Unit 4 Why don't you talk to your parents?

Section A

1b Listen and Circle the problems you hear in la.

You look really tired. What's the matter?

I studied until midnight last night so I didn't get enough sleep.

Why don't you go to sleep earlier tonight?

You can start studying earlier.

But I have two after-school classes today.

So I can only start studying after dinner.

Maybe you should tell your parents that you can't do so many things.

I did, but they think it's important that I take more after-school classes.

Well, they probably want you to get into a good senior high school.

Yes, I guess that's the reason.

You should talk to them again.

Explain to them that you need to get enough sleep to stay healthy.

That's a good idea.

OK, I'll try to talk to them again.

2a Listen. Peter's friend is giving him advice.

Fill in the blanks with could or should.

Hey, Peter, what's wrong?

I had a fight with my best friend.

What should I do?

Well, you could write him a letter.

I don't think so, although it's a good idea.

I'm just not very good at writing letters.

Maybe you should call him up.

No, I don't want to talk about it on the phone.

But you really should talk to him so that you can say you're sorry.

Yes, I know I should, but it's not easy.

Maybe you could go to his house.

I guess I could, but I don't want to surprise him.

Hey, I know.

You could take him to the ball game.

But the ball game is next week.

I don't want to wait until then to talk to him.

2b Listen again. Why doesn't Peter like his friend's advice?

Write the letters (a-e) next to the advice in 2a.

Hey, Peter, what's wrong?

I had a fight with my best friend.

What should I do?

Well, you could write him a letter.

I don't think so, although it's a good idea.

I'm just not very good at writing letters.

Maybe you should call him up.

No, I don't want to talk about it on the phone.

But you really should talk to him so that you can say you're sorry.

Yes, I know I should, but it's not easy.

Maybe you could go to his house.

I guess I could, but I don't want to surprise him.

Hey, I know.

You could take him to the ball game.

But the ball game is next week.

I don't want to wait until then to talk to him.

2d Role-play the conversation.

You look sad, Kim. What's wrong?

Well, I found my sister looking through my things yesterday.

She took some of my new magazines and CDs.

Hmm... that's not very nice. Did she give them back to you?

Yes, but I'm still angry with her.

What should I do?

Well, I guess you could tell her to say sorry.

But why don't you forget about it so that you can be friends again?

Although she's wrong, it's not a big deal.

You're right. Thanks for your advice.

No problem. Hope things work out.

3a Look at this letter to a magazine and the reply from Robert Hunt, a school counselor. Complete the chart.

Dear Mr. Hunt,

My problem is that I can't get on with my family. Relations between my parents have become difficult. They fight a lot, and I really don't like it. It's the only communication they have. I don't know if I should say anything to them about this. When they argue, it's like a big, black cloud hanging over our home. Also, my elder brother is not very nice to me. He always refuses to let me watch my favorite TV show. Instead he watches whatever he wants until late at night. I don't think this is fair. At home I always feel lonely and nervous. Is that normal? What can I do?

Sad and Thirteen

Dear Sad and Thirteen,

It's not easy being your age, and it's normal to have these feelings. Why don't you talk about these feelings with your family? If your parents are having problems, you should offer to help.

Maybe you could do more jobs around the house so that they have more time for proper communication. Secondly, why don't you sit down and communicate with your brother? You should explain that you don't mind him watching TV all the time. However, he should let you watch your favorite show. I hope things will be better for you soon.

Robert Hunt