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Video Response
1058 Parenting Here and There
Layla talks about differences in parenting and family life in the U.S. and France.
- Transcript
- Audio Slide Show
- Vocabulary
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Layla
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Todd
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MP3 Link
Layla: Yes, there is a lot of difference about the education is different. The education in France, parents are more strict than here, but yeah, the lifestyle is different, too.
Todd: So you say that the parents are more strict in France. Like can you give an example? How are they more strict?
Layla: Like, here it's rare when parents say 'no' to their kids, and they say most of the time 'yes' for almost everything. But it's a good thing. It's a good thing, too, yeah.
Todd: So, you're saying the kids are spoiled?
Layla: A little bit, yeah. Sometimes.
Todd: What about like the daily routines of family life? Is there anything different about the daily routine?
Layla: Here in the U.S. we have a lot of au pairs, and a lot of nannies, and in France the parents - most of the time - one of the parents work, and the other takes care of the kids. And here, in the U.S., I notice that both parents work all the time. It's rare when the parents take care of the kids. They contract a nanny most of the time.
Todd: So, now that you've been an au pair for awhile, would you recommend being an au pair for other people?
Layla: Yeah, sure. Of courses. It's a very good experience, and it's very good for our resume, for people who want to finish their study, and to find work, and it's a good way to learn English.
Todd: OK, well, it was nice talking to you.
Layla: Thank you. You too.
You've seen obviously life in France.
We use the adverb 'obviously' when we want to express something the listener is sure to know or be aware of. The question or comment would be obvious to the speaker. Here are a few more examples:
- Because of the rain, there will be no game obviously.
- As a Japanese person, you obviously must know about sumo wrestling.
You're saying the kids are spoiled.
A spoiled child is a child who gets anything they want. We usually use the term spoiled in a negative way, showing that someone gets what they want too much for their own good. However, it can be used positively sometimes. Notice the following:
- That kid is so spoiled. He is going to have problems later in life. (negative reference)
- I have a great boss and coworkers. I am very spoiled. (positive reference)
Both parents work all the time.
The term 'all the time' means 'often'. It shows that someone commits a lot of time to doing something. The phrase 'all the time' does not mean literally every minute of the day, but rather that something happens frequently. Here are a few more uses of 'all the time':
- I played soccer all the time as a kid.
- I see that guy all the time driving around town.
You've been an au pair for awhile.
The phrase 'for awhile' refers to a lengthy period of time. We use the phrase 'for awhile' when we want to talk about time in general. The opposite of 'for awhile' is the term 'for not very long' which means a short period of time. Here are a few examples:
- I've been studying Spanish for awhile, but I still can't speak it.
- It's been awhile since I last saw Mary in class.
It's good for your resumé.
A resumé is a piece of paper that lists a person's job history and education history. When you apply for a job, you often have to submit a resumé. North Americans use resumés, while the British use C.V.'s. Notice the following:
- Could you please proofread my resumé for me?
- You should update your resumé before looking for work.
