esl-lab.com and www.trainyouraccent.com):

• Family Relationships: Easy