What Do You Look for in a Partner?

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Materials Daily News

Intermediate

Learning Objectives

In this lesson you will:

Improve your ability to talk about dating and relationships.

Exercise 1

Warm-up

Have a short conversation based on these questions. Make sure you ask your tutor some questions too!

What are some good first date spots in your town or city?

Do most people meet online these days in your country?

Exercise 2

Vocabulary

Listen and repeat these words with your tutor. If you don't know a word, ask your tutor to read the definition and example sentence.

loyal

Adjective

unfaithful

Adjective

selfish

Adjective

independent

Adjective

devoted

Adjective

untrustworthy

Adjective

thoughtful

Adjective

open-minded

Adjective

Let's Practice

Tell your tutor if each pair of words or phrases has a similar or different meaning.

loyal / caring

unfaithful / trusting

selfish / self-centered

independent / shy

devoted / loyal

untrustworthy / reliable

thoughtful / considerate

open-minded / accepting

Exercise 3

Useful Language

Listen and repeat these phrases with your tutor.

good sense of humor
have a lot in common
doesn't get on with my friends
short temper
shares my values
respects my space
unwilling to compromise
scared of commitment
clicked immediately
have great chemistry

Let's Practice

Tell your tutor which of the items on the list are positive and which are negative.

Exercise 4

Dialogue

Read the dialogue aloud with your tutor, then answer the questions.

	Yan-ting What's your idea of a good first date?
	Phuong I think something casual, like grabbing coffee or going out for lunch is nice because there's less pressure. How about you?
	Yan-ting Same here. I think it's nice to keep it low-key and have the chance to chat and get to know each other. Fancy dinners can feel too formal.
	Phuong Absolutely! Who are the happiest couples you know?
	Yan-ting My best friend and his partner. They have this great chemistry, and they're totally devoted to each other.
	Phuong Ah, my aunt and uncle are like that! They've been married for more than thirty years, and they seem happier than ever.
	Yan-ting How did they meet?
	Phuong I remember my aunt told me they met at a party and just clicked immediately.
	Yan-ting That's so sweet. What do you look for in a partner?
	Phuong They've got to be honest, of course, and loyal. But I also want someone who is independent, and who respects my space. How about you?
	Yan-ting I think having a sense of humor is the most important thing. That, and sharing my values. Do you have any deal-breakers when it comes to partners?
	Phuong I can't stand controlling behavior. And if someone is selfish and unwilling to compromise, it's a no-go. How about you?
	Yan-ting If someone doesn't get on with my friends, that's usually a bad sign.

Check Your Understanding

Which speaker prefers something casual for a first date?

How did Phuong's aunt and uncle meet?

What does Yan-ting consider to be a deal-breaker in a relationship?

Exercise 5

Find the Mistake

Find and correct the mistake in each sentence. Be careful — not all sentences have a mistake!

What do you look for in a partner?

My ex-girlfriend didn't get on with my friends.

They didn't click immediately but grew to like each others.

I want someone who has not scared of commitment.

They are seemed to have great chemistry.

Do you have any deal-breakers when it comes to partners?

She found his a bit untrustworthy.

My partner and I have a lot for common.

Exercise 6

Fill in the Blanks

Read the dialogue aloud with your tutor and fill in the blanks. You will be Kyoko. Use the Answer Pool below to help you.

	Nina What's your idea of a good first date?
	Kyoko Adachi (1) at a nice restaurant followed by a walk along the waterfront is my idea of a perfect (2)!
	Nina That does sound lovely! Who are the happiest couples you know?
	Kyoko Adachi My grandparents, definitely. They've been together for 60 years and are still deeply in love. They're totally (3) to each other.
	Nina That's amazing. How did they meet?
	Kyoko Adachi They were childhood (4) growing up and became high school sweethearts.
	Nina That's adorable. It's not something you see every day! What do you look for in a partner?
	Kyoko Adachi I think honesty and trustworthiness are really important. I've got no time for men who are (5). Looks don't matter too much to me, as long as they've got a great (6) of humor!
	Nina I couldn't agree more. Do you have any deal-breakers when it comes to partners?
	Kyoko Adachi If they're (7) of commitment, that's a deal-breaker for me. Relationships are hard work, so they've got to have good (8) skills, too.
	Nina I agree — if they've got bad communication skills, it's going to be really challenging.

Choose answers from the options below that fit in blanks 1 to 8

Answer Pool (Questions 1-8)

sense
Dinner
communication
scared
date
loyal
unfaithful
friends

Exercise 7

Conversation

Have a conversation based on these questions. Don't forget to ask your tutor some questions too!

What's your idea of a good first date?

Who are the happiest couples you know?

How did they meet?

What do you look for in a partner?

Do you have any deal-breakers when it comes to partners?