Fears
Learn about fears! Today, we’ll talk about common fears, how to describe them, and ways to overcome them.
Part 1
Warm-up
Are you afraid of any of the things below?
Part 2
Vocabulary
Read the word, its’ meaning, and the examples
Then make up your own sentences using the word.
Student can skip the words they already know.
creepy
/ˈkriː.pi/
causing an unpleasant feeling of fear
The old house looks creepy at night.
I heard a creepy story about ghosts.
cockroach
/ˈkɑːk.roʊtʃ/
a flat, brown or black insect sometimes found in the home
I saw a cockroach in the kitchen yesterday.
He found a cockroach in his shoe.
nervous
/ˈnɜːr.vəs/
worried and anxious
She was nervous before her speech.
I always get nervous during tests.
be terrified of something
/bi tɛˈrɪ.faɪd əv ˈsʌm.θɪŋ/
To be extremely scared of something.
She is terrified of spiders.
Are you terrified of the dark?
don't mind something
/doʊnt maɪnd ˈsʌm.θɪŋ/
Not to be upset by something, it's not a problem for you.
I don't mind the rain
You can pick the movie; I don't mind.
seaweed
/ˈsiː.wiːd/
Plant life that grows in the sea, often edible.
Some people eat seaweed in salads.
She touched seaweed while swimming.
jellyfish
/ˈdʒel.i.fɪʃ/
a sea creature with a soft, oval, almost transparent body
Jellyfish look like clear umbrellas.
Be careful of jellyfish in the water.
barely
/ˈber.li/
hardly, almost not.
He barely passed the exam.
I barely saw the car in the fog (sương mù).
icky
/ˈɪk.i/
unpleasant, especially to look at
I have an icky feeling about this.
The slimy worms are icky.
Make up your own sentences using the words.
Part 4
Dialogue Practice
Practice the conversation with teacher
Emma and Lucas talk about their fears
Emma
Hey, Lucas! Did you ever find out what was making those creepy noises at night?
Yeah, it turned out to be just the wind! But I was so nervous, I barely slept.
Lucas
Emma
I know how you feel. I’m terrified of cockroaches. They’re just so… icky.
Cockroaches don’t bother me. But I do get nervous around jellyfish when I’m swimming.
Lucas
Emma
Jellyfish can be scary. I don’t mind them as much as I mind seaweed. It feels so creepy when it brushes against me.
I’ve never thought about seaweed like that. It’s kind of like underwater plants, isn’t it?
Lucas
Emma
Yes, but when it touches you unexpectedly, you can’t help but be terrified of what else might be there.
That’s true. I guess we all have things we’re scared of. For me, it’s being in deep water where I can’t see the bottom.
Lucas
Emma
We should go to the beach together. I’ll watch out for jellyfish for you, and you can keep the seaweed away from me.
It’s a plan. Face our fears with a friend, right?
Lucas
Emma
Exactly! It’s less scary when you’re not alone.
Check your understanding
What was making the creepy noises that kept Lucas up at night?
What scares Emma a lot, and why doesn’t she like it?
What arrangement do Emma and Lucas make to help each other with their fears at the beach?
Sample answer
- The wind was making the noises.
- Emma is scared of cockroaches because they're icky.
- They'll help each other with jellyfish and seaweed.
Part 4
Listening 1
People are talking about their fears. Is each statement true or false? Listen and check (x) the correct answer.
Click to play the Audio
| true | false | |
| 1. a. He has never had bad experiences in elevators. | ⬜ | ⬜ |
| b. He doesn’t like the feeling of not being able to get out. | ⬜ | ⬜ |
| 2. a. She is afraid of waves. | ⬜ | ⬜ |
| b. She likes pools because there are lots of people around. | ⬜ | ⬜ |
| 3. a. She is afraid of cats. | ⬜ | ⬜ |
| b. She has been chased by birds. | ⬜ | ⬜ |
| 4. a. He doesn’t mind looking out of windows on high floors. | ⬜ | ⬜ |
| b. He doesn’t like flying. | ⬜ | ⬜ |
Answer
1. false, true
2. true, false
3. false, true
4. false, true
Transcript
1.
When I was a kid, I got stuck in an elevator when the electricity went out, and since then, I've always been afraid of elevators. I was all alone, and there was no way to get out of the elevator. I hated that feeling. Now I almost never use elevators.
I take the stairs instead. If I have to take an elevator—for example, if I'm in a really tall building—I make sure there's someone else in the elevator with me. The only problem is, sometimes I have to wait a long time until another person comes along
2.
I don't like swimming in the ocean because the waves are so dangerous. They always knock me over. I also hate the way that seaweed touches me when I swim in the ocean. I always think it's some animal that's going to bite me-you know, like a shark or a jellyfish. That's why I only swim in the swimming pool. The only problem is that the pool in my neighborhood is always crowded.
3.
Birds are the only animals I'm really afraid of. But not all birds. Just seagulls, like at the beach. I don't mind most little birds because they leave you alone. But seagulls? That's a different story. I'm sure it's because of the time a bunch of seagulls chased me when I was a kid. They didn't hurt me, but I've been really scared of them ever since. That's a real problem, because a lot of my friends enjoy going to the beach, but I stay home to avoid the birds.
4.
I don't know why, but I'm really afraid of heights. I work in a tall building, and I can't even stand to look out my office window. Right away, I get this feeling like I'm suddenly going to fall. I'm really afraid. Of course, airplanes are the worst.
I'm really nervous when I have to fly. The biggest problem is that there are some fun things I can't do with my kids. The other weekend, I took them to an amusement park. They were excited about going on the roller coasters, but I was too afraid to take them. My kids were really disappointed.
I felt terrible about letting them down.
Part 4
Listening 2
Listen to the conversation. Write the missing words
Click to play the Audio
A: Are you afraid of anything?
B: Yes. I’m afraid of elevators. Once, when I was a kid, I got stuck in ________ _________.
A: So what do you do when you have to take an elevator?
B: I try to ________ ________ ________ ! How about you?
A: I was afraid of insects when I was a kid.
B: How did you stop being _______ ________ insects?
A: When I was in college, I studied insects in a _________ __________. Now, I’m not afraid at all.
In fact, I think ________ _________ ________ !
Transcript
A: Are you afraid of anything?
B: Yes. I’m afraid of elevators. Once, when I was a kid, I got stuck in an elevator.
A: So what do you do when you have to take an elevator?
B: I try to take the stairs! How about you?
A: I was afraid of insects when I was a kid.
B: How did you stop being afraid of insects?
A: When I was in college, I studied insects in a biology class. Now, I’m not afraid at all.
In fact, I think insects are fascinating!
Part 5
Discussion
Let’s use the vocabulary you’ve learned during the lesson and talk about the following topics/questions freely!
Teacher helps student expand and correct the answers
Do you have any fears?
What scares you the most?
How do you feel when you are scared?
What techniques can help manage and overcome fear (feel less scared)?
Can you tell me about a time you were brave?
What is the easiest way to stop being scared?
Why do we like scary movies?
Can you be scared and excited at the same time?
Do animals get scared like we do?
Can fear be a positive force in someone’s life? How?
Review
Let’s review the lesson with teacher
9 new words & phrases in this lesson
Discuss your fears and ways to overcome them.
See you next lesson
Homework
Do homework
Please write a paragraph about one of your fears, and how you try to overcome that fear.
Then send it to teacher for correct sentences.
Afterward, record it and send to teacher for fixing pronunciation.
