English Writing: Should Elderly Children live with their parents?

JOSE

I think it is a good idea that your parents live with you, whenever you don´t force them and they want to move. One of this reason is probably your parents could live better in your home than a nursing home. I remember when my grandparents went to a nursing home, and they said me that it was not a good experience, the came back after a month. Other reason is when you are kid, they took care of you, now when they are elderly you must take care of them, they probably paid your education, they saved some money for you. You are in debt to them. The last reason is selfish, if you have children they may help you with them. Now in Spain is very usually to see the grandparent play in the park with their grandchildren. 

 For these reason I think you must accept your parents in your home. But in the other hand there could be some problems. If your wife or husband has not a good relation with your parents, this reason make it more difficult the coexistence. Perhaps sometimes they feel like a nuisance, they don´t understand that now they must be cared.

HECTOR
Always come a moment in the live when is necessary to decide if elderly parents have to live with their children. To star with, there are so many questions to answer, as if they can look after themselves, because they could be ill or to have serious difficults to move. Furthermore, there is an ethical or biological responsability. The common sense point at obligation to take care of the elderly parents when their lives are on the last stage. But it´s possible that would be impossible because of space problems or others logistical difficults, in a spite of your wish be to stay with them. But can be parents didn´t want to be a burder and prefeer by this to live alone instead of plan differents solutions. A residential home should be the last resort. In additional, there is a big advantage to live with elderly parents, and it´s they look after the grandchildren if their parents have very busy employment. In conclusion, elderly parents have to live with their children, if it´s really possible, by a principal reason: an ethical obligation and natural order. 

BEGOñA
Old parents should live by their own while they can. Most ancient people prefer to live in their own house, having their things and items with them, and deciding what to do in any moment: watching TV, reading, having a coffee with a neighbor or simply looking by the window are things very important for them, since they are their own decisions. They like the company of their children but they want to take control of their own life.

If they need some help to live because they cannot move with agility, a household could be the solution to help them cooking, cleaning the house or shopping, always having regular contact with their families (children and grandchildren)

In case of they need real help because a disability or reduced mobility, they should move to live with their children having their care and love. They will lose independence and control of their life and they will not be happy for it, but it can be compensated with the company of their families and their love.

But some elderly people cannot stand the simply idea of being a burden. In these cases a nursing home could be the solution. They are usually very comfortable, having all medical cares elderly people need and they can find other people to share experiences and activities with.

I think it is very important to analyse each case, having in count the wishes of the ancient, his health and the circumstances of the family, to take the best decision. 

ELENA

I think parents should live by themselves if they can handle it. They have been living alone for many years and they are used to their own customs and start a new life sharing a house with their children’s family it is a huge change for both parts. For that reason, we need to think about different options which are going to depend on each situation.

For instance, if one of the members is healthy enough, he could take part of the responsibility and take care of the other one. That would be a perfect outcome, but unfortunately is not the most common. They usually have health problems or diseases which need a special attention. In this case, they should have someone who help them, like a nurse, or who stays at their children’s house, provided that the illness is in a low phase and parents don’t need hospital attention. Furthermore, we have to consider the situation of the children: if they have a job, have space at home and the most important thing, if they have enough time to look after them.

Finally, the last situation that could happen is taking your parents to a residence. It is always a hard solution, but at the same time is the best option. Professionals will be looking after them constantly and you can feel more relief knowing that there is always a doctor or a nurse for any problem that might happen. Moreover, they are more stimulated doing specific exercises and other activities, which main target is improve their disease. At this point, I would like to remember that having your parents in a residence doesn’t mean that you can forget about them. You can visit them whenever you want, and even if they couldn’t recognize you, I’m sure they will enjoy your company.

Natalia
Elderly parents should live with their children, because it’s often a benefit for the grandfathers, children and grandchildren. The elderly parents who live with their children receive a better take care and more attention from their children, who know them, than in a nursing home. They feel more independent and more active in that way than in a nursing home with norms and schedules. For most families nowadays living with the children it’s cheaper than having to pay for an expensive institution. Besides, elderly parents, if they have not a serious illness and have still all the capacities, can be a help for the parents in the household, for taking care of their grandchildren and a source of knowledge and mutual company. In conclusion, living together constitutes a practical way of living for the economic and affective support of all the members of the family.

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English Writing Divorce

Write 3 paragraphs about divorce.  Give statistics about divorce in Spain and write the pros or cons of divorce.  You can also write about both pros and cons.  Remember to keep it organized and focused.  Each paragraph should have a main idea and details to support it. Keep your ideas clear and double check that your sentences make sense.

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DAVID

Homework from David Jiménez: Divorce in Spain

In Spain there is a Law of Divorce since 1981. After 32 years, while three marriages are

made, almost two are broken. Spain is the European country with higher average of

divorces, close to Belgium and Hungary. Cataluña, Andalucía and Madrid have rates ten

times higher than Cantabria, Navarra and La Rioja. Of course, rates of population are

similar to the rates of divorces between the first Autonmical Comunities and the last

ones.

It seems that relationships are not as solid as they were years ago. People get married

easily than our parents or grandparents, for example. Therefore, the foundations for the

relationship are not as good as they might be. So, the only way out is getting divorced.

Today there is no dialogue to solve problems. Why? We break our commitment and

everything is solved. It is useless trying to convince the other part of your ideas.

Nobody accepts anybody else ideas.

In my opinion, when people can´t live together the best thing they can do is living apart.

It has no meaning to live arguing all the time, without being happy. The problems begin

when there are children in the middle of battlefield. They are often used to harm the

other one. It doesn´t matters whatever the children feel. The important thing is to defeat

the other part getting the house, the car and…the children. They look like they were

another thing bought years ago.

Crisis also has influence in the number of divorces. People don´t get divorced because it

is very expensive. They prefer to get separate without legal procedures. That´s why

divorce rates have fallen a little since 2010. But this is only a standby situation. They

are waiting until crisis ends to get finally divorced, or not? Who knows, perhaps this

could be a second chance for some people to know better each other.

Jose D.
I think the divorce is a problem in Spain. There are many couples that use this easy way, when they should resolve the conflict. I think the problem is people get married without a good knowledge of his couple.
It´s a big problem when there are kids in the family, because they only want to see their parents together and happy. It´s very important if the parents get divorced, they should have a good behaviour before their kids.
The INE (National Institute of Statistics) said that in 2011, the divorces were going down by the crisis, in this year the divorces reduced a 24% compared with 2006. But it´s obvious that there are many divorces, in this year
the number of divorces was 103.604. In 2005 there were many divorces because in this year the government aproved by law the express divorce. But now The parents think in the allowance that they should pay if they get divorced.
Finally I think the divorce has pros and cons, the pros are these are very useful in violence cases, when there is not a solution, they are always fighting, they are not in love. But in the other hand the cons are they used this
way easily without thinking in the consequences, they don´t think in their kids. It´s a dificult question to talk because it´s private but it´s clear that it´s a problem and we should find a good solution.

Begoña

The Divorce

Since 1981 we have the possibility to get divorced in Spain. Before that, under the dictatorship of the General Franco, it was not possible. An unhappy couple was obliged to stay together "till dead do you part".

Today, in opposite, many couples get divorced too easily; a minimum of incomprehension in the couple is enough to take the decision to separate. The most disadvantaged are the children, sometimes used as a weapon against the former partner.

What is better? The second option without any doubt because everybody must have the freedom to choose how and with they want to share their life.

Once the decision is taken, if there is not an agreement between the couple, a Justice Court must decide how divide the assets of the couple and the children's custody. Many couples don't want to divide their assets, since they have just a small house with a mortgage, and so they chose to remain together, as a "couple" even if they don't feel any more love for each other. I think this is also a bad situation for children who grow up feeling this "lack of love" from their parents.

Analysing all these situations, I am not surprised that more and more people each day, choose not to get married nor even to live in a couple.

Elena

In 1981 it was the first time that you could get divorce in Spain. Since that day, divorces have been more and more common every year, especially in 2005 when the government approved a law called “Express divorce”. Like it was expected, that year, the number of divorces took off around 42%.  But nowadays the situation is totally different.

Now, we are surrounded by the word crisis everywhere we look around and so are divorces. The bad economic situation, in which we are living, has made divorces cut back on the 24%. People don’t want to spend their money in this long process, and most of the couples, try to change their divorce conditions because they can not support their own children pensions. In some cases, it is really hard to assume their part of the deal when the parents don’t have a job.

It is expected that, when this terrible situation will be over, the number of divorces is going to rise again like it did before the crisis began, but for that moment we need to wait patently.

Maria Jose

It’s obvious that when someone decides to get married never thinks in a divorce but unfortunately love is not forever and one day runs out.

Under Franco the only way for a couple to end their marriage was legal separation but when he died, 71% of Spaniards were in favour of divorce and it was legalized in 1981 in spite of the opposition of the religious organizations who disagreed.

The number of divorces grew up 0,7% in 2011 compared with the previous year, but now the the number of divorces has fallen dramatically due to economic crisis.

I’m in favour of a divorce because it’s clear that a couple living unhappy and arguing is not the best option to look after their children and I consider that a divorce can be the way to solve their problem. It’s clear too that children need both parents but to get divorced doesn’t mean losing their father or mother.

A lot of people think that couples should try to keep married because it’s the best for their children, but in reality it’s an error. In my opinion children should never hear their parents argue because it can be really unhealthy for them. On the other hand a couple divorced can have a better relationship after the divorce and consequently they can raise their children better too. Even though it may seem that a divorce can be negative for children, in reality they understand quickly that they don’t lose their parents’ love. Actually they have two houses instead of one and maybe other brother or sister.

Hector

The divorce in Spain

Acording to oficials numbers from Spain´s National Stadistic Institute, the quantify of divorce grew in 2011 only 0,7% opposite the year before (2010). Specify, it was 110.651 ends of married, 30.000 less than years before the beginning crisis (for example, it was 145.919 in 2006). Experts considerer that people have now more economic´s problem, so they are not sure to take a important decision, and maybe the couples with problems try to solve them by another ways.

Every couple has their own circunstances. The recently spanish divorce's law, known as "Divorcio express", allow to put finish a marriage in only three month after to wedding, and it´s no now necesary to separate as a previously condition. This regulation is the principal adventage to avoid a seriously problems about living together.

If a couple got wrong (a mistake) because they were too young, or not knowing about themselves, the "Divorcio Express" is  the best way for to avoid more problems. But there is another side. The process of divorce can be very hard in the case the couple had a children. Unfortunately they are the principal argument in front of judge to try convince him that you,re on the right side, you have the reason. Lawyers and psycologist agree that childs are who most suffering. The distance between the love and the worst hate is a thin line.

Alberto
The first time that the spanish law talk about divorce was in 1932, at times of de II Republic. Since 1936 to 1981, divorce was abolished. The second law of divorce is one of 1981 and next is which has been called “Ley divorcio Express” of 2005.

In 2011, the spanish courts received 117.179 divorces. This figure is very high if we compare it with one of 2000 were the figure was of 40.000. It is a fact, this law pretend to stimulate divorce in Spain. In my opinion, divorce is something very serious, because to be marriage or to live with your partner is the decision of more depth. Because is this, I think divorce would be the strange and not the common.
In Spain, there are to ways of divorce: one is when the two parts of the couple agree the divorce and the other one is when is only one parts which seeks divorce at any cost.
Finally, divorce increases in Spain every year. I do not agree with this, because I think we must educate our children in the importance of commitment and not in the “now yes, now not”.

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English Vocabulary Unit 9A

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