Writing a diary can be really good for our mental health, according to experts. Sir Patrick Vallance, who is a top scientist in the UK, started writing a diary during the Covid crisis to help him feel better. He didn’t plan on anyone else reading it, but he found that writing down his thoughts and feelings helped him feel calmer and happier. A therapist called Julia Samuel says that writing can help us let out our emotions, reduce anxiety and stress, and even make us feel better physically.

Whether we keep our diaries private or share them with others, writing down our feelings can make us feel better. But some people, like a doctor called Adam Kay, find that writing for other people changes the way they write. Their entries might be better, but they might not have the same benefits because they know other people might read them and that can make them less honest and open.

Writing a diary has been a way for people to feel better for a long time. Famous diarists like Samuel Pepys and Anne Frank have shared their personal stories with the world. Diaries are not just a way for us to be creative and express ourselves, but they can also teach us about history. They can show us what daily life was like, what important things happened, and how people felt about them.

But there are some downsides to keeping a diary. Some people might feel bad if they don’t write in it regularly. And sometimes, diaries aren’t as private as we think they are, and that can make us feel uncomfortable. It can also be hard to keep writing every day, and some people might choose to leave out certain things or only write about what they want to.

In the case of Sir Patrick Vallance, his diary became public and people used it to criticize the government’s response to the pandemic. We don’t know if he found it helpful or not, that’s something only he knows. But overall, writing a diary can be really good for our mental health. It helps us understand our thoughts and feelings, makes us feel better, and teaches us about ourselves.

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

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Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the students into pairs or small groups. Give each group a few minutes to read the article silently. Then, ask them to summarize the main points of the article in 3-4 sentences. After they have finished, have each group share their summary with the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Write the following question on the board: “Do you think writing a diary is beneficial for mental health? Why or why not?” Ask the students to think about their answer and write it down individually. Then, have them pair up with a partner and discuss their opinions. After they have discussed, conduct a class poll by asking each pair to share their opinions and reasons.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Prepare a list of vocabulary words from the article on small pieces of paper. Divide the students into pairs. Give each pair a word and ask them to draw a picture to represent that word without using any letters or numbers. The other pairs must try to guess the word based on the drawing. The pair who guesses the word correctly earns a point.

– Pros and Cons
Instructions: Divide the students into groups of 3-4. Ask each group to discuss the pros and cons of keeping a diary. They can use the information from the article as well as their own opinions and experiences. After the discussion, each group should present their findings to the class.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Ask the students to imagine that they are writing a diary entry about their life one year from now. Have them think about what they hope to achieve, how they want to feel, and what they want to remember about this time. Give them 5-10 minutes to write their diary entry. After they have finished, ask volunteers to share their diary entry with the class.

Comprehension Questions:

1. According to experts, how can writing a diary benefit our mental health?
2. Why did Sir Patrick Vallance start writing a diary during the Covid crisis?
3. What does therapist Julia Samuel say about the effects of writing on our emotions and well-being?
4. How can writing for other people change the way someone writes in their diary?
5. What can famous diarists like Samuel Pepys and Anne Frank teach us through their diaries?
6. What are some potential downsides to keeping a diary?
7. Why might some people feel uncomfortable about the privacy of their diary?
8. What happened to Sir Patrick Vallance’s diary during the pandemic, and how does it highlight the potential benefits and drawbacks of diary writing?
Go to answers ⇩

Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Writing a diary can be really good for our mental health, (1)______ to experts. Sir Patrick Vallance, who is a top scientist in the UK, started writing a diary during the Covid crisis to help him feel better. He didn’t plan on anyone else reading it, but he found that writing down his (2)______ and feelings helped him feel (3)______ and happier. A therapist called Julia Samuel says that writing can help us let out our (4)______, reduce anxiety and stress, and even make us feel better physically.

Whether we keep our diaries private or share them with (5)______, writing down our feelings can make us feel (6)______. But some people, like a doctor called Adam Kay, find that writing for other people changes the way they write. Their entries might be better, but they might not have the same (7)______ because they know other people might read them and that can make them less honest and open.

Writing a diary has been a way for people to feel better for a long time. Famous diarists like (8)______ Pepys and Anne Frank have shared their personal stories with the (9)______. Diaries are not just a way for us to be (10)______ and (11)______ ourselves, but they can also teach us about history. They can show us what daily life was like, what important things happened, and how people felt about them.

But there are some downsides to keeping a diary. Some people might feel bad if they don’t write in it regularly. And sometimes, (12)______ aren’t as private as we think they are, and that can make us feel uncomfortable. It can also be hard to keep writing every day, and some (13)______ might choose to leave out certain things or only write about what they want to.

In the case of Sir Patrick Vallance, his diary became public and people used it to criticize the government’s response to the pandemic. We don’t know if he found it helpful or not, that’s something only he knows. But overall, writing a diary can be really good for our mental health. It (14)______ us understand our thoughts and (15)______, makes us feel better, and (16)______ us about ourselves.
Go to answers ⇩

Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What is a diary and why do people write in them?
2. How would you feel if someone read your diary without your permission? Why?
3. Do you think writing a diary can help you feel calmer and happier? Why or why not?
4. What are some benefits of writing down our thoughts and feelings?
5. How do you think writing can help us reduce anxiety and stress?
6. Do you like the idea of sharing your diary with others? Why or why not?
7. What do you think might change about your writing if you knew other people would read it?
8. What can diaries teach us about history? Give examples.
9. How do you think diaries can show us what daily life was like in the past?
10. Have you ever kept a diary? If so, how did it make you feel?
11. How would you feel if you didn’t write in your diary regularly? Why?
12. Do you think diaries are always private? Why or why not?
13. Why do you think it can be hard to write in a diary every day?
14. Would you choose to leave out certain things or only write about what you want in your diary? Why or why not?
15. How do you think Sir Patrick Vallance might have felt when his diary became public? Why?

Individual Activities

Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. diary
2. mental health
3. private
4. emotions
5. entries
6. uncomfortable
7. criticize
8. understand

Meanings:
(a) Saying bad things about someone or something
(b) Not for other people to see
(c) Not feeling good or relaxed
(d) The things you write in your diary
(e) How you feel in your mind
(f) A book where you write about your day
(g) How you feel inside, like happy or sad
(h) Knowing what something means or how it works
Go to answers ⇩

Multiple Choice Questions:

1. According to experts, writing a diary can be good for our ___________.
(a) physical health
(b) mental health
(c) social life
(d) academic performance

2. Who started writing a diary during the Covid crisis?
(a) Julia Samuel
(b) Samuel Pepys
(c) Anne Frank
(d) Sir Patrick Vallance

3. Writing a diary can help us reduce ___________.
(a) physical pain
(b) loneliness
(c) anxiety and stress
(d) boredom

4. Some people find that writing for other people changes the way they write because they are ___________.
(a) less honest and open
(b) more creative and expressive
(c) more organized and structured
(d) less anxious and stressed

5. Famous diarists like Samuel Pepys and Anne Frank have shared their personal stories to teach us about ___________.
(a) literature
(b) history
(c) science
(d) art

6. One downside of keeping a diary is that some people might feel bad if they ___________.
(a) don’t write in it regularly
(b) write too much in it
(c) share it with others
(d) lose it

7. Keeping a diary can be uncomfortable if we realize that it is not as ___________ as we think.
(a) organized
(b) creative
(c) expressive
(d) private

8. Writing a diary can help us understand our thoughts and feelings, make us feel better, and ___________.
(a) improve our physical health
(b) make us more popular
(c) teach us about ourselves
(d) help us become famous writers

Go to answers ⇩

True or False Questions:

1. Therapist Julia Samuel suggests that not writing can help us release our emotions, reduce anxiety and stress, and even improve our physical well-being.
2. Although there are downsides, such as feeling guilty for not writing regularly or concerns about privacy, overall, writing a diary can be beneficial for our mental health, helping us understand ourselves and improve our well-being.
3. Not writing down our thoughts and feelings can help us feel calmer and happier, as observed by Sir Patrick Vallance.
4. However, some individuals, like doctor Adam Kay, may alter their writing style when they know others might read their entries, potentially diminishing the therapeutic benefits.
5. Not keeping a private diary or sharing it with others can both have positive effects on our emotional state.
6. Writing a diary can have positive effects on our mental health, according to experts.
7. Famous diarists such as Samuel Pepys and Anne Frank have not only expressed their creativity but also provided historical insights through their personal stories.
8. Sir Patrick Vallance, a top scientist in the UK, stopped writing a diary during the Covid crisis to improve his well-being.
Go to answers ⇩

Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. Why did Sir Patrick Vallance start writing a diary during the Covid crisis?
2. According to therapist Julia Samuel, what are some benefits of writing a diary?
3. How can writing for other people change the way someone writes in their diary?
4. How can diaries teach us about history?
5. What are some downsides to keeping a diary?

Answers

Comprehension Question Answers:

1. According to experts, writing a diary can benefit our mental health by helping us let out our emotions, reduce anxiety and stress, and even make us feel better physically.
2. Sir Patrick Vallance started writing a diary during the Covid crisis to help him feel better and to cope with the situation.
3. Therapist Julia Samuel says that writing can help us let out our emotions, reduce anxiety and stress, and even make us feel better physically.
4. Writing for other people can change the way someone writes in their diary because they might not be as honest and open, knowing that others might read it.
5. Famous diarists like Samuel Pepys and Anne Frank can teach us about history by showing us what daily life was like, what important things happened, and how people felt about them.
6. Some potential downsides to keeping a diary include feeling bad if we don’t write in it regularly, concerns about privacy, and the difficulty of keeping up with daily writing.
7. Some people might feel uncomfortable about the privacy of their diary because they might worry that someone will read it without their permission.
8. Sir Patrick Vallance’s diary became public during the pandemic and was used to criticize the government’s response to the pandemic. This highlights the potential benefits of diary writing in helping individuals cope with their thoughts and feelings, but also the drawbacks of losing privacy and facing potential criticism.
Go back to questions ⇧

Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) according
(2) thoughts
(3) calmer
(4) emotions
(5) others
(6) better
(7) benefits
(8) Samuel
(9) world
(10) creative
(11) express
(12) diaries
(13) people
(14) helps
(15) feelings
(16) teaches
Go back to questions ⇧

Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. diary
Answer: (f) A book where you write about your day

2. mental health
Answer: (e) How you feel in your mind

3. private
Answer: (b) Not for other people to see

4. emotions
Answer: (g) How you feel inside, like happy or sad

5. entries
Answer: (d) The things you write in your diary

6. uncomfortable
Answer: (c) Not feeling good or relaxed

7. criticize
Answer: (a) Saying bad things about someone or something

8. understand
Answer: (h) Knowing what something means or how it works
Go back to questions ⇧

Multiple Choice Answers:

1. According to experts, writing a diary can be good for our ___________.
Answer: (b) mental health

2. Who started writing a diary during the Covid crisis?
Answer: (d) Sir Patrick Vallance

3. Writing a diary can help us reduce ___________.
Answer: (c) anxiety and stress

4. Some people find that writing for other people changes the way they write because they are ___________.
Answer: (a) less honest and open

5. Famous diarists like Samuel Pepys and Anne Frank have shared their personal stories to teach us about ___________.
Answer: (b) history

6. One downside of keeping a diary is that some people might feel bad if they ___________.
Answer: (a) don’t write in it regularly

7. Keeping a diary can be uncomfortable if we realize that it is not as ___________ as we think.
Answer: (d) private

8. Writing a diary can help us understand our thoughts and feelings, make us feel better, and ___________.
Answer: (c) teach us about ourselves
Go back to questions ⇧

True or False Answers:

1. Therapist Julia Samuel suggests that not writing can help us release our emotions, reduce anxiety and stress, and even improve our physical well-being. (Answer: False)
2. Although there are downsides, such as feeling guilty for not writing regularly or concerns about privacy, overall, writing a diary can be beneficial for our mental health, helping us understand ourselves and improve our well-being. (Answer: True)
3. Not writing down our thoughts and feelings can help us feel calmer and happier, as observed by Sir Patrick Vallance. (Answer: False)
4. However, some individuals, like doctor Adam Kay, may alter their writing style when they know others might read their entries, potentially diminishing the therapeutic benefits. (Answer: True)
5. Not keeping a private diary or sharing it with others can both have positive effects on our emotional state. (Answer: False)
6. Writing a diary can have positive effects on our mental health, according to experts. (Answer: True)
7. Famous diarists such as Samuel Pepys and Anne Frank have not only expressed their creativity but also provided historical insights through their personal stories. (Answer: True)
8. Sir Patrick Vallance, a top scientist in the UK, stopped writing a diary during the Covid crisis to improve his well-being. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧