Let’s talk about Relationships Conversation cards

Where can people find a (life) partner? Make a list of likely places to meet someone.

How did your parents and grandparents meet each other? Was it any different from now?

Do you have a partner? If so, where did you meet them?

Once you (think you) have found Mr(s) Right, what would you do next?

How can you increase your chances of finding a partner?

- as a man - as a woman

What do you look for in a potential partner? Make a list of qualities and put them in order of importance.

Do you think the Internet is a good way to find a partner? Explain your point of view. Make a list of pros and cons.

Have you ever written a real love letter (not email)? How do people in love communicate nowadays?

Finding a partner using the Internet has become popular. Do you know any dating websites? How do they work?

What is speed dating? Have you ever done it? Would you do it? What are its (dis)advantages?

Sometimes people already in a relationship have an affair. Why would they do this?

What is a long-distance relationship? Do you think they work?

What are the advantages of being single? Brainstorm.

What do you think of arranged marriages? Do they still exist? Where? Can they work?

In some cultures bigamy or even polygamy is allowed. Are you in favour or against this? Why?

What are the advantages of being married? Brainstorm.

Can you die of a broken heart? What advice can you give to someone who has just been dumped?

What do the words cheating and adultery mean? Explain in your own words.

Put in sequence get married ask for a date fall out of love fancy someone get divorced fall in love go on honeymoon get engaged

Note: 7 and 8 are ‘optional’

Group work Make a list of love songs or ballads you know. Use the Internet to find the lyrics of your favourite song. Copy and paste the lyrics into a Word document. Blank out a word every (other) line. Download the music or video. Play the song in the classroom. Your classmates have to find the missing words.

Example: first verse of Love Hurts (Nazarath) Love hurts, love ..................... Love wounds, and marks, any ....................., not tough, or strong, enough to take a lot of ....................., take a lot of pain love is like a ..................... Holds a lot of ..................... Love hurts, ooh ooh love hurts

Put in sequence get married 5 ask for a date 2 fall out of love 7 fancy someone 1 get divorced 8 fall in love 3 go on honeymoon 6 get engaged 4

Note: 7 and 8 are ‘optional’

At work, at a club, pub, bar; at a fitness centre, at a sports centre, on holiday, etc. (answers may vary)

Answers may vary.

Answers may vary.

Answers may vary.

Answers may vary. E.g. As a man: be a gentleman, be polite, don’t be pushy, give compliments etc. As a woman: Be yourself, don’t be negative, don’t play ‘hard to get’ etc.

Answers may vary. They should be smart, good-looking, rich, have a sense of humour, fit and healthy, etc.

Answers may vary. E.g. Pro: it’s easy, accessible, cheap, anonymous etc. Cons: You could end up meeting an axe murderer, people lie on the Net etc.

Answers may vary.

Answers may vary.

Speed dating: An organized meeting in which people talk to potential partners for a short time in rotation to assess whether there is mutual interest.

Answers may vary. E.g. They fall in love with someone else, their marriage has become a bore,

Long-distance relationship or LDR is typically an intimate relationship that takes place when the partners are separated by a considerable distance.

Answers may vary.

Arranged marriage: is a marriage arranged by someone other than the couple getting wedded, curtailing or avoiding the process of courtship. Answers may vary.

Bigamy: having two wives or two husbands at the same time Polygamy: having multiple wives or two husbands at the same time

Answers may vary.

There are plenty of fish in the sea. Answers may vary.

Cheating: To be sexually unfaithful (to your partner or spouse) Adultery: Sexual intercourse between a married person and a third party.

Group work or alternative: Instead of letting the students do the group work, you could prepare an adequate song with cloze worksheet yourself. Search ESLprintables for lyrics and worksheet.

Fill in the gaps with words from the box. There are four extra words.

Dear Abby,

Ken and I met at a dance about five years ago. We started

………………. together and before long we both realized we were in

love.

We wanted to wait until he had finished his studies before we

……….…………. Anyway, we …………………….. before he went to

college.

After four years, the big day finally arrived. The ………………….

was wonderful. Everybody said I was the most beautiful

……………… they had ever seen! When the priest said, ‘I now

pronounce you man and wife’, everyone could see how happy I

was. Outside the church I threw my …………….. as high as I could

and my sister Alice caught it.

But a few months afterwards Ken and I started to argue about

silly things, and not long after I found out that I …………………

he decided to leave me. He said he was too young to change

………………. He left some time before little Sally’s ……………..

I don’t know what to do. I still love him, but he wants to

…………………………

Should I agree?

Yours,

Catherine

was born going out get married bouquet nappies

got engaged birth get divorced bride was pregnant

honeymoon wedding got married anniversary

Answers

going out

got married

got engaged

wedding

bride

bouquet

was pregnant

nappies

birth

get divorced

Person A

Do you believe that true love exists? Why/not? Is there only one true, perfect partner out there for each person, which implies that all others

are a mistake? Why/not? Could you love only one person forever? Why/not? Is romance dead in the modern, fast-paced world of today? Why/not? What five things does a successful relationship require, the absence of which will surely cause

unhappiness and heartbreak? Why do you think so? What is the craziest thing you have done in the name of love? How about the stupidest thing?

The funniest? Why did you do these things? Which is more important, presents with few physical signs of affection, or a lot of hand

holding, hugs, and kisses with few presents? Why? Please describe the perfect date. Then explain if and when this has ever happened to you. If it

hasn't happened to you, then why not? Which nationality tends towards producing the best spouses and partners? Why? Now for the opposite: Which nationality tends towards producing the worst husbands, wives,

and partners? Why? Who's better at love, relationships, and romance, men or women? Why do you think so? Why are people getting married later and later nowadays?

Could you love someone you found physically unattractive? Why/not? Is it possible for long-distance relationships to ever work? If yes, what do you consider

essential requirements for their success? Does love get stronger as the relationship continues? How about after many years?

Why do men and women have such difficulty communicating with one another? What would you do if your long-term partner said, "I don't love you, and I'm not sure if I've

ever loved you." How often can you see your boyfriend/girlfriend in a week without demanding space and free

time of your own? Do you think his/her answer would be different from yours? If you and your partner spoke different mother-tongues, would the relationship be easier or

more difficult? Why do you think so? If you and your partner didn't possess a common language whatsoever, would the relationship

be easier or more difficult? Why do you think so?

Person B Do you think getting married means giving up freedom? Do you think if you get married that you will change? Do you think it is better to be single or to be married? Do you think it is good to get married? Do you think it is okay for a couple to live together before getting married? Why or Why not? Do you think it is okay to marry someone of a different race? Do you think it is okay to marry someone with a different religion? Do you think it's OK for a man to have two wives? Do you think it's OK for a wife to have two husbands? Do you think it's okay for a man to have a mistress? Do you think it's okay for a man to hit his wife? Do you think love is necessary to have a good marriage? Do you think marriage is necessary? Do you think marriages based on love are more successful than arranged marriages? Do you think marriage is very stressful for women? How about for men? Do you think people change after getting married? Do you think religion influences marriage? If so, in what ways? Do you think that all adults should be married?

At what age do most people in your country get married? At what age do you want to get married?

At what age did you get married? Describe a perfect date. Describe the appearance of the person you would like to date? Describe the character of the person you would like to date? Do women usually work after getting married in your country? Do you "go Dutch" when dating? Do you know what it means to 'go Dutch'? Is it usual for people in your country to 'go Dutch' if you go out together? Do older girls/boys have a problem dating younger girls/boys?

Do younger girls/boys have a problem dating older girls/boys? Do you believe in love at first sight?

Do you think some people know that they will fall in love with someone the first time they meet? Do you know what a 'blind date' is? Have you ever been on a blind date? Did you ever arrange a blind date? Do you drive or take the train when dating? Do you get along with your in-laws? Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend?

Where did you meet your him/her? What does he/she look like?

Do you know anyone who has had an arranged marriage? Do you know someone who has gotten a divorce? Do you know the difference between love and like?

Can you still love your partner and not like him/her? Do you think a boy should pay for everything on a date? Do you think arranged marriages are a good idea? Why or why not?

What is your opinion of arranged marriages?