Parents

　　关注西方的家庭教育，具体聊聊父母在小孩成长中扮演的角色。

　　重点词句

　　1. Emotional availability

　　父母不仅需要在小孩成长的时候陪在身边，更需要从精神上给小孩以支持。

　　2. A firm hand

　　但是父母也需要立场坚定。当小孩做错的时候，父母也需要有一个坚定的立场。

　　3. Too much freedom kills freedom

　　太多的自由也会杀死自由。听起来互相矛盾，实则非常有道理的一句话。

　　4. Run into a wall

　　没有约束的小孩迟早也有一天会撞到南墙。

　　5. When I go too far, my mother is going to invervene

　　当小孩走的路太离谱时，母亲会进行干预。

　　6. I'm in charge of my own life

　　母亲会告诉小孩是自己主宰生命。

　　7. Watch over me

　　但她同时也会监督小孩。

　　8. Not seeing yourself in your child

　　把小孩当成自己的第二世来对待是不公平的。

　　9. Who is the better teacher?

　　没有最好，也没有更好。亲人和朋友都是不同的好老师。

　　10. 关于西方小孩18岁经济独立

　　美国大学学费昂贵，很多家长付不起，小孩只能独立。但也还有很多父母是支持小孩读大学的。

　　11. European Union will provide loans with Zero interest rate

　　欧盟给大学提供免利息的大学贷款。毕业后挣的钱超过 20 thousand pounds per year 的时候才开始还钱。

　　12. Bartender

　　酒保

　　13. Try not to meddle

　　父母会在选择大学的时候提供建议，但是不会横加干涉。

　　14. Go to your room & Stop talking to me

　　小时候犯错的时候，父母会责备并让小孩 “go to your room”。还有时候也会冷战直到小孩道歉为止。

　　托福口语话题示范回答

　　Whatdo you think are the characteristics of a good parent?

　　Sample Answer

　　I think that the characteristics of a good parent are firstly emotional availability. When your parent is emotionally available for you,which means that you trust them with your secrets, your doubts, your fears andyour dreams. I do that with my mother a lot. She is very important in my life. I tell her everything. I could ask her advice for anything. I trust her. Trust is something very important too. You need to be able to trust your parent, and for your parent to trust you. And lastly, when you got too far and they knowyou’ve done something bad, even though you can’t understand it at that time,that they are not afraid to punish you or have a firm hand with you. Not letting you completely roam free without knowing what you’re going to do.