Every society bases on the family. In any societies, there are nuclear families: two-generation families, and extended families: grandparents, parents, and children live together. In the old days, there are only extended families in which women have no right to decide family affairs, and children always obey their arents. However, there are a lot of changes in Vietnamese families nowadays.
First of all, it is the change in the size of a family. In a typical vietnamese family, there are three or four generations living together, but now young people tend to nuclear farrnilies in which they don't want to be controlled by anybody. Some young couples don't want to see their parents very often because they think that their parents may interfere with their marital affairs.
Moreover, when people realize that if they have fewer children, their children will have a better life; they will get more success in their career and have higher position in society. So now, every family often has one or two children.
Another aspect is that more and more women go out to work, and they can delay having children with the help of modern science. Now women usually have the same rights as man. They are no longer led by men, and can decide everyt1rlng in the family together with their husbands.
Moreover, children also have more freedom. They seem not always to obey their parents. They can do what they like. When their parents complain about their ways of living or thinking, trey usually say that their parents are Gidfashionedold-fashioned.
In summary; Vietnamese families now are quite different from those in the past.
Do you think these changes are good'? What are the advantages and disadvantages of these changes? To nave satisfactory answers you are warmly invited to discussion today
Questions and Discussion
1. How many people are there in your family? Are they living in the same house?
2. Wnat is a nuclear family? What is the difference between a nuclear family and an extended family?
3. How is your life different from your parent's and your grandparents' ivies? What do your parents think of family?
4. Do you get among well with, your family? Do you get along well with your brothers and sisters? Do you get along well with your parents-in-laws?
5. Do you live with your parents? Do you live with any of your grandparents? Do you often 3i gun_ with your mother or father? What about?
6. As one Chinese saying goes "Settle your accommodation before you establish' your business". What is your idea about it?
7. Is it true that "a rolling stone gathers no moss"? Do you think changes are good? What do think of changes in Vietnamese families? What are causes of fast family changes?
8. Do you think family is the foundation, motivation and encouragement for you to get success in life? Do you have to cope with difficulties in your own family?
9. Right now, do you live in the nuclear family or in an extended one? What do you think your family life will be like in the future?
10. What kind of family will your children and grandchildren live in? Now is a happy family? What should we do to build up a happy family?
11. Who is the breadwinner in your family? Who is the problem shooter? And who is usually the problem maker? Are you one of the troublemakers?
