Материал: 2507
of seeing himself, of thinking about himself because of his sibling role, become part of his self-concept.
Older or oldest brother or sister tends to develop a self-concept that includes the belief that “I can do many things better than my siblings can. I am more adequate than other people in many situations.”
The middle child comes to think of himself as sometimes better able to do things than other people because he is more capable than his younger sibling or siblings. Sometimes, though, he must turn to his older sibling or to his parents for help and so he comes to think of himself as able to obtain help when he needs it.
The youngest child tends to think, “I am less able to do many things than other people. But I need not be concerned because there are always
others around to take care of me.” |
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The role we take as the result of being in a certain place in the family not only causes us to think about ourselves in certain ways, but it also causes us to think about other people inДcertain ways. The oldest tends to expect other people to be relatively less capable. The middle child has less specific expectations about the capabilities of other people. The youngest may see others as more adequateАwhile the only child tends to think, “I am most secure when there are parents around to take care of me, but when they are not there, I have noбone to turn to for help. So I’d better learn to take care of myself as much as possible.”
The place in theиfamily establishes for the child a specific role to be played within the family group. It influences him to develop certain attitudes toward himselfСand toward other people and helps him develop specific patterns of behavior.
1. When we are born we take a certain place in … a) the family hierarchy;
b) the local population; c) the certain position.
2. The first child imitates …
a)his/her parents’ behaviour;
b)his/her friends’ habits;
c)his/her youngest brother/sister’s mannerisms.
3. The parents treat the child in accordance with … a) his/her appearance;
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b)his/her school marks;
c)his/her place in the family.
4.… parents become probably less tense and anxious about being able to care for their children properly.
a) After the birth of their second child; b) Having spent two years in Paris;
c) When their first child starts attending grade school.
5.The later children enjoy many advantages...
a)of having more relaxed parents;
b)of loneliness;
c)of their parents’ intense feelings.
6. The child becomes known as the family’s only child, oldest child, mid-
dle child, or youngest child, depending on… |
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a) his birth place; |
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b) his birth order; |
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c) his name. |
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7. Parents usually expect ... |
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a) their youngest child to be more capable and more responsible than the |
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older children. |
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b) their oldest child to be more capable and more responsible than the |
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younger children. |
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c) their oldest child toиbe less capable and less responsible than the young-
er children. С
a) A certain place in the family;
b)The role in the family;
c)Our capabilities.
18. What was the writer’s purpose? How much do you agree with his point? Give the summary of the article. Compare with your partner’s.
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19. Work with a partner. Discuss birth order theory.
Student A: Read statements 1 and 2 aloud, and ask the related questions.
Student B: Cover the left-hand column. Answer the questions. Speak at length using the new vocabulary in any order. The first one has been done for you. Then switch roles after question 2.
Student A |
Student B |
1. Mr. Smith says, “I’m a firstborn from a big |
wind up |
family, so my job was making all the other |
break the ice |
kids feel comfortable.” |
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think of oneself as |
How do you think being “firstborn” affected Mr. Smith? Does this apply to the firstborn in families you know?
E.g. “Being the oldest Mr. Smith always breaks the ice at family gather-
ings. He was marked as the gregarious one. My brother is the firstborn in |
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my family, and he also thinks of himself as the leader of the group. |
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2. According to Frank Sulloway, professor and |
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in the first place |
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author of Born to Rebel: BirthАOrder, Family |
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tend to think |
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Dynamics, and Creative Lives, later-born chil- |
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sibling |
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virtually |
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dren are more adventurous and receptive to in- |
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novation. |
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Why do you think later-born children have this temperament? How does this apply to your family?
Now switch roles
Student A |
Student B |
3. It is said that only children are selfish, arro- |
in the first place |
gant, and self-absorbed. |
widespread |
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wind up |
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think of oneself as |
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Why do you think only children may be like this? Can you apply this idea to a family you know?
Student A |
Student B |
4. Some psychologists say that the middle chil- |
widespread |
dren have the worst reputation. They are either |
parents |
very strange or troublemakers. They go out of |
(in)adequate |
their way to be different and get people to pay |
sibling |
attention to them. |
help |
Why do you think middle children turn out this way? Do you know any real-life examples of middle children like this?
GENERATION GAP
20. Generation gap is a difference in attitude,Иor a lack of understanding, between young people and older Дpeople. Is there a big generation
gap between teenagers and parents in your country? What kinds of
things teenagers argue about? You are going to practise a negotiation
a living room. The teenagers comeАinto the living room in turn. The parent is sitting downиin the living room, perhaps watching TV.
between a teenager and a parent.
Student A: Teenager
Work in pairs. A-students are Teenagers and B-students are Parents. The teenager will start theбactivity outside the classroom, which is now
You need to borrowСyour parents’ car next Saturday to go out for the day
with some friends. Persuade your parent to let you have the car. You are really looking forward to the trip which has been planned for some time. You haven’t asked your parents before now because one of your friends was going to take his car, but unfortunately it’s not working and is being repaired.
•The last time you borrowed the car a small mark appeared on the door while it was parked. You offered to pay but your parents refused.
•You often wash the car and your parents appreciate this. Next Sunday you are free and can wash the car.
Student B: Parent
Think of one aspect of your son/daughter’s behaviour that you are not happy with and want to talk to him/her about: –––––––––––––––––––––––––
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––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– . Next Saturday afternoon you have planned a visit to your parents (your son/daughter’s grandparents).
You want your son/daughter to go with you, but you haven’t told him/her yet. Your parents are getting quite old and they asked especially to see your son/daughter this time.
• Your son/daughter keeps asking to borrow your car. You don’t like this. The last time it came back with a small mark on the door. You had to pay, of course.
• Very occasionally your son/daughter offers to clean your car for you, which you appreciate very much. Next Sunday would be a good day for him/her to clean the car.
21. Would you like to marry a prince/princess?ИWhy? What would you Д
do if you were this prince? Would YOU marry the eldest king’s daughter?
marry the woman you choose”. А“That’s easy”, said the prince, and King Ottar put all his daughtersиbehind the wall that has some space at the bot-
One day a young prince arrived at the castle of king Ottar and fell in love
with the king’s youngest daughter, who was very beautiful. “You can only
the same. Suddenly, one ofбthe feet moved and so the prince said “that’s the woman I love”.
marry my daughter”, said the king, “if you can recognise her, and you must
tom, so the prince could only see seven pairs of feet, and the feet all looked С
Unfortunatelly, it was not; it was King Ottar’s eldest daughter who was not at all beautiful, but the prince had to marry her. In fact, she was extremely intelligent and had a good sense of humuor, so that very soon the prince did fall in love with her and they lived happily ever after. The moral of this story is that love is a very unreliable thing.
22. Check the meaning and pronunciation of the words in the box in your dictionary or with your teacher. Then write the words in the correct column below.
Long; round; dark-skinned; auburn; clever; sociable; gregarious; straight; bold; slim; good-looking; scruffy; beautiful; handsome; stocky; easy-going; reliable; jealous; down-to-earth; stupid; tense; ill-mannered; rude; skinny; blond; fair; crew-cut; beard; chubby; honest; generous;
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