Дополнительные материалы к теме «Семья»
(11 класс)
Коммуникативная задача:
· Сравнить институт семьи в Республике Беларусь и в стране изучаемого языка.
Материалы подготовлены учителем английского языка квалификационной категории «учитель-методист» государственного учреждения образования «Средняя школа №6 г. Жодино» Коледа С.М.
FAMILY INSTITUTE IN BELARUS AND GREAT BRITAIN
1. Work in pairs to identify what family is for you.
2. Do you know any quotations/ proverbs about family?
3. How do you understand the following quotations?
§ «Family is the most important thing in the world». (Princess Diana)
§ «At the end of the day, a loving family should find everything forgivable». ( Mark V. Olsen)
§ «Call it a clan, call it a network, call it a tribe and call it a family: whatever you call it, whoever you are, you need one». (Jane Howard)
§ «The only rock I know that stays steady, the only institution I know that works, is the family». (Lee Iacocca)
§ «You are born into your family and your family is born into you. No returns. No exchanges». (Elizabeth Berg)
4. What is family institute based on? Read the text and find differences and similarities in Belarusian and British family institutes.
A human life begins in the family; here it is formed as a citizen. The family is a source of love, respect, solidarity and affection because it is based on what any civilized society can’t exist. The family is considered to be the measure of development and stability of the country. The family, as an institute of socialization, is the keeper of human values and culture of generations. Thanks to the family the state gets stronger and develops, the prosperity of the people is growing. The main options of family are:
· preservation and transfer from the generation to generation the values and traditions
· the birth and upbringing of children
· creating conditions for the development of all family members
· division of labor and mutual support
The institution of family has three important functions:
· To provide for the rearing of children
· To provide a sense of identity or belonging among its members
· To transmit culture between generations
However globalization bears new threats to a family institute. The forms of the family relations, wrong from the point of view of traditional morals, which have ripened in the foreign cultural environment, get also into the Belarusian society. In 2011 «The national program of demographic safety of the Republic of Belarus for 2011-2015» was adopted. One of the main objectives of the National program is strengthening the spiritual and moral bases of a family, revival and promotion of family values and traditions. The program demonstrates concern of the state in a condition of the family relations in the country. Supervising the social sphere it is necessary to take all necessary measures to stop depopulation of the nation.
As we see it today, the marriage in Belarus is the same as in England. Primarily it’s love, equality in relationships, compliance with the rules and arrangements, mutual respect and understanding. Family is a mobile social institute. Modern Belarusian families are characterized by the increasing age of marriage, delaying childbirth (the average age of women who are ready to give birth is about 28). Last year about 118 thousand children were born and it is the biggest number over the past 20 years. About 50% of children are born to be the second and subsequent. A number of orphans are decreasing. The critics suppose that happiness of the family depends on the members of the family. If father was brought up strictly he will bring up his child in such a way.
In Great Britain nowadays for creating family it’s necessary to observe four criteria: voluntary nature, 16 years old, people who marry shouldn’t be linked by other marriage and not be close relatives. It is forbidden to enter into marriage not only with people related by blood, but also with people who marriage is impossible with because of the moral foundations of the family itself. For example, a widower can’t marry his daughter in law or step-daughter. For British families marriage involves partnership, equal rules and duties. It was usual that marriages were just political deals. Parents could choose a partner for their child. Sometimes parents could find a partner when their child was at the age of 3. But in 2015 the law was taken and since then everybody should find his or her partner without parents. Walking along the streets in Britain it is practically impossible to see children with young mothers, only with middle aged women or men. It is because women give the birth to their first child very late. At first the British care about becoming financially independent and just after it about creating a family. Despite the late marriage it is usual to have up to 3 children. It is an interesting fact that grannies and grandfathers never help young families in children’s upbringing. Of course they love their grandsons or granddaughters and can take them at weekends but not more. There are a large number of various circles, sections, playgrounds for children in the UK. It is very convenient for mothers who spend all day at work and can't spend much time with children. The British have a patient character which helps to educate children. For example, mother can very long suffer the antics of her children and all his whims will be met only with a kind smile. From a very early age the children are taught to society and life that surrounds them. Parents often take their children with them to stores, bars or cafes. In every public place there are rooms for children where you can leave the child under supervision, change clothes or feed him. The UK is one of the safest countries with the least accidents occur with children. The relationship of husband and wife to each other in the UK can probably be called the ideal of family life.
5. Using a critical thinking approach express your attitude to the following information taken from Belarus featured in US Today. What information do you agree/ disagree with? Why? Why not?
6. Why in your opinion one of the most important objectives of the National program in Belarus is to strengthen the spiritual and moral bases of a family? Can you use this picture to answer the question? Why? Why not?
