Lesson 1: In-Laws
They really welcomed me with open arms.

I can listen to and understand someone talking about in-laws.

INTRODUCE

Meeting your in-laws can be difficult, but by learning from others’ experiences, you can make sure that you feel confident and make a great first impression.

PRESENT

STEP A EXPRESSIONS

Go over the expressions with your tutor and answer the questions.

    1. Use on one’s father’s/mother’s side to specify whether someone is related to a relative through his/her mother or father.

     

    I have a lot of cousins on my mother’s side.

     

    Q: On which side of your family do you have more cousins?

     

     

    2. Your stepsomething is a person who becomes related to you when one of your parents remarries.

     

    I didn’t get along well with my stepsister because she was almost five years younger than I was.

     

    Q: Do you think you would get along with a stepsister or stepbrother?

     

     

    3. To welcome someone with open arms means to give someone a very enthusiastic, warm welcome.

     

    My girlfriend’s family welcomed me with open arms.

     

    Q: If you had a 15-year-old daughter who introduced her boyfriend to you, would you welcome him with open arms?

STEP B PRONUNCIATION

When the end of one word and the beginning of the next word are the same consonant, the two sounds are often merged.
Phrase Example

father’s side

/ fah-ther sahyd /

That’s my grandma on my / fah-ther sahyd /.

mother’s side

/ muh-ther sahyd /

That’s my grandma on my / muh-ther sahyd /.

UNDERSTAND

LISTENING

Naoki is in Spain on a business trip. He’s talking to his Spanish coworker Miguel over lunch.

TRIVIA

You can use the phrase I’ve got nothing but respect for… to emphasize how much you respect someone.

 

O I’ve got nothing but respect for my mother. She raised me all by herself.

O I’ve got nothing but respect for students who work while they go to school.

PRACTICE

STEP A EXERCISE

Make sentences using the pictures, words, and expressions in the parentheses. The form of some expressions may need to be changed.

(stepsomething)

ex. Amanda / get along well
→ Amanda gets along well with her stepsister.

(welcome someone with open arms)

1. Margaret’s parents / Tomoki

(on one’s father’s side)

2. Eric / not really know anyone

(stepsomething)

3. Tim / always fight

(on one’s mother’s side)

4. James / have coffee with his grandmother / every Sunday

STEP B EXERCISE

Rephrase the sentences using the expressions in the box. The form of some expressions may need to be changed.

on one’s father’s/mother’s side
stepsomething
welcome someone with open arms

ex. My father married a woman with a daughter named Megan. Megan and I are close.
→ My stepsister and I are close.

 

  1. I introduced my fiancé to my mother’s sisters.
  2. Nancy was an only child until her father remarried last year. She now has a brother who is a local politician.
  3. When Jake met his girlfriend’s mom, she greeted him warmly.

CHALLENGE

Challenge 1

Your foreign friend just got engaged and is going to meet his/her future in-laws for the first time next week. He/She’s quite nervous. Listen to a podcast about meeting the in-laws. Then, give your friend some advice.

Today's Expressions

  • on one’s father’s/mother’s side
  • stepsomething
  • welcome someone with open arms

Challenge 2

Discuss your ideas.

If Time
Allows
1

IN-LAWS
2

STEPFAMILIES
3

FAMILY SIDES
1

IN-LAWS

  1. Is it common in Japan to be close with your in-laws?
  2. Did your parents like their in-laws?
  3. What can someone do if his/her in-laws don't like him/her very much?
  4. How much can in-laws affect someone's relationship?

2STEPFAMILIES

  1. Do many people have stepfamilies in Japan?
  2. Why do you think some stepsisters/stepbrothers don’t get along?  
  3. What can stepsisters/stepbrothers do to get along well?
  4. Should members of a stepfamily always be welcomed with open arms?

3FAMILY SIDES

  1. From which side of the family did you get your looks?  
  2. What traits did you get from your mother’s side of the family? What about from your father’s side?  
  3. Which side of the family are you closer to?
  4. On what occasions do relatives from both your father’s and mother’s sides gather together?

FEEDBACK

I can listen to and understand someone talking about in-laws.

LESSON GOAL ACHIEVEMENT

  • 4
    Very Good

    Could complete the task with ease

  • 3
    Good

    Could complete the task with some clarifications

  • 2
    Fair

    Could complete the task with additional instructions

  • 1
    Poor

    Could somehow complete the task with difficulty

PERSONALIZED FEEDBACK