Let's Talk About, "Fears and Phobias"

Goal: The goal of this lesson is to practice your English conversational skills and be able to express yourself freely. There are no right or wrong answers. I will give everyone a chance to participate.

1. Are there any parts of the city where you live which you are afraid to visit after dark? Where? Why?

2. Are there certain weather conditions that scare people? What are they? Why do people become scared?

3. Are you afraid of ghosts? Phasmophobia: Fear of ghosts. Are you afraid of scary movies? What is the scariest movie you have ever watched? Do you know of any scary ghost story you heard from a friend or experienced yourself? Tell us about it.

4. Are you afraid of giving a speech in public? Glossophobia: a fear of public speaking, is a very common phobia and one that is believed to affect up to 75% of the population.

5. Are you afraid of heights? Ascrophobia: fear of heights.

6. Are you afraid of clowns? Were you ever afraid of clowns as a child? Coulrophobia: fear of clowns.

7. Are you afraid of the dark? Nyctophobia: Fear of the dark/darkness. Can you sleep in the dark or without lights in your room?

8. Are you afraid to die? Why? Thanatophobia: is an intense fear of death or the dying process. What do you think about death?

9. Are you afraid of getting old? Why? Gerascophobia: is a fear of growing or aging.

10. Are there any numbers that people are afraid of in your culture? Arithmophobia: is an extreme fear of numbers. People may feel afraid of all numbers or only specific numbers. Another name for arithmophobia is numerophobia.

11. Do you fear certain insects or bugs? Entomophobia: fear of bugs and insects.

12.Are you afraid of injections? Trypanophobia: is usually described as the fear of injections, but can also largely refer to needles or being pierced in general.

13. Are you afraid of dolls? Pediophobia: Fear of dolls.

14. Try and look at the next pictures and tell me what you feel about it. Bathophobia: can be described as an irrational fear of depth. One may feel the fear of falling into anything which is long, or deep in its visual appearance. Some of the things like a long, dark hallway, a well, a deep pool, or a lake can be frightening for an individual.

15. Are you afraid of deep water or ocean water? Thalassophobia: Fear of the ocean or fear of deep water.

Freetalking: 1. Do you know of any other things you are scared of? 2. How do you handle it? 3. Do you think it is good to avoid our phobias or it is important to eventually face our fears? 4. What other phobias do you think are common? 5. Do you think young children should be allowed to watch horror movies?

6. What was the most frightening experience you've had? 7. Do you ever have nightmares (bad dreams)? What are they about? How often do you have nightmares? 8. Have you overcome any of your fears? 9. What kinds of things make you nervous? 10. How would you help someone to get over their fear?