2024-09-20 The Qualities of a True Friend
Video: What Makes a Good Friend?
Discussion Questions
- Which child’s definition of a good friend resonates most with you and why?
- Do you think it’s more important for a friend to be fun or supportive? Justify your answer.
- Is it always possible to be a good friend, even when you are having a bad day? Explain your reasoning.
- Do you think these qualities of a good friend are universal, or do they vary across cultures?
- Based on the children’s responses, what do you think is the most important quality of a good friend? Why?
Video: 5 Levels of Friendship
Discussion Questions
- Do you think it’s necessary to have friends at every level described in the video? Why or why not?
- In your opinion, what is the most important quality of a best friend? Justify your answer.
- Some people believe it’s important to have a large group of friends, while others prefer to have a few close relationships. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each perspective?
- The video focuses on the positive aspects of friendships. What are some potential downsides or challenges that can occur in friendships?
- How do you think social media and technology have influenced the way friendships develop and are maintained today?
Hi Ricard,
Thank you for today’s lesson. I really enjoyed it.
I found the differences in values regarding friendship between Japanese people and those from other countries very interesting.
You mentioned that many Japanese tend to be polite, while you try to be more friendly.
That’s a big difference, and I find it quite challenging when trying to make friends with people from other countries.
When I visit the US, I find everyone’s friendliness and casualness a little too overwhelming at times. I’m especially not used to restaurant servers being so friendly. But after a week or so I get used to it.
Thank you for today’s lesson.
I was surprised to know that a sense of humor is one of the important quality of a friend for foreign people because the word
never occurred to me as such. However, I began to realize it shoud be now. I hope my
life would be filled with a lot of “sense of humor”.
Similarly, I wouldn’t list “politeness” as a quality I’d seek in a friend although I wouldn’t want to be around someone who treats people rudely.
This lesson made me think over about what a best friend is for me and who is this “best friend”, and the process to be friend as well. My best friend had not been a casual friend or an intimate friend, but was more of just an acquaintance than “a friend”, and a business counterpart that could sometimes be called an enemy.
But spending tough times together, I noticed that he was really trustworthy, very good, probably best friend.
After my retirement, as I’ve been spending very relaxed days, I seldom remember him or feel that I need him. So, if we ever meet, I suppose we’ll only have a casual chat like “level two or three” friends, but I think that’s OK.
I’m similar–friends I’m not around, I don’t think of often. Some people have/need lots of friends, some don’t. Some people feel lonely when they’re alone, some don’t. I have enough going on inside my head all the time that I never feel so bored that I want to call someone up. I think it’s OK not to be an extrovert.