129.- Tiger mother (profesor)

Tiger mother

Transcript
Feifei
Hi Neil. Good holiday?
Neil
Lovely, thanks. You know I adore the beach.
Feifei
Your kids must have loved it too?
Neil
Ah, they didn’t come. They were at summer music camp.
Feifei
That’s very dedicated!
Neil
Well, they have piano exams to pass, Feifei. And then there’s a French test when term starts again, so they’ve been having intensive French lessons every evening.
Feifei
Wow, you really are tiger parents!
Neil
Tiger what?
Feifei
I mean you push your kids to achieve success at school. A ‘tiger mother’ or ‘tiger parenting’ describes a particular kind of strict upbringing.
Neil
Well, let’s say we just want what’s best for our kids. Even if they don’t appreciate it yet!
Feifei
The phrase ‘tiger mother’ was first used to describe a style of raising children common in some traditional East Asian households, though it can be adopted by anyone.
Neil
It appeared in a book by Chinese American law professor Amy Chua, who claimed her academic success was partly thanks to her own tiger mother. Let’s hear some examples.
Examples
I never got to relax as a child. My tiger mother had me up at 7am practising the violin every Saturday and Sunday.
We’ve decided to let little Bruno do whatever he wants, whenever he wants. I’m worried tiger parenting would stress him out.
I have my tiger parents to thank for making me learn my multiplication tables at the age of three. I would never have become the governor of the bank otherwise.
Neil
You are listening to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English. Our expression is ‘tiger mother’. Well Feifei, how to be a good parent is always a subject of debate. Tiger parenting is no exception. It all depends on your values, really.
Feifei
Absolutely. In any case, Neil, it sounds like your kids have had a very busy summer of learning. What are you up to with them this weekend, anything fun?
Neil
We’re going to the zoo.

Feifei
That’s nice. A reward for getting good grades?
Neil
Yes. Though we’re going to take our notebooks too. They have to learn so much about animals if they want to get top grades in biology this year.
Feifei
You really are a tiger parent!
Neil
Roar.
Feifei
Bye.
Neil
Bye.