In many countries, the tradition of families eating

together is disappearing? Why is this? What are the

effects of it to families and society?
Useful words and expressions

Mealtime Time spent on dining together Fallen into negligence

Fallen into people’s disfavor No longer in fashion (exists) Lose charm for

Mealtime shrinks Drive a wedge between …

Causes
- Fully occupied work schedules (night shifts
and overtimes) 
- Under work pressure to perform
excellently  keep working while those
are not urgent necessities. (a sense of
insecurity).
- Academic pressure  extra tutoring
sessions  late for dinner.
- Separate lives  keep keep family
members apart from each other.
- Increasing demands of privacy  shuns
open communication
Effects
- Less intimate relationship 
misunderstandings and conflicts may arise.
- Weaken family bonds  a sense of
abandonment among teenagers  fall into
bad crowds  social evils.
- Lose our life-long tradition
- Less influential parents’ role children
seek other sources of inspiration  gangs
members, misbehaved peers.
- Home-cooked foods disappear.