Lesson 9: Extended Family - English with Lee

17 Apr

17Apr

DIALOGUE

In this lesson, your tutor will help you go over this topic: Extended Family. First, read the following dialogue out loud with your tutor, then switch roles and try again.

Dorothy and Kevin are talking about their relatives.

Kevin:		Do you have any plans for this long holiday?
Dorothy:		I’ll be at a family reunion at my grandfather’s house. He usually invites all of us.
Kevin:		Oh! That’s nice. Where does he live?
Dorothy:		He has a ranch in the countryside of southern California. Everyone loves visiting his house because he has four horses and we can go horseback riding.
Kevin:		Wow, your grandfather sounds like an awesome person! How many relatives are coming to the reunion?
Dorothy:		Let’s see…It will be my family, my uncle’s family, my aunt’s family, and all of my cousins’ family. That’s more than 20 people. I can’t wait to see my newborn niece, Lily!
Kevin:		That’s a big reunion!
Dorothy:		Well, my grandfather is a very family-oriented man.
Kevin:		He sure is!
Dorothy:		I’m glad he is like this. I have so many good memories with my extended family.

VOCABULARY

Go over the following vocabulary and expressions with your tutor. Read the word/expression and definition out loud, and your tutor will go over anything you do not understand. Practice creating a sentence or two to make sure you know how to use the word/expression properly.

Vocabulary/ Expressions

Expression

Definition

Example

extended family

a family that extends beyond the nuclear family; includes aunts, uncles, and cousins.

She bought a big house to live with her extended family.

long holiday

holidays that are three days or longer

I plan to go to the Bahamas during the long holiday.

family reunion

a family gathering

My relatives will have a family reunion in August.

grandfather
grandmother
grandparents

a parent of your mother or father

My grandfather and grandmother are very friendly.

ranch

a large farm especially in the U.S. where animals (such as cattle, horses, and sheep) are raised

Dorothy’s grandfather lives on a big ranch.

relative

a person related by blood or marriage

Most of my relatives live in my hometown.

immediate (or nuclear) family

a family that includes a person’s parents, spouses, siblings, and children

Most Americans spend the New Year with their immediate families.

newborn

recently born

The newborn baby was so small.

niece/nephew

a daughter/son of your brother or sister

My niece has so much energy that I’m always ready for a nap after seeing her.

family-oriented

consider family as a top priority

I’m so lucky to have such family-oriented parents.

EXERCISE

Practice answering the following questions with your tutors. You can use the sample answers to come up with your own answer.

Does your family have family reunions?
1. We usually get together on New Year’s Day.
2. The last family reunion was on my grandfather’s birthday.
3. Your answer:_______________________________
Do you see your extended family often?
1. I see my extended family once or twice a year.
2. I live very near my relatives, so we see each other often.
3. Your answer:_______________________________
Are you close to your grandparents?
1. Yes, I call my grandma every weekend.
2. No, they passed away when I was very young.
3. Your answer:_______________________________
Where do your relatives live?
1. Most of my cousins moved away from my hometown, but aunts and uncles live near my grandpa’s place.
2. My relatives live all over the world.
3. Your answer:_______________________________
What do you do during family reunions?
1. We normally have dinner together and play board games.
2. My family usually goes on trips for family reunions.
3. Your answer:_______________________________

CONVERSATION

Use the following questions as a guideline to form an interesting conversation with your tutor. Feel free to diverge from these suggestions if anything interesting comes up.

Who are you closest to in your extended family?
Describe your memories with your grandparents.
Who’s the oldest relative you remember? What do you remember about him or her?
Do you think having regular family reunions is important?
Are you a family-oriented person?

WRAP-UP

Go over any new expressions or vocabulary that you learned today.

Beginner Curriculum

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