Parenting: A Challenging, but Rewarding Job

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IDIOMS!

"Rack your brains" = think very hard
"We racked our brains all weekend trying to come up with a solution to our problem."
"horse around" = play around in a silly, improper, or lazy manner
"Sometimes, my kids just horse around and don't get their chores done."

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[ Quiz Script ]

Parenting:
A Challenging, but Rewarding Job

I. Pre-Listening Exercises
II. Listening Exercises
III. Vocabulary
IV. Post-Listening Exercises
V. Online Investigations

Level:	Topic:	Type:	Speakers:	Length:
medium	parenting	conversation	man - daughter	01:13

I. Pre-Listening Exercises [Top]

What are some of the greatest challenges that face parents when raising children in today's world? What are some specific challenges or issues dealing with child rearing that are unique to your culture or part of the world (e.g., education, freedom, religion, dress, discipline, etc.)?

HELPFUL TIP: It is easy to rescue children from their problems, but we can help them more if we teach our kids the skills to solving their own problems starting from when they are small.

children

II. Listening Exercises [Top]

I. Listen to the conversation by pressing the "Play Audio" button and answer the questions. Press the "Final Score" button to check your quiz.

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[ What are these different audio choices? ]

[ Other Audio Options: Play RealMedia | Play Window Media ]

1. Where does this conversation take place?
A. at the girl's dormitory
B. at their home
C. in the car

2. What might have happened to the family car?
A. The woman drove it into some deep water.
B. Some people stole the vehicle by the lake.
C. The man's daughter hit a tree on a picnic.

3. The father's computer is currently ____________.
A. in a repair shop after the woman dumped water on it
B. being stored safely in the vehicle by the lake
C. in serious trouble unless it is in a waterproof container

4. The man's daughter might have been dating a man who was ___________.
A. majoring in criminal justice at the university
B. or will be involved in some illegal activity
C. working as an officer in a police gang unit

5. From the conversation, the father's best course of action in the next 20 minutes is to ____________.
A. sit on his front porch and watch the sunset
B. plant some new sunflowers in his yard
C. jump in his car and leave home or call the police

Score =
Correct answers:

II. Listen to the conversation again as you read the Quiz Script.

III. Vocabulary Activities [Top]

Review the key vocabulary from the conversation: [ Why do these? ]

IV. Post-Listening Exercises [Top]

Parenting is one job people take on without any experience. It is not like working at a restaurant. Therefore, in what ways can new parents prepare for the new adventure as parents? What challenges do parents face in raising and caring for new infants, toddlers, teenagers, and even adult children?

V. Online Investigations - [ What's This? ] [Top]
Use the Internet to find three specific suggestions on raising and understanding teenagers. Do you think that these recommendations are applicable to all situations, families, and nationalities? Why or why not?

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