“Conversation Starter Lesson Series: Intermediate” is designed for intermediate-level ESL learners who want to improve their fluency and confidence in speaking English.
Each lesson includes an engaging reading material with audio, vocabulary and expressions, comprehension questions, and discussion questions to be used for one to one class, group class, or self-study for both online and offline classes.
Unit 4: Health and Wellness
Story 03: Dealing with Stress
Key Lesson Vocabulary & Expressions: Look over and review before proceeding.
- Coping mechanisms
- Overwhelmed
- Drowning
- Therapeutic
- Prioritize
- Self-care
- Mental break
- Desk job
- Support system
- Cope with stress
Read or Listen to the following passage:
My job can be extremely stressful at times. There are days where it feels like the work just keeps piling up, and I can’t seem to get a break. It’s easy to get overwhelmed and start feeling like I’m drowning.
To deal with this stress, I’ve developed a few coping mechanisms. First and foremost, I make sure to take breaks throughout the day. Whether it’s taking a quick walk around the block or just stepping away from my desk for a few minutes, it’s important to give myself a mental break.
I also find that exercise helps me manage stress. Whether it’s going for a run or taking a yoga class, getting my body moving and focusing on something else for a while can be incredibly therapeutic.
Lastly, I make sure to talk about my stress with someone I trust. Whether it’s a friend, family member, or therapist, having someone to listen and offer support can make all the difference.
It’s not always easy to manage stress, but I’ve found that these techniques have helped me tremendously. It’s important to prioritize self-care and take the time to manage stress in a healthy way.
Comprehension Questions:
- What is the protagonist’s job like?
- How does the protagonist feel when they experience stress?
- What are some coping mechanisms that the protagonist uses to manage stress?
- How does exercise help the protagonist manage stress?
- Why is it important for the protagonist to talk about their stress with someone they trust?
Conversations Starters:
- What are some common causes of stress?
- How do you personally deal with stress?
- What are some healthy ways to manage stress?
- Why is it important to take breaks throughout the day to manage stress?
- How can exercise help manage stress?
- How do different cultures deal with stress?
- What are some unhealthy coping mechanisms that people use to deal with stress?
- How can mindfulness and meditation help manage stress?
- Have you ever experienced burnout from stress? How did you handle it?
- What are some ways that employers can help their employees manage stress in the workplace?
