VIP Class Notes (Raph)[R]

Today we talked about sexism in business and family relationships. We also did some reading, focusing on getting new vocabulary.

Vocabulary

Trivial (adj): 1- having little value or importance.
E.g.: I don’t know why he gets so upset about something so trivial.
E.g.: Sexual harassment in the workplace is not a trivial matter.

Quiz (n/v): 1- to ask someone questions about something. 2- a game or competition in which you answer questions. 3- mainly us a short, informal test:
​E.g.: She spent an hour being quizzed by journalists.
E.g.: A lot of pubs have quiz nights once or twice a week.
E.g.: There was a History quiz at school today.

Offspring (n): 1- a person’s children.
E.g.: Tom’s sister came over on Saturday with all her offspring.

Fatigue (n): 1- extreme tiredness.
E.g.: She was suffering from fatigue.

Reversal (n): 1- the act of changing or making something change to its opposite:
E.g.: He demanded a reversal of the previous decision/policy.

Outweigh (v): 1- to be greater or more important than something else:
E.g.: The benefits of this treatment far outweigh any risks.

Stave off (v): 1-to stop something bad from happening, or to keep an unwanted situation or person away, usually temporarily:
E.g.: We were hoping to stave off these difficult decisions until September.

Parents Happier After Their Children Leave Home
(Source: www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1908/190823-having-children.html)

Many of us believe that having children is the key to happiness and a perfect family life. Naturally, this idealistic image is true for some, but researchers say that in reality, children make us happiest when they fly the nest – when they have grown up and left home. Researchers in Germany looked at data from a survey of 55,000 over 50-year-olds living in Europe. The survey respondents were quizzed about their emotional wellbeing. The researchers discovered that most parents were happier with life after their offspring had left home and started making their own way in life. Researchers say this could be because raising children creates financial worry, stress, fatigue and anxiety.

The research was led by Christoph Becker at Heidelberg University. He concluded that a big reason for parents being happiest when their children leave home is that the tables are turned and the children provide more support to their parents. He said parents whose children no longer live with them suffer from fewer symptoms of depression and have a more positive outlook on life. Regarding the role reversal in providing support, Mr Becker said: “Children’s roles as caregivers, providers of financial support or simply as a means of social contact might outweigh the negative aspects of parenthood.” He added that maintaining family relationships may stave off loneliness in aging parents.

Grammar

It’s related to my professional. – It’s related to my profession.

Pronunciation

Anxiety: /æŋˈzaɪ.ə.t̬i//an.zai.u.ti/