Advantages and Disadvantages of Being an Only Child

The Advantages:

Being an only child can be either good or bad, depending on how you perceive it and how you are brought up by your parents. The advantages could be that you get the undivided love and attention of your parents. They would dote on you more and provide for you more - in terms of getting you stuff, toys, etc. Obviously, being an only child means that your parents have only you to spend the money on and not have to share it among other siblings. So, you'd get more toys than normal, more money to spend than normal, more inheritance than normal, and of course more love from your parents than normal.

As an only child, you may also be spared the complications arising out of having an overbearing, unhelpful, competitive sibling. It is no fun having a sibling like this, who hoards the attention of your parents, who in the eyes of your parents can do no wrong and is doted upon to no end, often at your expense. They may well walk off with much of the inheritance by virtue of being the doted one in the family. As an only child, you would be free of any of these complications.

As an only child, you may grow up to be more independent and able to fend for yourself better, if your parents haven't spoiled you by tending to your each and every need. Not having an older sibling to help you every step of the way may in that sense be beneficial and make you capable of looking after yourself earlier in life. Therefore, being an only child can certainly have its advantages.

 

Disadvantages of being an only child

As far as disadvantages go, the "Little Emperor Syndrome" comes to mind. For those unfamiliar with the term, "Little Emperor Syndrome" refers to the Chinese situation involving parents and their single child. Of course, all of you would be aware of China's one-child policy. Little Emperor Syndrome is an unintended consequence of that policy. This is a situation in which the parents lavish their love, attention, resources on this one child of theirs, and as a result, the child becomes spoilt and, well, behaves like a "Little Emperor." This sort of excessive attention and care can prove detrimental in the long term for the child. The child gets used to having everything done, managed, taken care of - by their parents. When they have to live in the real world and face real problems, they might not be able to cope with it. They may lack self-confidence to go out in the world and get things done for themselves. They might feel lost outside of the cocoon that their parents created for them. This of course need not always be the case and can be overcome by good parenting.

Perhaps the most apparent disadvantage of being an only child is the feeling of loneliness - not having a sibling to play with regularly and to be able to share your thoughts and memories with. When you parents are no longer around, not having a sibling to talk about things with or look up to for any kind of help or support can be quite a disadvantage. Also, when your parents get older, being an only child, you would have to shoulder the responsibility of taking care of your parents on your own, which might be overwhelming. As an only child, you may also face an immense pressure put on you by your parents; for example, to keep the family name going or to do well in your academics. As an only child, you would also be watched with an eagle eye by your parents and this may be quite suffocating and stressful for you. If you had siblings, the pressure wouldn't be as much and you may perhaps be able to lead a more stress-free life. This again would be a highly subjective experience. There may be many who may feel no stress at all and are able to take this pressure, real or perceived, within their stride.

Примерный перечень заданий к тексту к разделу 8

(??)Match the words from the text and their synonyms. Подберите к данным словам синонимы.

(~) misbehave ~ act up

(~) guide ~ manage

(~) reassurance ~ support

(~) ailment ~ sickness

(~) tease ~ bedevil

(~) сourtesy ~ politeness

(~) emphasize ~ accent

(~) frustration ~ disappointment

(~) expose ~ treat

(~) stand up for ~ defend

(~) anticipate ~ expect

(~) gain ~ obtain

(~) get along with ~ get on

 

(??)Match the halves of the sentences. Соедините половины предложений.

(~) Children need to feel that … ~ … they belong to the family, to the class at school, to a group of friends.

(~) Give your child attention when …~… he or she is behaving well

(~) Children misbehave when …~… they feel inadequate or lack confidence.

(~) Help children understand that …~… everyone makes mistakes.

(~) A change in behavior is often a sign that …~… a child is ill or has a physical discomfort.

(~) This is when children need adults …~… who can accept their feelings to help them cope with their disappointment.

(~) People often say discouraging things to children that …~… they would never say to an adult.

(~) Your child’s actions will improve if …~… you show signs of love: hugs, kind words, and sharing experiences.

(~) We need to make clear to children which …~… behaviors we want them to choose for themselves.

(~) Television comedy is full of …~… this type of sarcasm among friends and family.

 

Примерный перечень тем диалогов к разделу 8:

1. Some families have an only child; others choose to have two, three or even more children.

What can you say for and against being an only child in the family?

 

2. Our grandparents say their way of life was more much secure. However, young people have many more life opportunities nowadays.

What is your opinion? Which way of life do you find more satisfying?

3. Lots of young people believe that it’s important to look nice. However, adults often think that young peopleray too much attention to their appearance and fashion.

What is your opinion? Do you care what you wear?

ПРАКТИЧЕСКОЕ ЗАДАНИЕ К РАЗДЕЛУ 9

Форма практического задания: текст и задания к нему

Примерный перечень текстов для чтения и перевода к разделу 9

Вариант 1.

Recruitment

The process of finding people for particular jobs is recruitment or, especially in Am. English, hiring. Someone who has been recruited is a recruit or, in Am. English, a hire. The company employs or hires them; they join the company. A company may recruit employees directly or use outside recruiters, recruitment agencies or employment agencies. Outside specialists called headhunters may be called on to headhunt people for very important jobs, persuading them to leave the organizations they already work for. This process is called headhunting. B. Applying for a job Fred is a van driver, but he was fed up with long trips. He looked in the situations vacant pages of his local newspaper, where a local supermarket was advertising for van drivers for a new delivery service. He applied for the job by completing an application form and sending it in. Harry is a building engineer. He saw a job in the appointment pages of one of the national papers. He made an application, sending in his CV (curriculum vitae – the “story” of his working life) and a covering letter explaining why he wanted the job and why he was the right person for it. Note: BrE: CV; AmE: resume BrE: covering letter; AmE: cover letter. C. Selection procedures Dagmar Schmidt is the head of recruitment at a German telecommunications company. She talks about the selection process, the methods that the company uses to recruit people: “We advertise in national newspapers. We look at the backgrounds of applicants: their experience of different jobs and their educational qualifications. We don’t ask for handwritten letters of application as people usually apply by email; handwriting analysis belongs to the 19th century. We invite the most interesting candidates to a group discussion. Then we have individual interviews with each candidate. We also ask the candidates to do written psychological tests to assess their intelligence and personality. After this we shortlist three or four candidates. We check their references by writing to their referees: previous employers or teachers that candidates have named in their applications. If the references are OK, we ask the candidates to come back for more interviews. Finally, we offer the job to someone, and if they turn it down we have to think again. If they accept it, we hire them. We only appoint someone if we find the right person”.

Вариант 2.

Types of interviews

Job interviews are great opportunities for you to show to your potential employers what kind of employee you'll be if they hire you; your chances to have a successful interview will depend on the type of interview they hold. But it doesn't mean necessarily that your future will depend on it.

You must be prepared to whichever interview will present and knowledge will be your best weapon, you must include information on the industry, the employer and yourself; you might be wondering: who knows better than you? It's important to be aware on it.

Companies carry out different types of interviews upon the professional profile they require. This section will give you real and useful insights into each type of job interview. For instance, the stress interview section contains many useful details about how to create stressful environments in order to assess job seekers' emotional intelligence and problem solving skills. On the other hand, group interview test candidates on communication abilities. If you want to know more about the main types of interviews, we recommend you to browse through this section, and follow these pieces of advice on interviews.

 

Примерный перечень заданий к тексту к разделу 9

(??)Match the words from the text and their synonyms. Подберите к данным словам синонимы.

(~) emerge ~ appear

(~) enormously ~ immensely

(~) survey ~ interview

(~) venue ~ meeting point

(~) sudden ~ unhoped

(~) conduct ~ manage

(~) vendor ~ seller

(~) extend ~ enlarge

(~) equal ~ identical

(~) elevator ~ lift

(~) mingle ~ mix

(~) keep on ~ continue

(~) alumni ~ graduate

 

(??)Match the halves of the sentences. Соедините половины предложений.

(~) Over forty percent of the working population is … ~ … currently seeking other employment.

(~) The truly shocking fact, however, is …~… that the majority of these people are doing all the wrong things to find a job.

(~) Don't make the mistake of thinking that these …~… out-of-the-blue opportunities are accidents.

(~) Finding job opportunities takes a …~… disciplined approach using strategies that are proven to work.

(~) The only way to beat the odds and the competition is …~… to actively market yourself and locate positions before they are advertised.

(~)Finding a job is …~… all about people.

(~) Surveys estimate that …~… 74-85 percent of available jobs are never advertised anywhere.

(~) They know you best and can give you a jump start toward locating a job that …~… might be right for you.

(~) Consider extending your reach by contacting alumni from …~… your university or training school.

(~) Marketing yourself as a job-seeker means locating the people who …~… who can offer or lead you to opportunities.

Написать эссе на одну из предложенных тем:

1. Jack of all trades and master of none. За всё берущийся человек, гно ничего не умеющий делать

2. Where there's a will, there's a way. Где есть желание, там есть и путь.

3. A light purse is heavy curse. Хуже всех бед, когда нет денег.

Время — 40 мин, объем 500 - 700 печ. зн.

 

Примерный перечень тем диалогов к разделу 9:

1. Not all people enjoy a 9-to-5 working day in an office.

What is your opinion? What can you say for and against working from home.

2. Some graduates would like to have a highly paid job; others believe that their future job should be interesting and bring satisfaction.

And what about you? What is the most important thing for you in your occupation?

3. Should students work part-time to earn money? What is your opinion?

ПРАКТИЧЕСКОЕ ЗАДАНИЕ К РАЗДЕЛУ 10

Форма практического задания: текст и задания к нему

Примерный перечень текстов для чтения и перевода к разделу 10

Вариант 1.

WHAT IS SOCIOLOGY?

The sociologist has a distinctive way of examining human interactions. Sociology is the systematic study of social behavior and human groups. It focuses primarily on the influence of social relationships upon people's attitudes and behavior and on how societies are established and change. As a field of study, sociology has an extremely broad scope and it deals with families, gangs, business firms, political parties, schools, religions, labor unions, etc. It is concerned with love, poverty, conformity, discrimination, illness, alienation, overpopulation and community.

The Sociological Imagination. In attempting to understand social behavior, sociologists rely on unusual type of creative thinking, sociological imagination, i.e.an awareness of the relationship between an individual and the society. Thus instead of simply accepting the fact that movie stars and rock stars are the «royalty» of human society, we could ask, in a more critical sense, why we are not as interested in meeting outstanding scientists, or elementary school teachers, or architects. Sociological imagination can bring new understanding to daily life around us.

Sociology and Social Sciences. The term science refers to the body of knowledge obtained by methods based upon systematic observations. The sciences are commonly divided into natural and social sciences. Natural science is the study of the physical features of nature and the ways in which they interact and change. Astronomy, biology, chemistry, geology and physics are all natural sciences. Social science is the study of various aspects of human society. The social sciences include sociology, anthropology, economics, history, psychology and political sciences.

These academic disciplines have a common focus on the social behavior of people, yet each has a particular orientation in studying such behavior. Anthropologists usually study cultures of the past and preindustrial societies that remain in existence today. Economists explore the ways in which people produce and exchange goods and services. Historians are concerned with the peoples and events of the past and their significance for us today. Political scientists study international relations, the workings of government and the exercise of power and authority. Psychologists investigate personality and individual behavior. In contrast to other social sciences, sociology emphasizes the influence that society has on people's attitudes and behavior. Humans are social animals; therefore, sociologists scientifically examine our social relationships with other people.

To better illustrate the distinctive perspectives of the social sciences, let us examine sociological and psychological approaches to the issue of gambling. Viewed from the perspective of psychology, gambling represents an escape into a fantasy world where great fortune can be attained easily. By contrast, sociologists focus on the social networks that develop among many gamblers. Participants in gambling establish friendship groups. For such persons gambling is a form of recreation and may even be their primary social activity. This example shows that by viewing social phenomena from several perspectives, we can enhance our understanding of human behavior.

Вариант 2.