VOCABULARY: FAMILY

Dear students,

After having started a new unit about family and relationships, here is another post for you to improve your vocabulary!

 This time we will be looking at a new word:  blended family. A blended family is one formed from previous, unsuccessful relationships and replaces the old term, stepfamily. I don’t actually like this phrase; it suggests they’ve all been mixed up in a food processor, and I think it is a victim of the current fashion for everything to be blended: blended learning and blended search are just a couple of examples. I admit, however, that blended family is both effective and clear in its meaning.

What do you think?

Hope you have enjoyed learning this new word!

EXERCISES

1. Vocabulary  . -   Look at the family tree and complete the sentences.

Emily is Peter’s ___sister_______________________

Peter is Emily’s ______________________________

Jack is Emily’s _______________________________

Amelia is Peter’s _____________________________

George is Katherina’s _________________________

Katherina is Emily and Peter’s ___________________

2.- Listening- Comprenhesion

As we have been learning the topic of “Extended Family“, how about practicing your listening skills?

Meeting the Extended Family – In this episode we hear about couples’ experiences of meeting their partners’ families.

Access the website

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/specials/2011/04/110325_royal_series_3_page.shtml

Listen to the story and answer the following questions:

• Section one: 

1. What word do William and Kate both use to describe each other’s families?

2. Does William like Kate’s parents?

• Section two:

3. Where did David – unintentionally – first meet Jennifer’s mum?

4. What did Jennifer’s mum cook which David discovered he is allergic to?

You can read the audio script
http://wsdownload.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/pdf/2011/03/110331145827_bbc_royal_romance_3.pdf

3.-Reading- Comprehension Practice

Read the following birth announcement. Then answer the questions below it.
(Answers are at the bottom of the page.)

Paul and Kerry Campbell would like to welcome their new son Christopher Casey to the clan! Weighing 4.2 kilograms, Chris was born on September 2nd at 3:30pm. He will join his sister Rachel, 6 and his brother Malcolm, 4 in the Campbell household in Vancouver, Canada. Christopher's proud aunts Kathy Campbell and Sherry Smith were present at his birth. Grandparents, Lisa and Mike Smith were also present. Chris's grandmother in Texas will be arriving soon to meet her new grandson. Cousins Jerry, Fern, and Lindsay can't wait to meet baby Chris too! The proud parents would like to thank all of their extended family for the warm wishes and gifts.

1. What is Christopher's mother's name?
2. Who are Christopher's siblings?
3. How is Kathy Campbell related to the newborn?
4. Who will be coming to see Chris soon ?
5. Who is Kathy in relation to Kerry?

4.-Writing Practice

A) Create your own birth announcement. You don't have to include all of your family members. Make sure to mention some of your extended relatives. Which family members were present at the time of your birth? Post your birth announcement on your Touchstone blog.

B) Create your own English family tree. Add the names of your family members in the correct spots. Or, create a graph, indicating how many siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents you have.

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Reading Practice Answers:

1. Christopher's mother's name is Kerry.
2. Christopher's siblings are Rachel and Malcolm.
3. Kathy Campbell is Christopher's aunt.
4. Chris's grandmother will be coming to see him soon.
5. Kathy is Kerry's sister-in-law.

Have fun!