STRESS: Free-talking

Goal: The goal of this lesson is to practice your pronunciation and improve your conversation skills in English as you participate in a free-talking conversation. After this lesson, you will also be able to find various ways on how to effectively deal with stress.

1. How would you describe stress? You can explain in your own words.

2. Do you think stress is ever good, useful, or necessary at some point? Why or why not?

3. Have you been under stress recently or in the past? Tell us your experience.

4. Do you have a kind of red warning flag that indicates too much stress? (The meaning of RED-FLAG is to identify or draw attention to a problem or issue to be dealt with.)

5. When you are stressed, how do you feel physically? Do you feel tired during the day? Can you sleep well at night? Does your stomach hurt? Does your mood change?

6. How do you effectively manage stress?

7. Why do you think many people can't express their stressful situation openly even to people close to them? What is the reason?

8. Why is it important to open up how we feel to someone we trust?

9. Do you prefer to keep your worries a secret from other people or do you like sharing to others how you feel?

10. What kind of person gives you so much stress? Can you explain how that person gave you so much stress? Can you describe the person's personality?

11. Have you ever helped someone who was feeling stressed? How did you help the person?

12. When you disagree with someone, can you stay calm? Or do you get emotional?

13. How do you feel when being surrounded by so many people for the entire day? (Energized? Overwhelmed? Burnt out?)

14. Why do you think so many people in our society suffer from anxiety and depression? Do you think it is important to address this issue?

15. When stressed out, do you like to listen to a certain kind of music? What kind of music do you listen to? (Recommend some good songs.)

16. Do certain colors make you feel happier? What colors? Does it help you?

17. What is the most stressful job you can think of? How about the least stressful?

18. Which would you choose, and why? A. Stressful job, very high pay, shorter life span. B. Semi-relaxed job, lower pay, longer life span.

19. Do you prefer living in the city or the province? Why?

20. Do you have a favorite quote that you like that keeps you inspired?

21. Do you know of anyone who passed away early because of possible stress or other factors?

22. What is your favorite place to visit when you are under so much stress and pressure?

23. What do you think of the quote, "Difficult roads lead to beautiful destinations' ?

24. Do you have any movies and series you enjoyed watching that cheered you up? What is it called? (Recommend some shows.)

25. What is your comfort food?