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Writing about Your Feelings Can Make You Feel Better

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People have been writing about their lives for a long time. Some diaries from the past are famous, like the ones by Samuel Pepys and Anne Frank. They help us understand what life was like before. A writer named Travis Elborough thinks diaries are good because they let people be creative and teach us about the past.

But writing a diary can sometimes be hard. If you don't write in it all the time, you might feel bad. Someone could read your diary and not like what you wrote. Also, you have to choose what to write about and keep doing it, which takes work. Whether writing a diary is good for you depends on why you are doing it.

Original news source: Can writing a diary protect your mental health? (BBC)

πŸ“– Vocabulary:

1. writing
2. feelings
3. worried
4. happier
5. diaries
6. famous
7. creative
8. choose

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Word Association
Instructions: In this activity, the teacher will give a word related to the article, such as "diary" or "writing." Each student will then have to quickly say another word that comes to mind when they hear that word. For example, if the word is "diary," a student might say "journal" or "secrets." This activity will help students practice their vocabulary and make connections between words.
– Sketch It
Instructions: Each student will choose a specific scene or moment from the article and sketch it on a piece of paper. After everyone has finished, they will take turns explaining their sketch to the class, using English to describe what they drew. This activity will help students practice their descriptive skills and improve their ability to communicate in English.
– Opinion Poll
Instructions: The teacher will ask the students a series of questions related to the article, such as "Do you think writing a diary can help you feel less worried?" or "Would you feel comfortable letting other people read your diary?" Each student will then have to give their opinion by raising their hand or standing in a designated area of the classroom. The teacher can facilitate a discussion afterwards to encourage students to explain their opinions in English.
– Headline Creation
Instructions: Each student will have to create a headline for the article using no more than 10 words. They can use the main ideas or key words from the article to come up with a catchy and concise headline. After everyone has finished, they will share their headlines with the class and discuss why they chose those words. This activity will help students practice summarizing information and using concise language.
– Future Predictions
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, students will discuss and make predictions about the future of diary writing. They can discuss questions such as "Will people still write diaries in the future?" or "How might technology influence the way people keep diaries?" Each group will then present their predictions to the class, using English to explain their ideas. This activity will encourage students to think critically and express their ideas in English.

πŸ€” Comprehension Questions:

1. How can writing about your feelings make you feel better?

2. Who is Julia Samuel and what does she say about writing?

3. Why might someone write in a different way if they want other people to read their writing?

4. Who are some famous people from the past who wrote diaries?

5. Why does Travis Elborough think diaries are good?

6. What are some reasons why writing a diary can be hard?

7. Is writing a diary good for everyone? Why or why not?

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Writing about your and what every day can you feel better. A person who helps others with their feelings, Julia Samuel, says that writing can help you feel less worried and happier. Writing can make you feel calm, even if you don't let anyone else it. But if you write for other people to read, like Kay, who used to be a , you might write in a different way. People have been writing about their lives for a long time. Some diaries from the past are famous, like the ones by Samuel Pepys and Anne Frank. They help us understand what life was like before. A writer named Travis thinks diaries are good because they let people be and us about the past. But writing a diary can sometimes be hard. If you don't write in it all the time, you might feel bad. Someone could read your and not like what you . Also, you have to choose what to write about and keep doing it, which takes work. Whether writing a diary is for you depends on why you are doing it.

πŸ’¬ Discussion Questions:

1. What is a diary and why do people write in it?
2. How would you feel if someone read your diary without your permission?
3. Do you think writing in a diary can make you feel better? Why or why not?
4. Have you ever written in a diary? How did it make you feel?
5. What do you think is the difference between writing in a diary for yourself and writing for other people to read?
6. Do you like writing about your feelings? Why or why not?
7. How do you think writing in a diary can help us understand the past?
8. What do you think are some challenges of writing in a diary?
9. Why do you think some people feel bad if they don't write in their diary all the time?
10. Do you think it's important to keep your diary private or share it with others? Why or why not?
11. How do you think writing in a diary can help you be creative?
12. Do you think writing in a diary is a good way to remember things that happen every day? Why or why not?

Individual Activities

πŸ“–πŸ’­ Vocabulary Meanings:

Click a dot next to a word, then click the dot next to its meaning to draw a line connecting them.

Words

1. writing
2. feelings
3. worried
4. happier
5. diaries
6. famous
7. creative
8. choose

Meanings

(A) Emotions or emotions you have inside
(B) Well-known or well-known by many people
(C) Feeling anxious or concerned about something
(D) Using your imagination to make something new
(E) Putting words on paper or a computer
(F) Feeling more joyful or content
(G) Deciding what you want or prefer to do
(H) Books where people write about their lives

πŸ”‘ Multiple Choice Questions:

1. According to Julia Samuel, writing about your feelings can help you feel:
(a) less worried and happier
(b) more worried and sadder
(c) more worried and happier
(d) less worried and sadder
2. Which famous diarist wrote about their life during World War II?
(a) Samuel Pepys
(b) Travis Elborough
(c) Adam Kay
(d) Anne Frank
3. Writing a diary can be hard if:
(a) you let someone else read it
(b) you write about your feelings
(c) you write about what happens every day
(d) you don't write in it all the time
4. According to Travis Elborough, diaries can:
(a) let people be creative and teach us about the past
(b) make us feel worried and sad
(c) make us feel calm and happy
(d) help us understand the future
5. Adam Kay used to be a:
(a) writer
(b) teacher
(c) doctor
(d) scientist
6. Writing a diary can make you feel calm, even if:
(a) you write in it all the time
(b) you write about your feelings
(c) you don't let anyone else read it
(d) you write about what happens every day
7. Some famous diaries from the past are written by:
(a) Julia Samuel and Travis Elborough
(b) Samuel Pepys and Anne Frank
(c) Adam Kay and Samuel Pepys
(d) Anne Frank and Travis Elborough
8. Writing a diary can be hard because:
(a) you have to choose what to write about and keep doing it
(b) someone could read it and not like what you wrote
(c) it can make you feel worried and sad
(d) all of the above

πŸ•΅οΈ True or False Questions:

Whether writing a diary is beneficial for you depends on why you are doing it.
Diaries from the past, like those by Samuel Pepys and Anne Frank, help us understand what life was like before.
Writing can help you feel calm, even if you don't share it with anyone else.
Adam Kay, a former doctor, writes in a different way when he writes for others to read.
Julia Samuel, a person who helps others with their feelings, believes that writing can make you feel more worried and sadder.
Writing about your feelings and daily experiences can make you feel worse.
Writing a diary can always be challenging, especially if you don't write in it regularly.
Travis Elborough, a writer, believes that diaries are bad because they restrict people from being creative and mislead us about the past.

πŸ“ Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.
Check your writing now with the best free AI for English writing!

Writing Questions:

1. Why does writing about your feelings and what happens every day make you feel better?
2. Who is Julia Samuel and what does she say about writing?
3. Name two famous diaries from the past.
4. Why can writing a diary sometimes be hard?
5. What does Travis Elborough think is good about diaries?

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