Integrated Discourse Skills Development

I. Polylogue Discourse Modelling

Pair/Group Discussion

Prepare for an extended class discussion of a set of topical issues.

1. Individual Work: Make a detailed study of 1) the basic Texts in the Unit;

2) the focus vocabulary; 3) supplementary sources of your own choice. Look through the following questions for further discussion in class and think of possible answers to them.

Questions for Discussion

1. Why do people marry?

2. How do you see your would-be marriage partner? An ideal wife/husband?

3. Marriage for love or for convenience – which is it to be?

4. What if love comes later and for another person? Should one step out of marriage? Deceive? Suppress your feelings?

5. How do you view the roles of man and woman in a marriage (Equal? Dominant?)

6. What are the possible reasons for a marriage failure?

7. What kinds of crises may a family have to go through?

8. How should one handle the situation?

9. What a habit makes most couples stay together (even when there is no more love lost between them)? A voluntary prison? A live sentence?

10. Why is adultery in a marriage almost inevitable? Do you view it as acceptable? Only for men or for women too? Can it be forgiven under any circumstances? Which ones, if any? Is adultery to be viewed only in terms of “physical” betrayal or a breach of trust? Is “platonic” love for another person also “adultery”? Do you believe it exists at all?

11. How to make a success of a marriage? We all hope to marry for life and have a lifetime of happiness. Can you make up a list of “dos” and “don’ts”, a kind of “10 testaments” – positive and negative – to ensure a happy marriage?

12. What are the advantages/disadvantages of marriage compared with cohabitation? What’s your personal choice? Why?

13. What should be more important in a family – the wife-husband-relationship or the children?

14. What can you endure (what harmful habits) in your partner to keep the marriage?

- no drinks;

- abuse;

- drug-addict;

- a dependent parasite (альфонс).

15. Many sociologists believe that romantic love leads to unrealistic expectations and often ends in divorce. Do you think successful marriage depends more on communication, respect and values held in common than romantic love? Do you think marriage at later ages would be more stable?

16. Many traditional-minded people believe that divorce is morally tainted and that marriage should be preserved at all costs. Do you think that divorce is a possible solution for a marriage failure? Do you think a split can be prevented by timely counselling?

17. A rise in the divorce rate seems to be worldwide at present. Do you think the reasons are mainly economic or social? What can be done to curb the divorce explosion? Are these measures necessary?

18. How should the spouses behave if the marriage breaks up? As friends? Enemies? Strangers?

19. Divorces and remarriages create the situation in which children find themselves the sufferers. They have to go through a great deal of stress and strain. What do you think can offset the adverse effect of parents’ divorces on children? What do parents have to do to deal with the impact of the separation process on children?