Step 2: Discussing and practicing

1. Look at each picture carefully. There are four pictures here. First of all, I'd like you to imagine the situation and try to describe it with your own words.

　(The teacher can show an example to students by describing the first picture.)

　Last Sunday, after leaving school, Li Ping went home feeling extremely tired. He wanted to have a good rest and relax. When his parents said hello to him, he was so impatient that he didn't say anything and went straight to his own bedroom. Though his parents were very confused, they didn't ask him why and continued with the cooking. After a while, loud music came from Li Ping's bedroom. His mother was very angry and she rushed into his room.

2. Now please talk about each picture as fully as possible in groups of four and share your opinions with your partners. Better not let go the chance to speak. I will invite some of you to report back your descriptions.

3. Do you think there is a generation gap between you and your parents? Does the generation gap really exist? How do you overcome the gap?

Sample answers

A. Yes, sometimes my parents try and interfere in my life and make my decisions for me. My parents want me to be a lawyer, but I want to be a writer or a journalist. We argue a lot about what subjects I should study at university and which job I should get. I spend much of my time working on the school newspaper, but my parents say I should concentrate first on my subjects and forget about extra-curricular activities. They think if I waste my time on these activities, I won't get good enough grades to attend a good university.

　　They also try to control my home life a lot. My mother is always asking me to help with the cooking and keep my room clean, but I just want to relax and listen to music or chat to my friends on the Internet. My father wants me to take extra maths lessons at the weekend, but I think I need time to have fun with friends as well as study.

B. My parents want to control my life too. We argue about my grades and study almost every day. Whenever I feel angry with my parents, I talk it over with my best friend. I don't expect that she will have a better solution to the problem than me, but I can express my inner feelings to her better than to my parents. Unlike my parents, who shout at me and say I am wrong and bad for not wanting the same things as them, my friend understands completely what I am feeling. We have the same dreams and ambition.