Think of the following questions about friendship:
What is a friend?
Which adjectives would describe a friend of yours ? Which ones are negative? What others could go on the list? trustworthy, fun-loving, selfish, outgoing, empathic, two-faced, talkative, reserved, discreet, honest
Is it easy to make friends?
What is your best friend like? Is he/she a childhood friend? A long-distance friend?
How often do you hang out with your friends? What do you like doing together?
Do you friend everybody who tries to contact you on Facebook? Why (not)?
Do it yourself
Match the following words related to different aspects of friendship with the definitions on the right. Write the correct letter in the space provided.
FRIENDSHIP
LETTER
MEANING
1. A close friend
d
a. A person you know a little, but who is not a close friend
2. Mate / Pal / Buddy*
g
b. A person who you write friendly letters, but you have never met
3. An acquaintance
a
c. A person who only wants to be your friend when things are going well
4. A loyal friend
f
d. A good friend
5. A pen friend / pen pal
b
e. To dislike someone very much
6. A fair-weather friend
c
f. A friend that you can trust even in difficult times
7. Friends in high places
j
g. Informal words for 'friend'
8. A shoulder to cry on
i
h. To stop fighting or quarrelling
9. To hate someone's guts
e
i. A person who will always listen to your problems
10. To bury the hatchet
h
j. People who are powerful and important and who will help you
* mate is common in British English and buddy and pal in the US.
Moving on
Now listen to these words related to friendship and complete the sentences using the correct word.
Do it yourself
Read the following text called How to find true friends and write the correct heading below (1-8) for each paragraph. Write the correct number in the space provided:
1.
A good friend is attentive and adaptable.
2.
A good friend makes it clear that they care about you.
3.
A good friend is honest.
4.
A good friend is supportive of you and your goals.
5.
A good friend is fun, unique and interesting.
6.
A good friend accepts you for who you are, even when you're being a butthead.
7.
A good friend sticks with you in good times and bad.
8.
A good friend is a friend you can trust.
Correct order of numbers: 3, 5, 1, 4, 8, 2, 7, 6
Do it yourself
Read these short conversations between friends and fill in the gaps . Once you have completed the conversations, listen to check your answers:
CONVERSATION 1:
Adriana: I heard you're moving to New York. Ryan: Yes. I've got an offer in upstate New York. Adriana: Oh, that's great! But I'm going to miss you. Ryan: Me, too. Let's keep in touch. Adriana: Yeah. Don't forget to drop me a line when you settle down. Ryan: Trust me. I won't. I'll keep you posted. Adriana: You have my address? Ryan: Well, I have your e-mail address. Adriana: All right! I look forward to hearing from you soon. Good luck!
CONVERSATION 2: Frank: I just received a letter from one of my old high school buddies. Sarah: That's nice! Frank: Well, actually I haven't heard from him in ages. Sarah: To be frank with you, I've been out of touch with most of my old friends. Only one or two still keep me posted about what they are doing. Frank: I know. It's really hard to maintain contact when people move around so much. Sarah: That's right. People just drift apart! But you're lucky to be back in touch with your buddy again
Do it yourself
Read the following sayings about friends and relationships and match them with the situations where you would use them. Write the correct letter in the space provided. Do you have the same sayings in your language?
SAYINGS
LETTER
SITUATIONS
1. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
c
a. When two friends with the same interests become inseparable.
2. His bark is worse than his bite.
d
b. A person who takes advantage of people who try to help him.
3. Birds of a feather flock together.
a
c. Ever since Clare came back from America, she has been getting on much better with her boyfriend.
4. Give him an inch and he'll take a mile.
b
d. He's often irritable but he's kind at heart.
5. A leopard can never change its spots.
f
e. You got yourself into this situation, so you'll have to get yourself out of it.
6. If you make your own bed, you'll have to sleep in it.
e
f. She's been a difficult person ever since I first met her at school.
7. Two's company, three's a crowd.
g
g. If I were you, I wouldn't go on holiday with Sonia and Mike.
Think of your friends and answer the following questions:
Think of friends who are trustworthy, outgoing and selfish. Give examples of when they have been like that.
Saythe name of an acquaintance and the name of a close friend.
Think of a friend who is a shoulder to cry on.
Do you have friends in high places who have ever helped you?
Do you remember the names of your school mates? Do you keep in touch with them or are you lost touch?
Have you ever described any friends of yours with the following sayings? - His bark is worse than his bite. - Give him an inch and he'll take a mile. - A leopard can never change its spots.