While teaching my Pre-Intermediate class a "Family Tree", an interesting question came up.
I went through the usual vocabulary….mother, brother, father, sister, brother-in-law, uncle, cousin and we moved on to some more difficult ones like ex- husband, half brother, niece and nephew (which they always get confused).
After we went through my family tree, which is very "blended" as I like to call it, I had them draw their own families and label them. While walking around, I was stopped by one very excited student, Driss. He had an urgent question.
Before I continue, I have to make you aware that this class takes place at 8:15am and I had not had my coffee yet.
So Driss is showing me his family tree and has a question about one of the relationships. He shows me his grandfather and grandmother and then next to the grandfather it says "new marriage". I was confused at that and ask:
"Was this new marriage after your grandmother died?"
"Uh, no it wasn't."
I stand there confused for a second while I can literally feel the synapses trying to piece this puzzle together. BING!
"Oh we call this the 2nd wife." Duh!
Lesson for the day…don't forget your coffee before an 8:15 class :)
His question continued.
"So the son of the 2nd wife, is that my half-brother or just my brother?" he says
I respond. "When you introduce him, do you say this is my half-brother or just as your brother?"
"My brother" was his answer.
"So there you are. In English, when we don't have 2nd wives, we would say half brother but you can call him your brother if that's what you decide".
Again. Learning something new every day :)
I went through the usual vocabulary….mother, brother, father, sister, brother-in-law, uncle, cousin and we moved on to some more difficult ones like ex- husband, half brother, niece and nephew (which they always get confused).
After we went through my family tree, which is very "blended" as I like to call it, I had them draw their own families and label them. While walking around, I was stopped by one very excited student, Driss. He had an urgent question.
Before I continue, I have to make you aware that this class takes place at 8:15am and I had not had my coffee yet.
So Driss is showing me his family tree and has a question about one of the relationships. He shows me his grandfather and grandmother and then next to the grandfather it says "new marriage". I was confused at that and ask:
"Was this new marriage after your grandmother died?"
"Uh, no it wasn't."
I stand there confused for a second while I can literally feel the synapses trying to piece this puzzle together. BING!
"Oh we call this the 2nd wife." Duh!
Lesson for the day…don't forget your coffee before an 8:15 class :)
His question continued.
"So the son of the 2nd wife, is that my half-brother or just my brother?" he says
I respond. "When you introduce him, do you say this is my half-brother or just as your brother?"
"My brother" was his answer.
"So there you are. In English, when we don't have 2nd wives, we would say half brother but you can call him your brother if that's what you decide".
Again. Learning something new every day :)
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