1.1 Friends

Objective:

Know the importance of friendships.
Differentiate between good and bad friends.

Talking about good friends and bad friends

Are you a good friend?

For most people friendships are a vital part of life. For children, teenagers as well as adults friends are important. Who your friends are often determines the choices you make. Friends can have a great influence upon your behavior. Of course we all want to make good friendship with friends that will influence us positively. But what exactly constitutes a good friendship or bad friendship?

It isn't always easy to tell if yours is a bad friendship. And it's even harder to recognize and realize that a friendship is not good. Here are some signs that can help identify when a friendship is not positive;

1.1 Friends

The bad friend:

	Always wants things done their own way.
	Is jealous of any other relationships or friendships you have.
	Is critical of you and of others.
	Doesn't give you any space and always want to be with you.
	Acts like they are better than you in some way.
	May lie to you and others.
	Encourages you to make bad choices.
	Has different values than you.
	Uses you.

1.1 Friends

On the other side, good friends act differently.

The good friend:

	Respects your opinion.
	Acts like they are your equals.
	Is honest with you and others.
	Doesn't criticize.
	Support you.
	Has similar interests.
	Has similar values.

1.1 Friends

If you think that you are involved in a bad friendship then evaluate the friendship by asking them questions. By asking yourself these questions you can evaluate the friendship and find out if it is really a positive thing in your life.

1 point for every YES. If you score 5 and above, then you have a positive relationship:

1. Does your friend make you feel good?	Yes	No
2. Do you ever wonder if your friend say bad things about you behind your back?	Yes	No
3. Does your friend ever ask you to do things that you are uncomfortable with?	Yes	No
4. Does your friend make you feel like you are not as good as they are?	Yes	No
5. Does your friend not like it when you hang out with other people?	Yes	No
6. Does your friend ask you to contribute more to the relationship?	Yes	No
7. Does your friendship make you feel safe and comfortable?	Yes	No

1.1 Friends

Study the dialogue below:

Aziz:	Are you Ismail?
Ismail:	Yes, I am.
Aziz:	Welcome, I am Aziz. Is Salim here yet?
Ismail:	No he is not. When did he say he will come?
Aziz:	10.30 and it is now 10.45 now.

1.1 Friends

Types of Questions:

Yes-No question:

Question	Answer
Has he called?	Yes/No

Wh- question:

Question	Answer
Who just came in?	The boy from next door.
Who (m) did you invite?	All my friends.
When did she call?	After dinner.
Why did he do that?	Out of ignorance.
How did you fix it?	With the right tool.

1.1 Friends

Study the dialogue below:

Salim:	Hey, Aziz, how is it you're here so early?
Aziz:	Yea, I have to meet up with some of my classmates before school starts for the day.
Salim:	What's so urgent?
Aziz:	We are discussing yesterday's assignment. We need to hand it in today.
Salim:	Oh, come on, why are you so hard working? Besides, our examinations are still far away.
Ismail:	Yea! I think we should take one day at a time and enjoy ourselves.
Salim:	Oh, yes I certainly agree with you. Why don't the three of us skip school and come over to my place and play some computer games?.
Ismail:	Yes. That sounds good. By the way do you have Play Station 2 or 3?.
Salim:	It's Play Station 3. We'll be all alone because my parents are out at work and my older brother is now staying with my grandmother.
Aziz:	Look, the two of you can do whatever you want but I'm sorry, I will have to be going now. I have an assignment to hand in.