Straight Talk

SSTTRRAAIIGGHHTT TTAALLKK::
BByy
JJoosseepphh NN.. WWddoowwsskkii;; MM..SS.. EEdd..
Revised Edition: 2014

1
Straight Talk: English Usage on the University Level
Taiwan Edition
August 2000
Revised 2014
By Joseph N. Wdowski
Edited by
Andrew Berriman; Ph.D.
with
Torin Alter; Ph.D. and Peter Lin; Ph.D, Veronica Z. Wdowski

2
STRAIGHT TALK:
English Usage on the University Level
By
Joseph N. Wdowski, M.S. Ed.
UNIT ONE
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION: Where are we, and why are we here?
Key Vocabulary and Sentences. ….............…………………………………………...6-8
LESSON ONE: Where are We? …………………………………………………… 9-11
Compass, practice dialogs.
LESSON TWO: Opposites.…………………….………………………........……. 12-13
Thinking of opposites.
LESSON THREE: University. ………………………………………………......…...14
What is the purpose of a university?
LESSON FOUR: Giving and Taking Directions. ………………………………..15-16
Learning how to give and ask for directions.
LESSON FIVE: Points of View. ……………………………………………………....17
The story of a car accident and understanding different points of view.
UNIT TWO
FAMILY: Who are our relations?
Key Vocabulary and Sentences. ………………………………………………….. 18-20
LESSON ONE: Family Structures. ……………………………………………….21-23
Understanding different types of family structures and terms for family members.
LESSON TWO: Follow-up Questions. …………………………………………... 23-24
Learning how to make follow-up questions, getting more information from
a person’s answers.
LESSON THREE: Generations. …………………………………………………..24-25
Learning about the differences between generations.
LESSON FOUR: Points-of-View. …………………………………………………25-29
Looking at the family from different points-of-view.

3
UNIT THREE
RELATIONSHIPS: So, how is our love life?
Key Vocabulary and Sentences. …………………………………………………. 30-32
LESSON ONE: Likes and Dislikes. ……………………………………………… 32-37
Understanding and using “like”, “dislike”, “love”, “hate”, “in love”, “indifferent”.
LESSON TWO: Tradition vs. Modern. …………………………………………. 38-41
Changing from a traditional to modern society.
LESSON THREE: Male-Female Relationships. …………………………………42-45
Understanding the relationships between men and women.
LESSON FOUR: Dating. …………………………………………………………. 46-47
Understanding the modern concept of dating.
LESSON FIVE: Blind Date. ……………………………………………………… 47-49
Talking on the telephone, and setting up a blind date.
UNIT FOUR
PERSONALITIES: Who are we really?
Key Vocabulary and Sentences. ………………………………………………..…50-56
LESSON ONE: Personality. ……………………………………………………... 57-63
Exploring our and others’ personalities and how to describe people.
LESSON TWO: Insults vs. Compliments. …………………………………….... 63-68
Learning how not to be offended and how not to offend.
LESSON THREE: Story Development. ……………………………………….… 69-71
Story structure and character development.
UNIT FIVE
OCCUPATIONS: So, what do we do for a living?
LESSON ONE: Opposites. …………………………………………………………….83
Counterparts of different occupations.

4
LESSON TWO: Comparisons. …………………………………………………… 84-93
Comparing different occupations to each other.
LESSON THREE: Ten Questions. ………………………………………………. 93-94
A questioning game to guess different occupations.
UNIT SIX
ASKING FOR & GIVING ADVICE: What should we do?
LESSON ONE: Personal Problems. …………………………………………..... 99-103
Understanding and dealing with personal problems.
LESSON TWO: Logical vs. Illogical. ………………………………………..... 103-106
Learning to use logic in language.
LESSON THREE: Objective vs. Subjective. …………………………………..107-108
Understanding the difference between objective and subjective.
LESSON FOUR: Media Literacy. …………………………………………….. 109-113
Learning to critically think about the media.
LESSON FIVE: Advice Columnist. …………………………………………… 113-116
The Love Czar giving and asking for advice about love.
LESSON SIX: Film Critic. …………………………………………………….. 116-119
Critiquing the movies; how it’s done.
UNIT SEVEN
LAW & ORDER: How can we improve society?
Key Vocabulary and Sentences. ……………………………………………….. 120-123
LESSON ONE: Rules & Law. …………………………………………………. 124-125
Learning to make and understand rules and laws.
LESSON TWO: Victimless Crimes. …………………………………………………125
Victimless crimes, what are they? Group decision-making.
LESSON THREE: Sexual Crimes. …………………………………………………. 126
Understanding and defining sexual crimes.
LESSON FOUR: Debating. ………………………………………………………… 127
Controversial issues and defending the opposing argument.

5
LESSON FIVE: Individualism vs. Selfishness. ………………………………...128-130
Understanding and recognizing the difference between individualism
and selfishness.
LESSON SIX: Paraphrasing. …………………………………………………...130-131
Learning to put it into your own words, yet not losing the meaning.
LESSON SEVEN: Etiquette. …………………………………………………... 132-136
Learning how to behave in polite society.
UNIT EIGHT
THINKING AHEAD: What will we make of the future?
Key Vocabulary and Sentences. ………………………………………………...137-139
LESSON ONE: Plans. ………………………………………………………….. 139-141
Making plans, thinking things out before doing them.
LESSON TWO: Predictions. ……………………………………………………142-144
Predicting what will happen, guessing about the future.
LESSON THREE: What If. ………………………………………………………….145
Answering hypothetical questions.
LESSON FOUR: The Scientific Method. ……………………………………... 146-148
Learning the scientific method, theories and experiments.
LESSON FIVE: Difficult Decisions. …………………………………………... 148-150
Being decisive, choosing the lesser of two evils.
LESSON SIX: Preventions. ……………………………………………………..150-152
Avoiding the unpleasant, preventing disaster.

6
UNIT ONE
LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION:
Where are we, and why are we here?
Key Vocabulary and Phrases: [class lecture]
Agree: To have the same opinion as another. Opposite: disagree.
Bearings: Knowing where one is in association with other things or
places.
Billion: 1,000,000,000.
Block, a: The length of road between two intersections (crossroads).
Campus: The grounds or land that a school is on.
Coast: Where the land meets the ocean. The shore.
College: A school of learning to study for and obtain a four year degree (a
Bachelor’s Degree) [Taiwanese English “University Degree”]
Compass: A device/tool used to find direction.
North/South/East/West.
Continent: The largest land masses. Asia, Africa, Antarctica, Australia,
Europe, North America, and South America.
Corner: The point where two lines, surfaces, or edges meet and
form an angle: the four corners of a square.
Crossroads: The point where two roads cross or intersect.
Degree: A document (diploma) that proves that a person has
completed his or her studies at a college, Jr. college, high
school, or graduate school.
Derogatory: A way of describing something or someone in a hurtful,
insulting, or intolerant way.
Diploma: A document (degree) which proves that a person has
completed his or her studies at a college, Jr. college, high
school, or graduate school.
Disagree: Not to have the same opinion or even to have the opposite
opinion. Opposite: agree.
Dormitory: Building on campus where students live, sleep, and study.
Earth: The planet (world) we live on.
Fact: What is true and known; that which can be proven.
Fork in the road: (1) A point where a road splits into two different directions.
(2) A time in one’s life when a decision must be made in
which direction one’s future will go.
Galaxy: A group of billions of stars, and their worlds and satellites.
Graduate school: School of higher learning to study for a Master’s (M.A.,
M.S., M.B.A.) or a doctoral degree (Ph.D.)
Half a block: Half the distance between two road intersections.
Intersection: The point where two roads cross or intersect.
Intolerance: Disagreeing with others with anger and/or hate.
Opposite: tolerance.

7
Island: A land mass surrounded by water. Example: Taiwan, the
Japans, Manhattan, Ireland, Britain, and the Philippines.
Junior college: A school of higher learning to study and obtain a two-year
degree (an Associate Degree [Taiwanese English “College
Degree”]).
Light-year: The distance light travels in one year. (5.88 trillion miles;
9.46 trillion kilometers)
Lunar: Having to do with the moon. For example, the traditional
Chinese calendar is a lunar calendar. Time is measured by
the cycles of the moon as it revolves around the Earth.
Opposite: Solar calendar.
Major: (1) The main area of study a person takes when going for a
bachelor’s, associate, or Master’s degree. (2) A most
important thing or reason.
Map: A drawing or chart of a place or area to show location.
Milky Way Galaxy, The: The name of the galaxy we live in.
Million: 1,000,000.
Minor: (1) A secondary area of study that a person takes when
going for a bachelor’s degree. (2) A thing or reason that is
not very important. (3) A person under age; a child or
teenager.
Moon: A small planetary world that orbits another larger planet.
Off the coast: Something that is in the ocean or sea near a coast or shore.
Example: the ship or island is off the coast.
Opinion: What one thinks about things: personal philosophy; point of
view.
Opposite: The negative of something; that which is the most different
of something else. Example: Boy is the opposite of girl.
Orbit: To go around something; to revolve. Example: the Earth
orbits the Sun. His orbit of friends are good students.
Philosophy: A person’s opinion about things. The way one sees or
explains the universe. Taiwanese English: One’s thinking
way.
Point of view: An opinion, from where people see things.
Reason: Why things are the way they are. Why people do what they
do.
Recreation: What one does to relax, to have fun.
Revolves: To go around something, to orbit. Examples: the Earth
revolves around the Sun. His life revolves around his wife.
Satellite: A natural or man-made object that orbits a planet, or star.
Example of natural: A moon. Examples of Man-made:
Communications Satellite, Spy Satellite, weather satellite.
Sol: The name of our star (sun); the sun the earth revolves
around.
Solar system: The name of the star system we live in.
Star: A sun that is light-years away from Earth.
Star system: A star or stars that are grouped together along with the
planets (worlds) which orbits them.
Tolerance: Being able to disagree with others without anger or hate.
Opposite: intolerance.

8
Tolerant: To have tolerance. Opposite: intolerant.
Trillion: 1,000,000,000,000.
Thousand: 1,000.
Universal: That which is everywhere and or part of everything.
Examples: A universal truth. The universal language of
love or music.
Universe, The: Where everything that is known exists; where all known
galaxies are located.
University: A school of higher learning that has many colleges and
graduate schools. A place to study and/or obtain a
bachelor’s and/or master’s degree.
KEY SENTENCE STRUCTURES [class work and/or individual study]
Which below are statements and which are questions?
Place a question mark (?) at the end of questions and a period (.) at the end of
statements.
Where are you Where are you from
Why are you here I need to find my bearings
Where is the (place) located Why are you going there
It’s just around the corner I don’t understand
Can I ask you a question I have a question
What’s your problem I have a problem
Do you understand Do you know (something)
What do you think What do you feel
What’s your opinion What is your opinion
Do you agree or disagree I agree
I disagree What’s your major
Do you plan to go to (place) What will you do there
What’s your point of view I have a different opinion
I have a different point of view What’s your reason
What is the reason for that Why is that
I want to make a statement I know the answer
What’s your philosophy That’s my philosophy
I’ve lost my bearings
At the fork in the road you should bear to the right/left
Do you know where I can find a (place or thing)

9
LESSON ONE: WHERE ARE YOU?
Knowing where you have been helps you understand where you are.
Knowing where you are can help you get your bearings on where you are
going. A compass is an important tool in helping you know where you are in
the world. Invented by the ancient Chinese, it was used by the Europeans to
sail around the world in the age of exploration.
Exercise One: [individual work]
Write in the following directions at the correct compass points:
North South East West
Northeast Southeast Southwest Northwest
Practice Drill One: [class or pair work]
Where are you?
I am sitting on my chair.
Where is your chair?
It is at my desk.
Where’s your desk?
It is in the classroom.
Where is the classroom?
It is on the __________(floor #: 1st
, 2nd
, 3rd
, 4th
, 5th
, 6th
, 7th
, 8th
, 9th
, 10th
, etc…) floor.
Where is the _______(Floor #)?
It is in the ________________________________(name of building) building.
Where is the ______________________________(name of building) building?
It is on the __________________________________(name of School) campus.
Where is ____________________________________(name of school)?

10
It is located in ________________________________(name of city).
Where is ____________________________________(name of city)?
It is in the (North/South/East/West/middle) part of Taiwan.
Where is Taiwan?
It is located off the coast of China between Japan to the Northeast and the Philippines to
the South.
Where is China?
It is in Asia.
Where is Asia?
It is on Earth.
Where is Earth?
It is in the Solar System. It is the third planet from the sun.
Where is the Solar System?
It is in the Milky Way Galaxy.
Where is the Milky Way Galaxy?
It is in the Universe. The Universe is everything that is known and real.
Extra credit or homework: Make a chart of the Solar System labeling the
English names of the planets that orbit our sun.

11
Practice Drill Two: [pair work]
Where are you from?
I’m from _____________________________________________________________.
(Name of city or town)
Where is (Name of city or town)?
It is located in the ________________________ of ___________________________.
(Compass direction) (Name of country)
Where is (Name of country)?
(Name of Country) is near _______________________________________________.
(Name of largest nearest country)
Where is (Name of largest nearest country)?
It is in_______________________________________________________________.
(Continent)
Where is (continent)?
It is on Earth.
Where is Earth?
What are you, A space alien?
Together try to answer these questions in English.
What is a space alien? __________________________________________________.
What are the names of three other continents? 1)_____________________________.
2)_____________________________.
3)_____________________________.
What three countries would you like to visit and why?
1)__________________________________________________________________.
2)__________________________________________________________________.
3)__________________________________________________________________.

12
LESSON TWO: OPPOSITES
Exercise One: [individual, and group or pair work]
First: Individually write down the first English words that you think of that
you feel are the opposites of the following words.
Agree
Big
Black
Chinese
Cold
Cool
Dog
Earth
East
Friend
Friendly
Good
Group
Happy
Hard
Male
North
Opinion
Pass
Parent
Question
Student
Success
Sun
Tall
There
Thin
Wet
Second: Compare your answers with a small group of classmates or another
classmate. Did you get the same answers? If not, explain to each other (in
English) why you chose your answer.
Third: Do you agree or disagree with your classmates’ answers. If not, why?

13
Exercise Two: [pair work]
With a partner try to explain in simple English the following statements. If
you are not sure what the answers are, don’t give up; be creative and try to
think what they might mean. Don’t worry if your answers are not correct.
Afterwards your teacher will explain each statement.
We are going in the opposite direction.
I have the opposite point of view.
I feel just the opposite.
It’s just the opposite.
He is his opposite number.
It is located on the opposite side of the road.
It is on the opposite side of the river.
It’s on the opposite side of campus.
He’s from the opposite side of the galaxy.
We are not on opposite sides.
Do you always have to say the opposite of what I say?

14
LESSON THREE: UNIVERSITY
Exercise One: [class, pair, or individual work]
Read and/or listen to the following piece and answer the questions at the
bottom. The words in bold should be looked up in a dictionary or explained
by the teacher.
A university is a school of higher education that consists of several colleges. A university
may have a College of Business where people would major in business, along with a
College of Humanities where students may study languages, literature, political science
(government), or history. It could also have a College of Science where students would
major in geology, physics, or chemistry for example.
The word “university” is rooted in the word “universal”. Universal means everything and
everywhere. We live in the universe, which consists of billions of galaxies, each with
billions of stars, which most likely have billions and billions of planets. The Earth is just
one small yet special place in our vast universe.
A university is meant to be a place to examine the known universe and everything in it. It
is place where students can learn about many different things. It is a place where they can
explore many different areas. It is place where they can be exposed to different ideas and
philosophies. It is a place to seek out truth, to try to understand our known universe. By
having the opportunity to go to a university, it is hoped that a student can become wiser
and worldlier.
Answer the following questions:
According to the above piece, which is the largest?
a) A college b) A university c) A high school d) A school
According to the piece, which is the largest?
a) The universe b) The galaxy c) The Earth d) A university
According to the piece, what is the purpose of a university?
a) To get a diploma. b) To make one’s parents happy.
c) To get a high paying job. d) To improve oneself, to become wiser.
Ask another classmate the following questions:
Why did you decide to study at a university or college?
What’s your major? Why?
Where do you think one can get a better education, at a college or a university? Why?

15
LESSON FOUR: GIVING AND TAKING DIRECTIONS
Exercise One: [pair work]
Give directions to a partner on the location of the following places that are located on the
University campus. On the opposite page is a map of the campus; your partner should
number the buildings on the map to mark their location. The first student should give
directions for A1 to A6, then the second student should give the directions for B1 to B6.
A1) The University Stadium – is on the South side of Stadium Drive between
University Place and East Street.
A2) The Administration Building – is about one and a half blocks west of the Stadium.
It is on the North side of Stadium Drive, between University and Campus Ave.
A3) The Infirmary – is two blocks north on Campus Ave. It is on the southwest corner
of North Road and Campus Avenue.
A4) The Omega Frat House – is on the opposite side of the street of the Infirmary, on
the east side of Campus Avenue.
A5) The College of Humanities Building – go three blocks east of Omega House, then
turn right on East Street, go south to the end of the block. It is on the northwest
corner.
A6) The Campus bookstore – is two blocks west of the College of Humanities Building.
It is on the northwest corner of Middle Street and University Place.
B1) The University Library - is one block South of the Campus Bookstore, opposite of
the Administration building. It is on the northeast corner of University Place and
Stadium Drive.
B2) Alpha-Pi Sorority House – is located one block north of the Campus Bookstore
behind the Omega Frat House. It is on the west side of University Place.
B3) The College of Arts Building – is three blocks south of Alpha-Pi Sorority house on
the southwest corner of Pond Drive and University Place.
B4) The College of Science and Technology Building – is around the corner from the
College of Arts Building, at the intersection of Pond Drive and Campus Avenue.
B5) The Woman’s Dormitory – is across the street of the Technology building between
West Avenue and Campus Avenue.
B6) The Recreation Center – from the women’s dorm, go one block south on West
Ave. Then turn east onto South Avenue and go two blocks east. You will find the
recreation center on the northeast corner of South Avenue and East Avenue.
Exercise Two: [class, pair, or individual work]
Answer the following questions in complete English sentences.
What is something a student could do at the University Stadium?
What is something a student could do at the College of Humanities Buildings?
What is something a student could do at the Campus Bookstore?
What is something a student could do at the University Library?

16
CAMPUS MAP
POND DRIVE
Extra credit or homework: Write the directions to your home from school. Have a
partner try to draw a map based on your directions.
Extra credit or homework: Draw a map of your University or College Campus and
label the important buildings, sites, and roads in English.

17
LESSON FIVE: POINT OF VIEW
Exercise One: [lecture and group or class discussion]
Read and/or listen to the following piece and answer the questions at the
bottom.
A policeman was called to the scene of a car accident at the intersection of Main Street
and Park Avenue. Two cars have hit each other. One of the drivers was a young attractive
woman in a brand-new red sports car. The policeman’s mother was the other driver in her
15-year-old station wagon. On the northeast corner of the intersection were a woman and
her two children. There was also a window washer who was washing the 5th
story
window of an office building on the southwest corner.
When the policeman reached the scene, he saw that his mother’s car and the young
woman’s car had hit each other right in the middle of the intersection. His mother’s car
was signaling to turn right but it was in the left lane and seems to have been going
straight through the intersection north on Park Avenue.
The young woman’s red sports car was going east on Main Street and was not signaling.
There was a traffic light at the intersection and drivers were allowed to turn right on
red.
For the policeman to truly understand what had happened he couldn’t just ask for his
mother’s point of view about the accident. He had to speak to the other driver of the red
sports car, the woman and her children on the corner, and the window washer, all of
whom witnessed the accident. He had to also look at the physical evidence of the
accident scene to truly find out who was at fault for the accident.
The other driver and the mother on the corner say that the policeman’s mother had gone
through a red light. The mother said that the light was red, but she was turning right when
this woman came speeding into the intersection and hit her. The window washer said that
he could not see what the light was at the time, but he thought that the red sports car was
speeding. He thought the station wagon was not speeding, but didn’t seem to be slowing
down to turn, and was in the wrong lane to turn anyway.
Group or class discussions:
1) Who do you think was responsible for the accident? Why?
2) What should the policeman do if the evidence and witnesses point to the fact that it
was his mother’s fault, and yet his mother insists that it was the other driver’s fault? What
would you do if you were the policeman and it was your mother?
3) How is a policeman’s job at a crime accident similar to that of a student’s job at a
University?
Individual work:
From the description of the story above try to draw a map of the accident scene.

18
UNIT TWO
FAMILY:
What are our relations?
Ancestors: One’s direct line of family members that had come
before. (Example: Grandparents, great
grandparents, great-great-grandparents, etc…)
Atom: The smallest particle of an element that can exist
either alone or in combination. (Example: the
Hydrogen and Oxygen Atoms found in a Water
Molecule: H2O.)
Aunt: One’s mother’s or father’s sister or one’s father is
or mother’s brother’s wife.
Brother-in-law: One’s wife’s brother, or sister’s husband, or wife’s
sister’s husband.
Clan: A large group of extended families that are
connected through marriage and/or family relations.
Cousin: The child of one’s parent’s brother or sister.
Daughter-in-law: One’s son’s wife.
Descendents: Those who come after us. One’s children,
grandchildren, great grandchildren, etc…
Ex-husband: A male who had once been married but is no longer
married due to divorce.
Ex-wife: A female who had once been married but is no
longer married due to divorce.
Extended family: One’s family members who are related to oneself
beyond the nuclear family. Example: Aunts, Uncles,
Cousins, and In-laws.
Father-in-law: One’s wife’s or husband’s father.
Fission: The energy released when an atom is split.
Fission bomb: A bomb that is created by using fission power;
splitting an atom to release a great and powerful
burst of destructive energy; A-bomb.
Fusion Power: The positive use of energy that is released when two
atoms fuse together (become one). Example: Our
sun and all other stars are powered by fusion.
Fusion bomb: A bomb that is created by using atomic fusion.
Making two atoms become one, with a great and
powerful release of destructive energy; H-bomb.
Generation: The different age groups, every 20 years or so.
Generation Gap: When those from two different generations have
trouble understanding each other due to their
different philosophical views.
Grandchildren: One’s children’s children.
Grandfather: One’s father’s or mother’s father.

19
Grandmother: One’s father’s or mother’s mother.
Great-grandchildren: One’s grandchildren’s children.
Great-grandfather: One’s grandfather’s or grandmother’s father.
Great-grandmother: One’s grandfather’s or grandmother’s mother.
Great-great-grandchildren: One’s great grandchildren’s children.
Great-great-grandfather: One’s great-grandfather’s or great-grandmother’s
father.
Great-great-grandmother: One’s great-grandfather’s or great-grandmother’s
mother.
In-laws: Relatives that are related to oneself not through
blood but through marriage. Example: wife’s
parents.
Half brother: A brother who shares only one common parent.
Example: Having the same mother, but different
fathers.
Half sister: A sister who shares only one common parent.
Example: Having the same mother, but different
fathers.
Husband: A man that one is married to; a married man.
Maternal: Related to the mother.
Example: Mother’s Father = maternal grandfather
Modern culture: The most recent (up to date) ways of doing things
due to the changes in society over time and as an
outcome of modern science and technology.
Molecule: A substance that is the product of at least two
different types of atoms combining. Example: H2O.
Mother-in-law: One’s husband’s or wife’s mother.
Nephew: One’s brother’s, sister’s, brother-in-law’s, or sister-
in-law’s son.
Niece: One’s brother’s, sister’s, brother-in-law’s, or sister-
in-law’s daughter.
Nuclear: Related to atoms. Related to the family
Nuclear bomb: A bomb that uses the destructive force of splitting
an atom. A-Bomb. Atomic Bomb. The Bomb.
Nuclear family: The center of a family; parents and children.
Parents: Mother and father.
Paternal: Related to the father. Example: Father’s Father =
paternal grandfather.
Relative: A family member through marriage or blood.
Single-parent household: A nuclear family with only one parent.
Sister-in-law: A brother’s wife, or wife’s sister, or wife’s brother’s
wife.
Son-in-law: A daughter’s husband.
Spouse: Husband or wife.
Stepbrother: A brother due to a parent remarrying; the son of
one’s stepmother’s or stepfather’s, but not the son
of one’s biological parent’s.
Stepdaughter: The daughter of one’s wife or husband that is not
one’s own biological child.
Stepfather: One’s mother’s husband who is not one’s father.
Stepmother: One’s father’s wife who is not one’s mother.

20
Stepsister: A sister due to a parent remarrying; the daughter of
one’s stepmother or stepfather, but not the daughter
of one’s biological parents.
Stepson: The son of one’s wife or husband that is not one’s
own biological child.
Uncle: The brother of one’s mother or father, or the
husband of one’s mother’s or father’s sister.
Widow: A woman whose husband has died.
Widower: A man whose wife has died.
Wife: The woman one is married to; a married woman.
How large/big is your family? Are you married?
Have you ever been married? Where are your ancestors from?
Where is your family from? Do you have any brothers and sisters?
He/she is an only child. What’s your relationship?
Are your grandparents living? My parents are divorced.
What do your parents do? What do your children do?
Where’s your hometown? My mother/father remarried.
I’m the youngest in my family. I am the oldest in my family.

21
LESSON ONE: FAMILY STUCTURES
Below is a chart illustrating (showing) the relationship of a nuclear family to
its extended family.
Extended Family and Nuclear Family
GrandmotherGrandmother Grand fatherGrand father
AuntAuntUncleUncle
CousinCousin CousinCousin
MotherMotherFatherFather
DaughterDaughter SonSon
GrandmotherGrandmother Grand fatherGrand father
AuntAuntUncleUncle
AuntAunt UncleUncle
Paternal Side Maternal Side
FAMILY TREEFAMILY TREE
1st
2nd
3rd Generation Nuclear Family
The word nuclear is from the root word “nucleus”, which is the central or essential part
around which other parts are gathered or grouped: a core. In nuclear power, or a nuclear
bomb, an atom is split into two (fission) and generates great power. In America the
nuclear family, living together as a single household, as opposed to an extended family,
became more popular and common in the 1950’s, the beginning of the Nuclear Age (the
time after the creation and use of the nuclear bomb in 1945.)

22
Single Parent Household:
MOTHERMOTHER
Exercise One: [class, group, pair, or individual work]
List the reasons for a Single-Parent Household.
1)_______________________________ 2)_______________________________
3)_______________________________
! CULTURAL DIFFERENCES: Any adult could head a single-parent household:
a father, an uncle, an aunt, or even a grandparent. In Taiwan if a marriage splits up the
children usually go to the father, because the children carry his family name. In the West
the mother usually gets the children. In Western culture it is traditionally felt that the
mother is the primary caretaker of the children and has a much closer bond (connection,
relationship) to the children than the father has. Interestingly, in Taiwan when the father
takes the children it is usually his mother that cares for them.
Fusion Family:
Mother’s Point of View
MotherMotherMotherEx-HusbandEx-Husband
DIVORCE
HusbandHusband
StepdaughterStepdaughterStepsonStepson
DIVORCE
Husband’s
first Wife
Husband’s
first Wife
SonSon

23
Fusion Family:
Son’s Point of View
MotherMotherFatherFather
SisterSister SONSON
DIVORCE
StepfatherStepfather
StepsisterStepsisterStepbrotherStepbrother
DIVORCE
Stepfather’s
first Wife
Stepfather’s
first Wife
Half brotherHalf brother
Fusion is when two atoms (usually Hydrogen) are brought together to make one, fuse
together as one. This releases even more energy and power than fission power does. Our
sun and all the stars in the Universe are powered by millions of fusion explosions going
off. A Fusion family is when two single parent households fuse together to form a new
type of family.
LESSON TWO: FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS
A follow-up question is a question to get more information about a person’s
answer. For example:
Original Question: What did you do last night?
Original Answer: I went to the library.
1st
Follow-up Question: Why did you go to the library?
Answer: I am doing a book report.
2nd
Follow-up Question: What are you doing the book report on?
Answer: Nathaniel Hawthorne, The Scarlet Letter.

24
Ask a partner the following questions. Based on their answers, ask your
partner at least one follow-up question (FUQ) for each question.
How large is your family? ________________________________________________
FUQ? __________________________________________________________________
Answer to FUQ__________________________________________________________
What do your parents do? _________________________________________________
FUQ? _________________________________________________________________
Answer to FUQ: ________________________________________________________
Are you the youngest or oldest? _____________________________________________
FUQ? __________________________________________________________________
Answer to FUQ: _________________________________________________________
LESSON THREE: GENERATIONS
Ask a partner the following questions and add your own follow-up questions
to their answers.
Where is your family from? _________________________________________________
FUQ? __________________________________________________________________
Answer to FUQ: __________________________________________________________
Where are your ancestors from? _____________________________________________
FUQ? __________________________________________________________________
Answer to FUQ: __________________________________________________________
What do you know about your most distant ancestor?
_______________________________________________________________________
FUQ? __________________________________________________________________

25
Answer to FUQ: _________________________________________________________
Do you feel there is a generation gap in your family? ____________________________
FUQ? _________________________________________________________________
Answer to FUQ: _________________________________________________________
What do you wish for your descendants? ______________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
LESSON FOUR: POINT OF VIEW
Exercise One: [individual or pair work]
On the next two pages fill out the family trees based on the mother’s point of
view and the daughter’s point of view.
! CULTURAL DIFFERENCES: In traditional Chinese culture the family
structure is very exact. Position in the family is extremely important and respect is based
on birth order. In Western culture family is much more informal. In the West brothers
and sisters will call each other by their first names (given names, Christian names), unlike
Chinese were only older brothers or sisters will call their younger siblings by their first
names. In Chinese culture younger brothers and sisters must call their older siblings by
their birth order, such as “first older brother” or “second older sister”. To call an older
brother or sister by their first name would be considered disrespectful (rude, not
respectful).
In Chinese aunts and uncles are addressed (called) by their sex, birth order, and whether
they are the siblings of one’s mother or father, or whether they have married into one’s
family (for example: the wife of one’s father’s 2nd
older brother). In the West all uncles
and aunts are merely called uncle or aunt, no matter what their relationship to one’s
parents, or birth order. To distinguish (tell apart) one aunt or uncle from other aunts and
uncles, their first names are used by their nephews and nieces (for example: Aunt Pat,
Uncle Paul, Aunt Lorraine, Uncle Charlie, etc.) One’s uncle’s and aunt’s children
(cousins) are merely called by their first names as one would call one’s brother or sister.
In some very modern western families parents even allow their children, nephews, and
nieces to call them by their first names. In most Western families, though, this would still
be considered disrespectful.

26
FAMILYTREEFAMILYTREE
ExtendedFamilyandNuclearFamily
MotherMother
InLawsMother’sFamily1st
2nd
3rdGenerationNuclearFamily
FilloutthefamilytreefromtheMother’sPointofview.

27
FAMILYTREEFAMILYTREE
ExtendedFamilyandNuclearFamily
Father’sFamilyMother’sFamily1st
2nd
3rdGenerationNuclearFamily
Filloutthefamilytreefromthedaughter’spointofview.
Daughter

28
Exercise Two: [individual work]
Draw your extended family tree from your point of view.

29
Exercise Three: [pair work]
Listen (do not look) to your partner’s description of his or her family tree
and draw it from his or her point of view. Then describe to your partner (do
not show) your family tree and let him or her try to draw it from your point
of view. Then compare the family trees you did for yourself and the family
tree your partner drew of your family. Are they the same?

30
UNIT THREE
RELATIONSHIPS:
So, how is our love life?
Acquaintance A person that one knows only a little bit. Maybe
just knowing their name and occupation.
Arranged marriage: A marriage arranged (made by) others, usually by
the parents of the bride and groom; not a marriage
based on romantic love.
Boyfriend: A male that one dates; a male friend that one has
romantic interest in and that one spends time with
alone.
Break up: When a couple that is romantically involved stop
dating or seeing each other.
Couple, A: Two people who are romantically involved and are
seeing (dating) only each other, not dating others.
Example: steady boy/girlfriend, husband/wife, and
lovers.
Courtship: Seeing someone with the sole idea of getting to
know him or her better to marry him or her. Not
having any sexual contact until after marriage.
Conservative: The philosophy of maintaining and believing in
current ideas or traditions; not willing to change or
try new ways. Opposite: liberal.
Dating: When two people see each alone for romantic or
sexual reasons, not just friends.
Dislike: Not like; not nearly as strong as hate.
Opposite: like.
Divorce: To officially, legally end a marriage; to no longer be
married; to be single again.
Engaged: To plan to get married; to set a date for the wedding
to announce publicly the plans of marriage to
friends and family.
Ex-boyfriend: A male one dated but no longer dates.
Ex-fiancé: A male that one was engaged to marry but did not
marry and no longer plans to marry.
Ex-fiancée: A female that one was engaged to marry but did not
marry and no longer plans to marry.
Ex-girlfriend: A male one dated but no longer dates.
Ex-lover: A person who used to be one’s lover.
Open-minded: To be willing to listen to and consider different
ideas, ways, and/or opinions.
Opposite: closed-minded, stubborn.
Friend: A person one likes and enjoys spending time with; a
non-romantic or platonic relationship.

31
Close friend: A very important friend that one cares for greatly
and loves in a non-romantic and platonic way.
Fiancé: A man engaged to be married.
Fiancée: A woman engaged to be married.
Girlfriend: A female that one dates. A female friend that one
has romantic interest in and that one spends time
with alone.
In love: Very strong and powerful romantic love. Can only
be in-love with one person at a time.
Indifferent: No feelings, emotions, or care of any kind for a
person or a thing. No like, dislike, hate, love or
anything.
Liberal: A philosophy of wanting to try new things or
different ways. Not being traditional.
Opposite: conservative.
Like: Something that one enjoys or appreciates, but not as
strong as love. Opposite: dislike.
Living together: When lovers live in the same home like husband
and wife but are not married.
Derogatory: living in sin; shacking up.
Love: To care about someone or something greatly. To
have very strong positive feelings towards someone
or something. Can be romantic or platonic in nature.
Lovers: A couple that is in love and sexually active with
each other.
Hate: Extreme dislike for someone or something.
Opposite: love.
Heterosexual: A person who is sexually and romantically
interested in only members of the opposite sex.
Homosexual (Gay or Lesbian): A person who is sexually and romantically
interested in only members of the same sex.
Derogatory: Homo, queer, fag, fruit, poof-da, flame.
Marriage: The legal and cultural union of joining two
individuals; the institution of husbands and wives.
Married: Being married. Having a husband or wife.
Mate: (1) A partner in having, raising, and/or creating
children. (2) A partner or friend. (3) A partner in
life.
Platonic: A relationship that is based purely on friendship; a
non-romantic and/or non-sexual relationship.
Romantic interest: To be interested in someone in a romantic or sexual
way, not just as friends. Opposite: platonic interest.
Steady boyfriend: A male that one is committed to only date; the male
that one only dates after a promise or understanding
not to date others.
Steady girlfriend: A female that one is committed to only date; the
female that one only dates after a promise or
understanding not to date others.

32
Vs. (Versus): To be against someone or something; to be in
opposition. Such as two teams that play against
each other in a game. [In Taiwan “vs.” is often
confused with “and”.]
Strange: Different, odd, not normal, weird, not understood.
Stranger: A person one does not know. A person one has
never met before.
Traditional culture: The customs or beliefs of a society that have existed
for generations; the ways and beliefs of one’s
ancestors. The culture of a society that is old, or
even out of date. Opposite: modern culture.
Do you have a boy/girlfriend? What do you like about yourself?
Are you two still together? We broke up.
Where did you go on your first date? How did you meet?
How do you feel about that? I think he/she is interested in you.
How long have you been dating? Where did you go on your date?
Do you like or dislike him/her/them? You never forget your first love.
How did you two get together? What’s their/your/our relationship?
How long have you been going steady? Do you like or dislike that?
Do you/we ever plan to get married? What do you dislike about yourself?
How do you feel about him/her/them?
What do you like most about your (something or someone)?
What do you dislike most about (something or someone)?
Do you feel you are conservative or liberal?
How long have you been living together?
LESSON ONE: LIKES AND DISLIKES
Although thought of, as simple words by Taiwanese students, the concepts of “like”,
“dislike”, “hate”, and “love” are the most easily misunderstood words in the English
Like Dislike
Love Hate
In Love Indifferent

33
language. These misunderstandings can and do lead to the greatest breakdowns in
communications between students of English as a second language and native English
speakers. Culturally Asians do not show feelings as easily as Westerners do. To Asians
learning English simple phrases such, as “I like you,” can be misunderstood in having
much greater meaning than it does to a native English speaker, especially when it is said
by a man to a woman. Even saying, “I love you” does not have the same meaning to a
native English speaker that it has to students of English as a second language. Westerners
will use this phrase freely to describe their feelings for family members and very close
and dear friends of either sex. Many Asian students will feel embarrassed to say such a
thing in their native language to even their own parents. So it is important for students to
try to think Western when using and listening to English, in order to avoid
misunderstandings with native English speakers.
Like
The word “like” does not have the same strength as the Chinese equivalent
(equal, the same). The best way to think of the word is the way that students
think of most of their classmates from High School. Most of their classmates
they will never see again, having gone off to college, yet it is not going to
cause any great sadness. If in the future a student runs into one their former
classmates they will be happy. But afterwards if they never see them again it
is okay.
“Love” is a much stronger word yet still not as powerful as the Chinese
equivalent (Wa I Ne). Love does not always mean romantic love. Most of the
time it only describes the feeling for those people in our life that are very
important to us, people that we care about deeply. It is a word that
Westerners will use often, since the showing of affection is much more
accepted in Western culture. “Love” can be used about the handful of very
close classmates that become a student’s best friends. Losing contact with
those we love we make us feel sad. Many years after high school the
classmates a student loves will try hard to stay in contact with them by
meeting them in person, talking on the phone, and writing letters or email.
All this is done in order to never lose contact with them. If a friend is close
like a brother or a sister we can easily say, “we love them”. This type of love
has no romantic or sexual meaning. It is best known as platonic love. It is
quite common for a person to love many people and mean it deeply. Many
people in all our lives have great meaning to us, from our mothers to our best
and closest same-sex friends.
LoveInLove
“In love” is what most students of English as a second language think of
when they hear the word “love”. In love is much stronger than love and its
meaning is romantic and exclusive (for very few). In Western culture a
person can love many people, but can only be in love with one person at a
time. In Western society, if a person tells many people at the same time that
they are in love with them, they would be thought of as dishonest, as a cheat,
or as a person who plays with other people’s hearts. In love is romantic love.
When a man or woman says this to another person, it is very serious.

34
Exercise One: [class, group, individual, or pair work]
Read and/or listen to the following story and answer the accompanying
questions.
A GAY CLASSMATE: A Partially-True Joe Story
A friend of mine in college announced to our friends that he was homosexual (gay). As
he told each friend they all responded differently to the news. From their responses see if
you can determine (guess) what their feelings are towards homosexuality.
When the first friend was told, this is how he responded:
“I cannot believe it! I thought of you as a friend! I never want to see you again! You and
your kind make me sick” He then spat at the friend’s feet and walked away angrily.
A) He likes homosexuals. B) He dislikes homosexuals.
C) He loves homosexuals. D) He hates homosexuals.
E) He is in love with his homosexual friend. F) He is indifferent to homosexuals.
Dislike
“Dislike” is the opposite of like. Just as for “like”, “dislike” is not a very
strong word. It is the feeling we have for people that we do not enjoy, but
are willing to be friendly to. It is the feeling we have also for things that we
do not like to do, but will do anyway. For example doing homework or
taking exams. If years later you meet an old high school classmate that you
disliked you might not very happy to see them, yet you will talk to them
and maybe even be interested in how they have been and what they are
doing. If something bad happened to them it would not make us happy.
We might even feel sorry for them.
Hate
“Hate” is the opposite of love. Like “love”, “hate” is a very strong feeling.
It is a feeling for people and things we will go out of our way to stay away
from. Some people may dislike flying, but they will still get on an airplane
and fly. A person who hates flying would take the train. We do not want to
see them or be near them. If we see them we feel extremely unhappy,
angry and upset. When something bad happens to a person we hate it will
actually make us feel happy.
Indifferent
“Indifferent” is the opposite of in love. Where in love is such a strong and
over powering feeling for one person, indifference is no feelings at all. No
like, no dislike, no love, and no hate. When in love, we care deeply about
someone. Indifference is not caring at all. This is the feeling we have for
most people in the world. Since we don’t know most people, it is difficult
for us to have any feelings for them. If something nice happens to them we
don’t care. When something bad happens to them we also don’t care,
mostly because we are not even aware of them.

35
When the second friend was told, this is how he responded:
“Oh, I am sorry to hear that. It must be so difficult for you. Maybe I can help you change.
I know some very nice girls and I’m sure they can help you with your problem.”
When the third friend was told, this is how he responded:
“Hey, cool. I have never had a homosexual friend before. Hey everybody I have a
homosexual friend! This is so great! You can help me go clothes shopping so I can get the
best deals and the coolest styles. You people are so great with that kind of stuff.”
When the fourth friend was told, this is how he responded:
“That is so wonderful! I am gay too. It is so great to know that I am not the only one at
this school anymore. I have a boyfriend back home who I am so much in love with. It’s so
wonderful to find a friend at school who can understand how I feel about my boyfriend.”
When the fifth friend was told, this is how he responded:
“Oh that is such great news. There is something I had wanted to tell you ever since the
first day I saw you. I cannot stop thinking about you. I daydream about you all day in
classes and I dream about you every night. I hope that this means we can have a much
more romantic and meaningful relationship.”
When my friend told me that he was gay, I responded:
“Oh, Ok.”

36
Exercise Two: [class, group, or pair work]
Think about and try to answer the following questions.
Why do you think some people hate homosexuals?
How would you feel if one of your same-sex friends told you he or she was gay? Why?
How would you feel if one of your descendants turned out to be a homosexual? Why?
If a homosexual asked you on a date, how would you respond? Why?
Do you feel people choose to be homosexuals or is it just their nature? Why?
Exercise Three: [pair work]
Ask your partner the following questions about likes and dislikes.
What is something you like about yourself? ____________________________________
FUQ? __________________________________________________________________
Answer to FUQ: __________________________________________________________

37
What is something you dislike about yourself? __________________________________
FUQ? __________________________________________________________________
Answer to FUQ: __________________________________________________________
Who do you love and why? _________________________________________________
FUQ? __________________________________________________________________
Answer to FUQ: __________________________________________________________
What is something you dislike about a person you love?
_______________________________________________________________________
FUQ? __________________________________________________________________
Answer to FUQ: __________________________________________________________
Are you or have you ever been in love? _______________________________________
If yes, why were/are they so special to you? ____________________________________
FUQ? __________________________________________________________________
Answer to FUQ: __________________________________________________________
If no, what kind of person would you fall in love with? ___________________________
FUQ? __________________________________________________________________
Answer to FUQ: __________________________________________________________
What do you feel indifferent towards? _________________________________________
FUQ? __________________________________________________________________
Answer to FUQ: __________________________________________________________
What do you really hate to do and why? _______________________________________
FUQ? __________________________________________________________________
Answer to FUQ: __________________________________________________________

38
LESSON TWO: TRADITIONAL VS. MODERN
Exercise One: [class, group, or pair work]
Read and/or listen to the following piece and discuss the questions at the bottom. Note
the numbers after the words in bold type. These are footnotes; at the bottom (the foot of
the page) one can find more information about those words.
Taiwan has been going through many great changes for the past 20 years. Taiwan has
moved from an agricultural society1
to an industrial and urban society2
. Taiwan has
also changed politically3
. No longer a one-party dictatorship4
, Taiwan is now a true
democracy where the people choose their government leaders, at all levels. In modern
Taiwan, the government no longer controls or censors5
what people can say or read.
People now have much more access to information than the generations before them had.
With the lifting of Martial Law6
, more people can also travel to other countries all
around the world.
Due to these changes, Taiwan’s society and culture7
is also changing at the core.
More young people are getting a college education. More women are also going to school
and joining the workforce. Women no longer need to be supported by their fathers or by a
husband. They can now support themselves. This is changing the role of women and the
institution of marriage. Very few parents in modern Taiwan choose their children’s
mates8
. Marriage has become a union9
of two people who love each other, not an
arrangement between families. Young men and women now find their mates on their
own. Dating is becoming an important part of Taiwanese culture. Woman and men, due
to continuing education and entering the workforce, are delaying marriage compared to
when their parents and grandparents got married. Birth control10
is also changing young
people’s ideas about the size of their families and about premarital sex11
. Most
Taiwanese families are now choosing to have only two children instead of eight to twelve
children like their grandparents did. All of these things are changing how men and
women get along with each other. Divorce in Taiwan is going up every year, yet how
many young people want to go back to arranged marriages where few couples divorced?
1) Why is Taiwan changing? Is it due to contact with the West or is it a normal
development of becoming a modern society?
2) Do you feel the modernizing of Taiwanese culture is good or bad? Why?
3) Why is divorce going up in Taiwan?
4) How can divorce be prevented?
5) Is premarital sex right or wrong? Why?
6) What is it meant by a double standard when it comes to sex between men and
women? Is it fair or unfair?
1
A society where most people are farmers and live on farms
2
A society where most people work in cities for companies that make products
3
Related to government philosophy
4
A government that is controlled by one political group, and other political groups are forbidden.
5
To not allow certain ideas or views to be seen or heard
6
A government controlled by the military.
7
The personality, customs, and history of a large group of people who share a common heritage
8
A husband or wife
9
Joining
10
A device or method to prevent pregnancy (having a baby); Condoms, the pill, IUD, etc…
11
The act of having sex before being married

39
Exercise Two: [individual and group work]
First: Individually read and/or listen to the following statements and
determine (decide) if the statements are expressing traditional or modern
values (beliefs; philosophy). Then decide if you agree or disagree with each
statement.
Statement one:
“It is solely (only) the responsibility of men to work hard and make money for the
family.”
Does this statement express modern or traditional values?
Do you agree or disagree with the statement?
Statement two:
“It is solely (only) the responsibility of women to clean the house, cook, do laundry, and
take care of the children.”
Statement three:
“It is the equal responsibility of both men and women to take care of the home, the
children, and make money for the family.”
Statement four:
“Parents are older and have more experience than their children and always know what is
best for them, even when their children become young adults. So, children should always
obey (listen to without question) their parents.”

40
Statement five:
“Love never lasts. It is more important for a girl when choosing a husband that she finds
a man who has a good job, a lot of money, and a successful family. In the modern world
money is the only real security.”
Statement six:
“Only bad girls have sex before marriage. Good girls wait until the wedding night. A man
should never marry a girl that is willing to have sex before marriage.”
Statement seven:
“It is normal for a husband to cheat on his wife. Men need to have different women. A
wife, though, should never cheat on her husband, even if he is cheating on her.”
Statement eight:
“In order to protect their children, parents have the right to search their children’s rooms,
read their mail and e-mail, and listen in on their children’s phone conversations.”
Statement nine:
“Girls going to college is a waste of time and money. Girls only need to learn how to be
good wives and mothers.”

41
Statement ten:
“Sometimes a husband needs to hit his wife.”
Statement eleven:
“A good wife should always follow her husband. If her husband’s company transfers him
to a different city she should quit her job and move to the new city with her husband. The
husband’s career is always more important than the wife’s.”
Statement twelve:
“People should marry only within their own race. In is not natural for a black to marry a
white or Asian, or for an Asian to marry a white or black. Mixed marriages are abnormal
and will always lead to problems for the couple and especially for their mixed children. It
is better for people to marry their own kind.”
Second: In a group compare and discuss your answers with your
classmates’. After talking to your classmates ask yourself whether you
consider yourself very traditional, traditional, a little traditional, moderate, a
little modern, modern, or very modern.

42
LESSON THREE: MALE-FEMALE RELATIONSHIPS
Below is a relationship tree to illustrate (show) how relationships between
men and women develop and fail. It also illustrates, depending on the
feelings of the two, how we can describe their relationship with each other.
Non-Relative
Male-Female Relationship Tree
Husband/Wife
(couple/married)
Husband/Wife
(couple/married)
Fiancé/Fiancée
(couple/engaged)
Fiancé/Fiancée
(couple/engaged)
Lover/Companion
(couple/living together)
Lover/Companion
(couple/living together)
StrangerStranger
AcquaintanceAcquaintance
FriendFriend
A boyfriend/girlfriend
(dating/seeing each other)
A boyfriend/girlfriend
(dating/seeing each other)
Steady boyfriend/Girlfriend
(couple/going steady)
Steady boyfriend/Girlfriend
(couple/going steady)
(in love)
(in love)
(in love)
(falling in love)
(romantic interest)
(like)
(indifferent)
A close friend
(platonic)
A close friend
(platonic)
(love)
(indifferent)
(Verytraditionalarrangedmarriage)
(in love)
(Traditional)
Ex-husband/Wife
(countless reasons)
(Divorce)
Ex-Fiancé/Fiancée
(fall out of love)
(Call off the wedding)
Ex-lover
(fall out of love)
(Break up/split up)
Ex-boy/girlfriend
(fall out of love)
(Break up/split up)
Ex-boy/girlfriend
(lost interest)
(Stop dating/ seeing each other)
Enemy
Estranged relation
(Falling out)
(hate)
(dislike)
Modern path

43
Exercise One: [individual, or pair work]
Read and/or listen to the following conversations between a man and
woman, and choose the best description of their relationship. Use the
Relationship Tree as a guide.
Conversation one:
Man: Excuse me, Miss, can you tell me how to get to the campus bookstore?
Woman: Sure. It’s just one block from here on the northwest corner of Middle Street and
Campus Avenue.
What is their relationship? __________________________________________________
Conversation two:
Woman: You’re the only one I can really talk to about such personal problems. Thank
you so much. I feel you really saved my relationship with Tom. I don’t know what I
would do if I ever lost him.
Man: You know you can always talk to me. Give Tom my best and don’t forget that
Christina and I will see you both Saturday night for dinner.
Conversation three:
Man: I had a really wonderful time tonight.
Woman: Me too.
Man: I was thinking maybe we could go to dinner and a movie this Friday?
Woman: I would love to but I already have a date that night. How about Saturday?
Man: That would be great.
Conversation four:
Woman: Oh hello, Mr. Jones. I haven’t seen you around lately.
Man: My wife and I went to Florida for a two-week vacation.
Woman: That’s nice. Well, got to go. See you around the neighborhood.

44
Conversation five:
Woman: I never want to see you again!
Man: That is fine with me. You were a terrible kisser anyway!
Woman: Men are such pigs!
Conversation six:
Woman: That’s the wedding dress I want!
Man: That’s over $10,000.
Woman: You promised me the wedding of my dreams.
Man: Yes I did, but I am not that rich. If you want the dress I’ll buy it for you. But I
think we can forget about our honeymoon to Hawaii now.
Woman: It’s okay. We have our whole life ahead of us to go to Hawaii. We’ll only get
married once.
Conversation seven:
Man: Honey, I’m home.
Woman: Johnny got an F on his English final exam!
Man: So, it looks like he’ll have to go to summer school.
Woman: I’m so disappointed in him. Where have we gone wrong as parents?
Man: It’s not the end of the world. He failed a course. He’ll take the class again and I am
sure he’ll pass it the second time. All that’s important is that he learns. Different people
learn at different paces.
Conversation eight:
Man: Christina, I have been doing a lot of thinking about us lately.
Woman: Really? I have too.
Man: Look, I know you have been dating other guys, and you know I have been dating
other women. It’s just that when I am with them I am always thinking about the times I
spend with you. The truth is I think I am falling in love with you and I don’t want to date
anyone else but you.
Woman: I feel the same way. I also don’t want to see anyone else but you.

45
Conversation nine:
Woman: Could you please send me the child support early this month?
Man: I’ll try, what’s up?
Woman: The girls want to go to summer camp and I have to pay before the end of the
month.
Man: I thought the girls were going to come and spend the summer with my wife and
me?
Woman: They want to go to summer camp. All their friends are going.
Conversation ten:
Man: I heard you lost your job, ha ha ha.
Woman: Thanks to you reporting me to my boss. I hate you even more now!
Man: I warned you not to mess with me!
Woman: Someday I’ll get my revenge. I’ll never forgive you for what you have done!
Conversation eleven:
Man: So how was your day today?
Woman: Oh, I had big fight with my mom today.
Man: About us living together, again?
Woman: Yes. I just wish she could respect my decision that I am not ready to get
married yet, but that I love being with you.
Conversation twelve:
Woman: Hey, Tom, a group of us are going to the beach. Do you want to come?
Man: Sure, Jessie. Is Bill bringing his volleyball and net again.
Woman: Of course, he’s hoping he can beat us this time.
Man: In his dreams. He’ll never beat us in this lifetime.
Woman: That’s what I told him. He says he’s got a new guy that is over six feet tall that
can slam the ball.
Man: Well at least it sounds like a challenge this time. John and George are going to play
with us again?
Woman: Yeah, they’ve already headed for the beach. I waited to get you. I thought we
could pick up a case of beer before we go.

46
LESSON FOUR: DATING
As modern societies move away from the traditional forms of arranged
marriages, the idea of marrying for love is becoming more and more popular
around the world. Modern women are no longer willing to just obey12
their
husbands as their mothers and/or grandmothers had done in the past. Modern
women are better educated and more romantic. They expect to be treated as
equal partners in their marriages and they expect their husbands to try to
make them happy, too. As the Women’s Movement gains in strength, so
does the search for a compatible13
mate. Dating has become the norm14
in
most modern societies. People may date many people before they find the
right person for them: the “Mr. or Miss Right” that one would want to spend
the rest of one’s life with. So people date, a process of getting to know
someone better to see if they are truly compatible as a good mate.
Asking someone on a date:
In western culture it is very strange for a man to just go up to a woman and say “I like
you, would you be my girlfriend?” Or “I love you, please be my girlfriend.” Dating
usually starts with just being friends. Love is something that cannot be forced and will
come, or not come, naturally. The best way to ask a woman on a date is ask them to join
you in something you think they would enjoy doing.
Asking:
“There is a new movie opening this Friday night. I was wondering if you would like to go
with me?” or “I really would like you to try my home cooking. Are you free tomorrow
night?” or “I just got two tickets to the concert this weekend and I can’t think of anyone
else I would rather go with than you. Would you do me the honor of joining me?” or
simply “Would you like to take a walk and talk with me?” If you notice, none of these
approaches are asking the person for a long-term commitment (a promise forever). They
all just ask for a one-time event to spend time with the person. If the date goes well there
is always the possibility of a second date and, if that goes well, a third, and so on. It is
important to remember that in western culture, one date does not mean that two people
are lovers, or even going steady. One date, or even five dates, does not mean a
commitment.
Rejecting or Refusing:
If you are asked on a date but are not interested in going out with the person, there is no
reason to be rude (impolite, not polite) to him or her. You should at least say “thank you”
because by them asking you they are telling you that they like you, find you interesting,
and that you are attractive to them. All these are very nice things to have someone say to
you. So “Thank you, but no thank you.” is all you need to say.
12
To listen and do as one is told, without questioning
13
A good match, good together, to pieces that fit together, able to get along with each other
14
What is normal or common

47
Handling Rejection:
Handling rejection (being turned down) is also an important skill. If you do ask someone
on a date and they refuse you, there is no reason to be angry. Just because they are not
interested in going out with you does not mean you are not good. It just means you might
not be their type, which means they also may not really be your type too. So it is just as
well that you didn’t waste your time with them, when there are always others who would
be very happy to spend their time with you.
LESSON FIVE: BLIND DATE
Blind means not being able to see (when one’s eyes do not work).
A date is going out with someone you are interested in romantically, not just
for friendship.
What do you think blind date means?
Guess: _______________________________________________________
Read and/or listen to the following conversations of a man calling a woman
on a date. If you were the woman would you go out with the man? If not,
why not? If you were the man would you go out with the woman? If not,
why not?
Conversation one:
Woman: Hello.
Man: Hello.
Woman: Hello
Man: Who is this?
Woman: You called me, who are you?
Man: This is Jack. Who are you?
Woman: You don’t know whom you are calling?
Man: I’m looking for Rebecca. I am Betty’s friend.
Woman: I’m Rebecca, how can I help you?
Man: Betty told me I could call you to ask you on a date.
If you were the woman would you go out with him? YES / NO
If not, why not?

48
Conversation two:
Woman: Hello.
Man: Hello, this is Jim. May I please speak to Rebecca?
Woman: Speaking.
Man: Oh, hi, Rebecca. I am Betty’s friend I think she told you I would be calling.
Woman: Oh, yes, Jim. She did.
Man: Betty told me so many wonderful things about you. I would really love to meet
you.
Woman: Really, like what?
Man: Well, she said that you haven’t had a man in over a year; because you were really
fat before, but you have lost weight and now you have a great body.
Woman: Did she tell you anything else about me?
Man: Yeah, she told me a lot, but I only remember the great body part.
If not, why not?
Conversation three:
Woman: Hello.
Man: Hello, this is Burt. May I please speak to Rebecca?
Woman: Speaking.
Man: Oh, hi, Rebecca. I am Betty’s friend.
Woman: Oh, yes, Burt. She told me you would be calling.
Man: Betty said some really nice things about you. So I was wondering if you would like
to go on a date with me?
Woman: That might be nice.
Man: So where do you want to go? I don’t really care.
If not, why not?
Conversation four:
Woman: Hello.
Man: Hey, this is George. Like may I please speak to Rebecca?
Woman: Hello, George, this is Rebecca. I have been expecting your call.
Man: Yeah, like, ahhh, Betty told me great things about you. Yeah, and I thought it
might be really cool if we got together.
Woman: It might be.
Man: So, do you like to party? I know a really great party tonight. There will be plenty of
rock and roll and drugs. Do you want go? Or I can just come to your place. I can bring
you some blow or grass.
If not, why not?

49
Conversation five:
Woman: Hello.
Man: Hello, this is Mr. Thomas Getty. May I please speak to Miss Rebecca Stern?
Woman: Speaking.
Man: Hello, Miss Stern, I am Mrs. Green’s friend visiting on business.
Woman: Oh, yes, Thomas. She told me you would be calling.
Man: Well then, as you know I am a very busy and important man, and do not have the
luxury of wasting time. So I have made reservations at La Snob for dinner for two tonight
at seven. I shall expect you to be ready a 6:30. I will send a car to pick you up then.
If not, why not?
Conversation six:
Woman: Hello.
Man: Hello, this is Kevin. May I please speak to Rebecca?
Woman: Speaking.
Man: Oh, hi, Rebecca. I am Betty’s friend.
Woman: Oh, yes, Kevin. She told me you would be calling.
Man: Betty told me so many wonderful things about you that I am dieing to meet you.
Woman: Really, What did she tell you?
Man: Well, she said that you’re very friendly, funny, intelligent, and romantic. I love
those qualities in a person.
Woman: I do too. So how would you describe yourself?
Man: Well, my wife says that I am very friendly, funny, intelligent, and romantic.
If not, why not?
Conversation seven:
Woman: Hello.
Man: Hello, this is John. May I please speak to Rebecca?
Woman: Speaking.
Man: Oh, hi, Rebecca. I am Betty’s friend I think she told you I would be calling.
Woman: Oh, yes, John, she did. Tell me what kind of car do you drive, John?
Man: I drive a Mercury Sable.
Woman: How much money do you make a year?
Man: $60,000.
Woman: Do you rent or did you buy your home?
Man: I rent, but I am saving to buy a condo next year. Why?
Women: I just don’t want to waste my time with a loser.
If you were the man would you go out with her? YES / NO
If not, why not?

50
UNIT FOUR
PERSONALITIES:
Who are we really?
Airhead, an: A person that is not very smart; stupid, a head filled
with air instead of brains.
Artistic: A person who is a good artist or creative.
Arrogant: A person who thinks he or she is the best and that
others can never and will never be as good or as
wonderful as he or she is.
Brave: A person who will do the hard things, dangerous
things when they feel it is the right thing to do.
Opposite: cowardly.
Boring, (bore, A): A person who bores others; uninteresting; not
exciting; dull. Opposite: Exciting, interesting.
Callous: A person or thing who does not care about other
people’s feelings; insensitive; uncaring and
thoughtless.
Careful: A person who does not take chances or risks; thinks
before doing things in order to prevent bad things
from happening.
Caring: A person who cares and thinks about others;
thoughtful and sensitive.
Charming: A person other people like to be around. Having an
attractive personality; knowing how to talk to
people to make them feel good about themselves
and the person.
Cheap: A person who hates spending money.
Childish: A person who acts like a child, is immature or silly.
Cool: A person who has his or her own style, does not
lose emotional control, is always calm and in
control.
Conformist, A: A person who always follows the group; does
whatever is popular at the time; has no personal
style.
Conservative: A person who does not like change, new things or
new ideas; holds the same values as their parents
and what is considered normal in society.
Contrary: A person who will always do the opposite of
whatever is popular; has no personal style; is only a
negative or exact opposite of whatever the pop style
is.
Corrupt: A person who will use the trust of others and/or
their own positions of power for personal gains; a
dishonest, immoral, and selfish person.

51
Coward: A person who will not face difficulties; always runs
or hides from conflict or danger. Opposite: brave.
Crazy: A person who will do extremely strange things,
even dangerous and foolish things; a person who
has lost his or her ability to reason; insane; nuts;
mentally ill; wacko; fruitcake; space cadet; sick
puppy; oddball; looney-tune; nutcase.
Creative: A person who can create new things; have new
ideas; be artistic; see things in a different way than
others.
Crooked: A dishonest person who cannot be trusted; a person
that will break the rules of society for selfish gains
or profit.
Cunning: An intelligent person who can and will fool or trick
others in order to succeed or make a profit legally
but not always honestly.
Deep: A person who cares about important things; is a
thinker and does not judge others on only their
appearance, but on who they are as individuals.
Opposite: shallow.
Diligent: A person who does not give up; will keep trying to
succeed even after many failures and/or difficulties.
Dignified: A person with class and style; noble; elegant.
Diplomatic: A person who knows how to say things without
upsetting and/or making others lose face.
Dishonest: A person who is not honest; a person who does not
tell the truth; a liar.
Disrespectful: A person who does not respect others.
Dramatic: A person who makes everything into a big show, as
if they were an actor on a stage.
Dull: A boring person or thing; not an interesting person
or thing.
Eccentric: A person very different from others; not normal;
strange but harmless.
Easy going: A person that does not get upset or angry very
easily.
Elegant: A person with noble beauty, manners, and style.
Extravert A person, who is very outgoing and friendly, likes
to meet people and make friends.
Opposite: introvert
Feminine: A person who behaves, or acts like a girl or woman.
Opposite: masculine.
Flaky: A person who is strange and silly, or stupid and
strange.
Forgiving: A person able to forgive others.
Friendly: A person who likes people and can make friends
easily.
Frugal: A person who uses his or her money wisely; does
not waste money or pay more than they have to for
anything; always able to get a good deal or bargain.
Funny: A humorous person who can make others laugh.

52
Generous: A person who will give to others. Opposite: greedy.
Gentleman: A man who treats others with respect and
politeness; a man who makes any woman feel she is
a lady.
Greedy: A person who loves things and money and will do
almost anything to get them no matter who they
have to hurt; selfish for more; a person who wants it
all just for themselves. Opposite: generous.
God fearing: A person who strongly believes in God and is
fearful of doing anything they think is against the
will or wishes of God; a very traditional,
conservative, and religious person.
Ham, A: A person who likes to perform in order to get
other’s attention; to always try to be the center of
attention.
Hardworking: A person who works hard. Opposite: lazy
Heart of a child, has the: Young at heart; is able to enjoy life as a child does
even as an adult; not too serious; playful and
innocent.
Hip: Stylish, with the times in dress and attitude.
Honest: Does not lie; tells the truth. Opposite: dishonest.
Hospitable: Enjoys having friends come to their home; makes
guests in their home feel welcomed and at home.
Humble: A person who will not show off what they feel they
are good at; will not show off or tell others about
their good qualities or abilities; a person who will
pretend to be less than they know they are.
Humorous: A person who can see the humor in life; having the
ability to make others laugh; funny.
Independent: A person that can take care of himself or herself.
Has their own mind; does not need others to take
care of them.
Inferiority complex: A person who feels others are much better then
himself or herself; a person who does not like
themselves. Opposite: proud.
Impatient: A person who is not patient; hates to wait.
Immature: Childish; a person that does not take responsibility
for their actions and is not independent.
Innocent: A person who does not know good from bad. A
person who does not mean to harm anyone or
anything, yet might due to not understanding the
effects of their actions.
Insightful: A person who can understand things clearly; can
find answers to problems quickly where others
cannot.
Insincere: Not sincere, kidding, or fooling.
Intelligent: A person who is able to find answers or solutions to
problems without first knowing the answer; to be
able to figure things out; smart; bright; gifted;
clever; sharp as a tac.

53
Introvert: A person who is very shy; does not like to socialize
or make friends. Opposite: extrovert.
Irresponsible: Not responsible; does not do what he or she should
do or promised to do.
Kind: A person who is nice to others; a person who cares
about other people’s well being; is not hurtful but
helpful.
Knowledgeable: A person who knows many things either from
studying and/or from personal experience.
Lazy: A person who will not work; hates to work and tries
to avoid working in any way.
Liberal: Open minded; willing to change.
Opposite: conservative.
Logical: A person who uses logic; not emotional or
unreasonable in their decision-making process.
Low class: A person without manners; not stylish or elegant;
has disgusting or barbaric behavior.
Masculine: To be like a man; manly. Opposite: feminine.
Materialistic: A person who values having things more than love
or friendship; loves money and what it can buy.
Mature: A person who behaves like an adult; is responsible
and independent. Opposite: immature.
Nerd (Geek): Having no social skills; not cool; out of style.
Modern: A person whose attitudes and beliefs are with the
times. Opposite: old fashioned.
Moody: A person whose emotions can change from good to
bad very quickly without warning. Example: happy
one moment, depressed or angry the next without
warning.
Mysterious: A person who is difficult to understand; a person
who seems to have many secrets.
Old fashioned: A person who is behind the times; has outdated
ideas or beliefs. Opposite: Modern.
Opinionated: A person with an opinion on most things, and who
will voice (tell) their opinions to others.
Optimistic: A person who always sees the good in things and
feels that today is better than yesterday and
tomorrow will be better than today.
Opposite: pessimistic.
Passionate: A person with strong feelings; strong emotions.
Patient: A person who can wait without getting upset; does
not rush others; lets others take the time they need
without getting angry or upset. Opposite: impatient.
Persuasive: A person who is able to convince people to agree
with their ideas or point of view; the ability to
change people’s opinions, points of view, beliefs,
attitudes, or personal philosophies.
Pessimistic: A person who always sees the bad in things; thinks
today is worse than yesterday and tomorrow will be
worse than today. Opposite: optimistic.

54
Phony: A person who hides his or her true feelings;
pretends to like people they really don’t just to
make them like him or her; not for real; fake.
Practical: Does not do foolish things; does not waste things.
Polite: A person who is thoughtful of others; is not rude.
Pretentious: A person who tries too hard to sound intelligent or
important.
Proud: A person who is happy with who they are; aware of
one’s own good qualities; feels he or she is just as
good as anyone else. Opposite: inferiority complex.
Prudish: A person who thinks sex is dirty and/or sinful; a
person who has problems with sex, and is even
afraid of it.
Punctual: A person who does things, or meets people when he
or she says they would; a person always on time.
Reasonable: A person who uses reason and fairness, not emotion
and selfishness.
Reckless: A person who is not careful; will take dangerous
chances; does not think of the dangers of their
actions; does not take precautions to prevent
disaster from happening. Opposite: careful.
Respectful: A person who shows respect to others.
Reliable: A person who can be trusted; does what he or she
says he or she will do. Opposite: unreliable.
Responsible: A person who does what he or she should do or
promises to do.
Romantic: A person who loves and uses romance.
Rude: A person who easily insults others. Opposite: polite.
Selfish: A person who only cares and/or thinks about
himself or herself; will infringe on the rights of
others in order to make himself or herself happy;
does not respect the individual happiness of others.
Sensitive: A person who is in touch with his or her own and
others feelings; caring and thoughtful.
Opposite: insensitive.
Sensual: A person who can make others feel sexy, attractive,
and/or desirable.
Serious: A person who does not fool around; is not
humorous and/or playful. Opposite: humorous.
Sexual: A person that enjoys sex and thinks that sex is a
wonderful and natural thing.
Shallow: A person who does not think very much; cares only
about appearance or face; judges others only on
their appearance or wealth. Opposite: deep.
Short-tempered: A person who gets angry easily.
Shy: A person who feels uncomfortable talking to and/or
meeting others; dislikes being noticed by others.
Opposite: ham, extrovert.
Sincere: A person who is honest and truthful; not tricky.

55
Sinful: A person who sins; enjoys doing things that are
religiously or socially condemned or thought of as
bad.
Snob: A person that does not respect those they feel are of
a lower class than himself or herself, to the point of
being rude.
Smart: Intelligent, not stupid.
Spiritual: A person that believes in the supernatural (that
which is beyond the natural world): spirits, ghosts,
gods, or God; very religious.
Stubborn: A person who is unwilling to change his or her
ideas or opinions even when they are proven
incorrect or wrong.
Stylish: A person who has his or her own look; thinks about
fashion and appearance.
Supportive: A person who supports (helps) others in achieving
their goals or helping them when they fail.
Talkative: A person who talks a lot; loves to talk.
Tease, A: A woman who will use her sexual attraction to trick
or use men to do things for her without doing
anything in return; a woman or girl who plays with
men’s hearts, just to break them or disappoint them.
Thoughtful: A person who thinks of others.
Traditional: A person who follows the beliefs and traditions of
his or her ancestors; unwilling to change the ways
of the past for modern ways. Opposite: modern.
Tricky: A dishonest person; a person who will lie and trick
others.
Trustful: A person who can be trusted; honest and reliable.
Understanding: A person who can understand the problems of
others; sensitive and caring.
Unfriendly: A person who is not friendly or kind to others; does
not like to or try to make friends.
Unreliable: A person others cannot trust or depend on.
Opposite: reliable.
Unromantic: A person who is not romantic; too practical or
serious to enjoy romance.
Vain: A person who cares too much about their personal
physical appearance; thinks of himself or herself as
being very beautiful or attractive; in love with
oneself.
Wimpy: Not strong; able to be pushed around by others;
weak in body and mind.
Wolf, a: A man who tries to force, trick, and/or lie to a
woman just for sex.
Womanizer: A man who chases women, even after marriage; a
man who can never be satisfied with having only
one woman.
Workaholic: A person who needs to be constantly working;
cannot enjoy life or the pleasures of life; cannot just
relax or do something just for the fun of it.

56
What’s his/her/your personality? What kind of person is he/she?
That’s her/his/your point of view. It takes one to know one.
She’s my dream girl. I wish I could be more like you.
That’s his/her/my personality. What’s his/her character?
Tell me more about her/him. You are quite a character.
How do you think/feel about him/her? He/she is quite a character.
He’s my prince charming.
Birds of a feather flock together.
I never met anyone like him/her before.
Why do you think/feel he/she is that way?
The most important thing is personality.
What kind of person are you looking for?
You should try to be more like me/him/her.
Can you tell me more about yourself?
What kind of character is he/she?
Describe his/her/your personality.
Why do you think/feel you are that way?
How can you be so ?
(Personality)
I wish I could be more .
(Personality)
You should try to be more .
(Personality)
I cannot stand people who are .
(Personality)
I wish more people could be .
(Personality).

57
LESSON ONE: PERSONALITY
Girlfriend’s Point of view Mother’s Point of view
VERY HONEST TOO HONEST
RESPONSIBLE IRRESPONSIBLE
PATIENT VERY PATIENT
SENSITIVE & CARING CALLOUS
FUNNY CRUDE
SENSUAL & ROMANTIC TOO SEXUAL
HARDWORKING VERY LAZY
GENEROUS SELFISH
INTELLIGENT INTELLIGENT
KNOWLEDGEABLE NOT WELL READ
CREATIVE CREATIVE
PROUD ARROGANT / NOT HUMBLE
HAS THE HEART OF A CHILD CHILDISH
LITTLE STUBBORN STUBBORN
FRIENDLY UNFRIENDLY
DEPENDENT INDEPENDENT
RESPECTFUL DISRESPECTFUL
MATURE
KIND & HELPFUL
INSIGHTFUL
FRUGAL
ADVENTUROUS, YET ALSO A HOMEBODY
ARTICULATE
IMMATURE
A PSYCHOLOGICAL BULLY
INSIGHTFUL
WAISTFUL
A HOMEBODY
ARTICULATE
From looking at how Joe’s mother and girlfriend see him and seeing that their points of view on him are so
different, we can get some ideas about their personalities too.
Who do you think is more well read, Joe’s mother or his girlfriend? Why?
Who do you think is more humorous, Joe’s mother or girlfriend? Why?
Who do you think is more honest, Joe’s mother or girlfriend? Why?
Who do you think is more prudish, Joe’s mother or girlfriend? Why?
Who do you think is more of a workaholic, Joe’s mother or girlfriend? Why?
Joe is the author of this book and he is an interesting
character. Below is how his mother and his girlfriend would
describe his personality. Although he is the same person, his
mother and girlfriend have very different points of view on
his personality. Read and/or listen to how the closest women
in his life think of him and think about what his personality
must really be like.

58
Exercise Two: [individual, and pair work]
First: Write down at least six personality words that you feel describe your
personality and six personality words that describe your perfect mate (dream
girl or prince charming).
Your Personality
Your Perfect Mate’s Personality
Second: With a partner ask and answer the following questions. Be sure to
use each of the personality words you gave yourself and your perfect mate.
Dialog one: My personality:
I think/feel I am ____________________________________________.
(Personality word)
Why do you think/feel you are ________________________________?
(Personality word)
I think/feel I am __________________________,
(Personality word)
because ______________________________________________________________.
(Reason)
Dialog two: My perfect mate:
I would like a (girl/boyfriend, husband/wife, lover) who is____________________.
(Personality word)
Why is ___________________________ important to you in a (girl/boyfriend, mate)?
(Personality word)
I want a (girl/boyfriend, husband/wife, lover) who is __________________________,
(Personality word)
because ______________________________________________________________.
(Reason)

59
Exercise Three: [class activity]
Students: stand up and question classmates who are of the opposite sex. If a
classmate matches one of your personality words for your perfect mate and
can give you a good reason for them feeling that they have that
characteristic, write down their name next to the word. Talk to as many
different students as possible (at least six or seven). Find which classmate
most closely matches the personality of your perfect mate. Use the dialog
pattern below to help you find your match. Also be sure to answer your
classmate’s questions about you and then move on to another classmate.
Do you feel/think* you are _______________________________________?
(Personality word)
1) No I don’t think/feel I am __________________________________.
(Personality word)
OR
2) Yes I think/feel I am ________________________________________________.
(Personality word)
[If “yes”, ask your next question. If “no”, go back to the first question and ask about
the next personality word on your list]
Why do you think/feel you are ____________________________________?
(Personality word)
I feel/think I am _____________________________________,
(Personality word)
because ________________________________________________________________.
(Reason)
*
Students often have trouble with the pronunciation of the word “think”. They often place
their tongues behind their teeth pronouncing “sink” instead of placing their tongues flatly
under their the upper teeth.
Some students will pronounce the “th” but drop the “k” at the end of the word think,
pronouncing “thing”

60
Exercise Four: [individual and pair or group work]
First: Read and/or listen to the following conversations between a man and a
woman. For each conversation choose one personality word that you feel
best describes the personalities of the man and woman.
Conversation one:
Man: Sorry I’m late.
Woman: I’ve been waiting for over an hour!
Man: I said I was sorry. My boss asked me to do something at the last minute. It’s not
my fault.
Woman: This is the third time you have done this to me in the past two weeks. Last time
you told me that you had car trouble.
Man: Well I did.
Which personality word best describes the man? ________________________
Which personality word best describes the woman? ________________________
Conversation two:
Man: Have you been crying?
Woman: Yes, I have been having some personal problems lately.
Man: Do you want to talk about it? Sometimes just having someone to talk to can help a
lot.
Woman: I’d really like that. I think I need to talk to someone. I feel I am losing control. I
just start crying for no reason.
Conversation three:
Man: I cannot believe you! How can you think that!
Woman: I’ve read several books on the topic. They say that.
Man: Just because it is written in a book doesn’t mean it’s true. I am telling you from
personal experience that you are wrong.
Woman: I am sorry, but I still disagree.
Man: You are so stubborn!
Woman: You also disagree with me, so why am I stubborn, and you’re not?

61
Conversation four:
Man: I got you something. It’s just a little something to show you how much you mean
to me.
Woman: Roses? How could you waste your money on roses? They’ll be dead in just a
few days.
Man: I just want to express my love for you.
Woman: I know you love me. You didn’t have to waste your money buying roses. You
have to save your money so we can buy a house.
Conversation five:
Woman: Do you like my new Hello Kitty handbag and my matching pink dress?
Man: How old are you?
Woman: I’m 20 years old, why?
Man: Don’t you think you’re a little too old for Hello Kitty?
Woman: No, Hello Kitty is soooo cute. My bedroom is filled with Hello Kitty things. I
love Hello Kitty. I am even getting a Hello Kitty car next month.
Man: I think you need to act your age.
Conversation six:
Woman: Sir, could you please let me pass by.
Man: Hey come on, babe. Don’t be running away. I can show you a real hot time.
Woman: You have been drinking and I am not interested.
Man: Oh come on. You know you want it. You sexy babes always have to play hard to
get, but I know you need it as much as I do.
Woman: If you do not let me by I am going to call a cop! Now get out of my way!
Man: Gees,. fine! Go if you want to, you little tease!

Straight Talk

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Similar to Straight Talk

Similar to Straight Talk (20)

More from Joseph N. Wdowski, B.F.A., M.S. Ed.

More from Joseph N. Wdowski, B.F.A., M.S. Ed. (20)

Straight Talk