Pros and Cons of Having Only One Child

1. unit 6

2. Unit6

3. Cultural information Audiovisual supplement Reading aloud Reading aloud Pre-reading Activities -Reading aloud1 Read the following sentences aloud, paying special attention to strong and weak forms. Strong forms are boldfaced and in red, while weak forms are italicized and underlined. 1. 2. Thatis whatso many couples arevery much concerned about and eager to understand. Some thinkthis may leave the child less capable of interacting well with people his or her own agethan one who has been raised with siblings.

4. Cultural information Audiovisual supplement Reading aloud Pre-reading Activities -Reading aloud2 For some single-child parents, particularlythose with busy careers,the pressures of devoting time and energy to a second child can seem too overwhelming, resulting in them electing tohave no more children. This often leadsto increased self-esteem which, combined withincreased independence,canleadto the child beingmore confident. 3. 4. 5. Unfortunately,there isno simple answer to the question ofwhetherornotto have a second child.

5. Cultural information Audiovisual supplement Reading aloud Cultural information 1. Quote Socrates: Children today are tyrants. They contradict their parent, gobble their food, and tyrannize their teachers. Cultural information1

6. Cultural information Audiovisual supplement Reading aloud 2. Children from One-Child Families Cultural information2 Some people think that children from only-child families have more merits than shortcomings. Firstly, they value free will and will not accept orders blindly. Secondly, they love trying out new methods and are full of creative ideas. Thirdly, they expect others to treat them as indispensable partners of the team.

7. Cultural information Audiovisual supplement Reading aloud However, some people believe that the only children have more shortcomings than merits. Cultural information3 Many are heavily dependent on parents. And some never learn to do household chores. It is even worse that some tend to be spoiled and self-centered. They are “the little emperors” in families and schools. What do you think?

8. Opening of a two-child per family policy

9. Cultural information Audiovisual supplement Reading aloud Audiovisual supplement Pre-reading Activities-Audiovisual supplements1 Watch a video clip and answer the following questions. 1. What is the children’s relationship in the video? And what’s the relationship between the women and the children? They are brothers and sisters in one big family. And the woman is their new governess. This video is from a famous movie The Sound of Music.

10. Cultural information Audiovisual supplement Reading aloud 2. Are you from a one-child family? Can you imagine living with so many brothers and sisters? Pre-reading Activities-Audiovisual supplements2 Open.

11. Cultural information Audiovisual supplement Reading aloud Pre-reading Activities-Audiovisual supplements3

12. Cultural information Audiovisual supplement Reading aloud Maria: Gretl: Maria: Marta: Maria: Gretl? Are you scared? … You’re not frightened of a thunderstorm, are you? You just stay right here with me. Where are the others? They are asleep. They are not scared. Oh, no? Look. Alright, everybody. Up here on the bed. Really? Well, just this once. Come on. Now, all we have to do is to wait for the boys. Video Script1 Louisa: Maria: You won’t see them. Boys are brave. You boys weren’t scared, too, were you?

13. Cultural information Audiovisual supplement Reading aloud Friedrich: Maria: Friedrich: Maria: Maria: Oh, no. We just wanted to be sure that you weren’t. That’s very thoughtful of you, Friedrich. It wasn’t my idea. It was Kurt’s. Kurt! That’s the one I left out. God bless Kurt. Why does it do that? Video Script2 Maria: Marta: Maria: Marta: Well, the lightning says something to the thunder, and the thunder answers back. The lightning must be nasty. Not really. Then why does the thunder get so angry? It makes me want to cry.

14. Cultural information Audiovisual supplement Reading aloud Maria: When anything bothers me and I’m feeling unhappy, I just try to think of nice things. Video Script3 Children: Maria: What kind of things? Oh, well, let me see. Nice things … Daffodils! Green meadows. Skies full of stars … Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens … Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens. Brown paper packages tied up with strings … These are a few of my favorite things.

15. Structural analysis Text analysis Text analysis Global Reading-Text analysis1 What is this expositive text concerned with? This text is concerned with the pros and cons of . In other words, the text deals with the typical of not having a second child. The text discusses them in an tone. having only one child _______________________ advantages and disadvantages _________________________________ objective ___________

16. Structural analysis Text analysis 2. What is the writer’s answer to the question of whether or not to have a second child? Global Reading-Text analysis2 It goes as follows: “… there is no simple answer to the question of whether or not to have a second child. The circumstances affecting each set of parents are unique, and what is appropriate for one family may not be for another. The important thing, in the end, is to make a decision that both you and your spouse feel confident about.”

17. Structural analysis Text analysis Structural analysis Structural analysis 1 1. Divide the text into parts by completing the table. It puts forward the issue of whether or not to have a second child, and mentions parents’ concern whether an only child necessarily means a lonely child. Two common arguments against having only one child in the family are presented.

18. Structural analysis Text analysis Structural analysis 2 The author cites specific figures and facts to show that despite the disadvantages  many parents still choose to have only one child, and he also points out some causes of their decision. The author briefly states the advantages of having a single child.

19. Structural analysis Text analysis Structural analysis 3 It concludes that there is no simple answer to the question of whether or not to have a second child, and that the important thing, in the end, is to make the decision that a couple both feel confident about.

20. Structural analysis Text analysis 2. Some words used at the beginning of a paragraph make it easier for the reader to understand the coherence of the whole text, such as Another at the beginning of Paragraph 3, Despite ofParagraph 4, and Unfortunately of Paragraph 7. Can you explain how they function? Structural analysis 4

21. Structural analysis Text analysis Structural analysis 5 The word “Another” used at the beginning of Paragraph 3 implies that at least one argument has been presented earlier. “Despite these arguments …” prepares readers for something against their expectations, i.e. many parents still choose to have one child although the disadvantages of doing so have just been clearly presented.

22. Structural analysis Text analysis Structural analysis 5 “Unfortunately” tells readers that there follows something disappointing, i.e. the author fails to provide a definite answer to the questions raised at the beginning of the text.