Tuesday, 2 April 2024

Relationships. Food for thought

handout love-story-teachers-notes &  valentines-day-lp

A Love Story

Tony and Tina met at a party, it was love at first sight, they were both checking each other out for a while until Tony plucked up the courage to go and talk to Tina. He chatted her up for a while then at the end of the night he asked for her number. He called her the next day to ask her out and she said yes. They went out for coffee and discovered that they had so much in common, they were made for each other! They fell head over heels in love and started going out with each other straightaway. One night, they had a huge row because Tony thought that Tina had a thing for his best friend. It was a horrible argument and they broke up but it wasn’t long before they got back together because they just couldn’t stay apart.

2 years later Tony got down on one knee and popped the question to Tina, she said yes and 6 months later they tied the knot in front of their friends and family. A few years later Tony was in the doghouse for a few weeks because he got really drunk with his friends and didn’t come home, Tina was worried sick. For a few days it looked like the marriage might be on the rocks but she forgave him eventually and they both lived happily ever after.

Language Focus

Over the story and try to remember the missing words from the expressions.

1.       It was love ____ first sight

2.       They were both c_________ each other out

3.       He chatted her _____ for a while.

4.       He called her the next day to _____ her out.

5.       They had so much in ______________.

6.       They were made ______ each ___________.

7.       They fell __________ over _________  in love.

8.       Tina had a _____________for his best friend.

9.       They ____________ up but it wasn’t long before they got ___________ together

10.   2 years later Tony got __________ on one knee and ____________ the question to Tina,

11.   6 months later they _________ the knot in front of their friends and family.

12.   Tony was in the ____________ for a few weeks

13.   Tina was worried ______________.

14.   It looked like the marriage might be on the _____________ but she forgave him.

Meaning of the expressions in bold from the context in pairs.

  • love at first sight – fall in love when you first see someone
  • check sb out – look at someone to decide if you’re attracted to them
  • pluck up the courage – be brave
  • chat sb up – flirt with sb
  • ask sb out – arrange a date
  • have a lot in common – have shared interests
  • be made for each other – a perfect match/couple
  • fall head over heels in love – fall madly/deeply in love with sb
  • go out with sb – be in a relationship
  • have a row – argue
  • have a thing for sb – be attracted to sb
  • break/split up – end a relationship
  • get back together with sb – repair a relationship
  • get down on one knee – kneel on one knee
  • pop the question – propose to sb
  • tie the knot – get married
  • be in the doghouse with sb – your partner is angry at you
  • worried sick – v. worried
  • on the rocks – in trouble, danger

For nearly two decades, smartphones have played a huge role in romance, love and dating. Dozens of apps have been created to make it easier to meet a partner. However, dating app companies seem to be in trouble. The world's two largest companies have lost more than $40 billion in market value since 2021. Workers for these companies are losing their jobs. The reason for this is that fewer young people are paying to use the apps. The app companies rely on subscriptions to make a profit. However, many teenagers and people in their twenties no longer want to subscribe to use dating apps. Instead, they are choosing to use free platforms like Snapchat and TikTok to find romance. 

In 2017, NBC News predicted that by 2040, the percentage of couples meeting online would be 70 per cent. Today in the United States, 30 per cent of adults, and over half of adults under 30, use dating apps. About a third of dating app users say they pay for them. However, times are changing. Younger people around the world have less money to spend on things like apps. The New York Times interviewed young people about dating apps. One 18-year-old student said she preferred to meet people in person or through direct messages on social media. She said dating apps were for "casual use, like a game". She added that none of her friends paid for them. She thought that paying for an app was a no-no.



Relationships Vocabulary

Do you see your friends very often?
Yes … we meet up most weekends … we all get on really well and have a lot in common so we’re always happy doing the same things and going to the same places.

What do you like about your close friends?
I think we enjoy each other’s company … we see eye-to-eye on most things so we rarely fall out with each other.

Have you known each other long?
Amy: Most of them yes … although my closest friend Carrie … we struck up a relationship at college and got on like a house on fire … but yes … my other friendships go back years to when we were at school.

I’d like to talk about my boyfriend … Jose … we got to know each other at University almost 4 years ago … we were in the same department … initially we were just good friends and used to go out in a group with our other friends … when Jose went back to Spain for the holidays we would keep in touch with each other … then one year he invited me to come to Spain with him … and that’s when we fell for each other I think … so you couldn’t really say it was love at first sight as it had been over a year since we’d met … but we really hit it off and by the time we got back to university in September we were able to tell all our friends that we were in a relationship … what do I like about Jose … well he’s very kind … very funny … and very supportive … and we’re really well matched in our interests … he hasn’t popped the question yet though … we’ve talked about getting married and I think we’re both ready to settle down and have children  … we’ll just have to wait and see …

Do you think marriage is still as important as ever?
Yes … it certainly is in my country … I think the problem for some people is a lack of commitment … all relationships have their ups and downs …. but some people prefer to break up rather than working at the relationship.

What do you think is the ideal time to get married?
Personally … I think you should wait until you’ve found yourself first … decided if you want a career … perhaps do some travelling … you should do this before tying the knot … although if you fall head over heels in love plans like these can easily be forgotten.

Is it important to keep in contact with our friends when we’re in a relationship?
Absolutely … it’s so easy to drift apart from your friends when you fall in love … but I think both partners should try not to lose touch with their friends  … that’s the best way to have a healthy relationship with your partner.

Definitions

  • to break up: to end a romantic relationship
  • to drift apart: to become less close to someone
  • to enjoy someone’s company: to like spending time with someone
  • to fall for: to fall in love
  • to fall head over heels in love: to start to love someone a lot
  • to fall out with: to have a disagreement and stop being friends
  • to get on like a house on fire: to like someone’s company very much indeed
  • to get on well with: to understand someone and enjoy similar interests
  • to get to know: to begin to know someone
  • to go back years: to have known someone for a long time
  • to have a lot in common: to share similar interests
  • to have ups and downs: to have good and bad times
  • a healthy relationship: a good, positive relationship
  • to hit it off: to quickly become good friends with
  • to be in a relationship: to be romantically involved with someone
  • to be just good friends: to not be romantically involved
  • to keep in touch with: to keep in contact with
  • to lose touch with: to not see or hear from someone any longer
  • love at first sight: to fall in love immediately you meet someone
  • to pop the question: to ask someone to marry you
  • to see eye to eye: to agree on a subject
  • to settle down: to give up the single life and start a family
  • to strike up a relationship:  to begin a friendship
  • to tie the knot: to get married
  • to be well matched: to be similar to
  • to work at a relationship: to try to maintain a positive relationship with someone

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