Family relationships are an important part of our lives, from birth of children, to weddings, to our old age. However, learning to get along with everyone is sometimes a challenge. Listen to the words below and consult a dictionary if you need a definition. Write a sample sentence for each word to learn how it is used in context. You can use the Internet to find such sentences and related information.

1. brother
2. cousin
3. ex-husband
4. family
5. father
6. father-in-law
7. fiancée
8. girlfriend
9. grandparents
10. husband
11. mother
12. nephew
13. niece
14. sister
15. step-brother
16. twin
17. widow / widower
18. wife

• get a long (well) with
• get divorced
• get married / tie the knot
• hang out with

III. Follow-Up: Top

Talk about your family, including what they do for a living, if they are married or not, and how well you get along with each member. Then, discuss what things contribute to a happy family (e.g., having things in common, sharing the same ideals and feelings, etc.). Search for advice and keys on raising a happy family. Finally, are these keys to success different from culture to culture?

Online Listening Practice (from www.esl-lab.com and www.trainyouraccent.com):

• Family Relationships: Easy