Talking about Family & Relationships
Relationships in the family.
Talk in groups about your family, who is in your family? Where do they live? What do they look like? What are they like? Who are you close to in your family?
Table 1: Family Vocabulary
| Vocabulary | Definition |
|---|---|
| Immediate Family | Parents and siblings (people in your household). |
| Extended Family | Relatives beyond parents and siblings (e.g., uncles, aunts, cousins). |
| Siblings | Brothers and sisters. |
| Parenting | The act of raising and taking care of children. |
| Relatives | People in your family, including cousins, aunts, and uncles. |
| Nuclear Family | A family with parents and their children only. |
| Single-parent Family | A family with only one parent raising the children. |
| In-laws | Family members related by marriage (e.g., mother-in-law). |
| Stepfamily | A family that includes a step-parent or step-siblings. |
| Grandparents | Parents of your parents (grandmother, grandfather). |
| Guardian | A person who takes care of a child instead of the parents. |
| Ancestry | Family history, lineage, or heritage. |
| Generation Gap | Differences in opinions or values between generations. |
| Household | The people who live together in a home. |
| Spouse | A person’s husband or wife. |
| Adopted | A child who is brought into a family through adoption. |
| Cousin | A child of your uncle or aunt. |
| Twins | Siblings born at the same time. |
| Family Reunion | A gathering of extended family members. |
| Close-knit | Having close and supportive relationships within a family. |
Table 2: Friends Vocabulary
| Vocabulary | Definition |
|---|---|
| Best Friend | Your closest or most trusted friend. |
| Acquaintance | Someone you know but not very well. |
| Companion | A person who keeps you company. |
| Buddy/Pal | Informal terms for a friend. |
| Roommate | A person who shares a room or house with you. |
| Classmate | A friend or person you study with in the same class. |
| Confidant | Someone you trust and can tell your secrets to. |
| Circle of Friends | A group of friends who are close to each other. |
| True Friend | A loyal and dependable friend. |
| Childhood Friend | A friend you have known since you were young. |
| Bestie | Informal word for a very close friend. |
| Trustworthy | Someone you can trust. |
| Loyalty | The quality of being loyal to a friend. |
| Shared Interests | Hobbies or activities that friends enjoy together. |
| Get Along | To have a friendly relationship. |
| Bond | A connection or strong relationship. |
| Mutual Friend | A friend that two people have in common. |
| Like-minded | People who share the same opinions or interests. |
| Hang Out | To spend time together informally. |
| Make Friends | To start a friendship with someone. |
| Catch Up | To meet and discuss recent events in each other’s lives. |
Table 3: Useful Phrases
| Phrase | Definition |
|---|---|
| Get on well with | To have a good relationship with someone. |
| Fall out with | To argue and stop being friends. |
| Patch things up | To resolve a disagreement and be friends again. |
| Have each other’s backs | To support each other during difficult times. |
| Like family | To be as close as if they were family members. |
| Grow apart | To become less close to someone over time. |
| Hit it off | To form a good relationship quickly. |
| Keep in touch | To maintain contact with someone. |
| Lose touch | To stop communicating with someone over time. |
| Meet up | To get together socially. |
| Shoulder to cry on | Someone who provides emotional support. |
| Go way back | To have known someone for a long time. |
| Tight-knit group | A group of people with very close relationships. |
Table 4: Adjectives for Relationships
| Adjective | Definition |
|---|---|
| Supportive | Someone who helps and encourages others. |
| Reliable | Someone you can depend on. |
| Outgoing | Friendly and enjoys being around others. |
| Caring | Someone who shows kindness and concern for others. |
| Affectionate | Showing love or care openly. |
| Strict | Demanding, not flexible (often used to describe parents). |
| Understanding | Empathetic and willing to listen to others. |
| Protective | Someone who wants to keep others safe. |
| Trustworthy | Deserving of trust; reliable. |
| Generous | Willing to share time, money, or resources with others. |
Family
- How many siblings do you have, and what are they like?
- Who in your family are you closest to and why?
- Do you have any family traditions that you really enjoy?
- What is the best memory you have with your family?
- Do you prefer spending time with your family or alone? Why?
- Who in your family has influenced you the most?
- Do you have a big or small family? Would you want it to be different?
- How often do you visit your extended family?
- What values did your parents teach you that are important to you?
- What roles do different members of your family have?
Friends
- How did you meet your best friend?
- What qualities do you look for in a friend?
- Do you prefer to have a lot of friends or just a few close ones?
- What do you usually do when you hang out with friends?
- Do you have a childhood friend that you are still close to?
- Can you describe a time when a friend really helped you?
- How do you usually make new friends?
- Do you think it’s easy or hard to make friends as an adult? Why?
- Have you ever lost touch with a friend? Did you reconnect?
- How do you keep in contact with your friends who live far away?
Relationships and Bonding
- What activities bring your family closer together?
- What do you and your friends do to keep your friendship strong?
- Do you prefer meeting friends in person or chatting online? Why?
- How do you celebrate your friends’ achievements?
- Have you ever had a misunderstanding with a friend? How did you resolve it?
- Do you think family is more important than friends, or are both equally important?
- What is one thing your family or friends have done for you that you are most grateful for?
- How do you show appreciation to your friends or family members?
- Do you believe that friends can be like family? Why or why not?
- Is there someone you consider “chosen family”? Who and why?
Fun and Challenges
- What is the most fun you have had with your family?
- What challenges do you face with your family or friends sometimes?
- Have you ever had a falling out with a family member? How did you deal with it?
- How do your friends help you in difficult times?
- Do you ever have arguments with your family? What about?
- What is a funny story involving your friends that always makes you laugh?
- Do you find it easy to make up after arguments with friends or family?
- What activities do you do to relax with your friends or family?
- What is the most adventurous thing you’ve done with a friend or family member?
