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📕 A2: Grades 10-12 • MENTAL HEALTH & SELF-CARE

Self-Care Strategies & Why Talking Helps

In this lesson, you'll learn how to use should and shouldn't to give advice about self-care. You'll also practice talking about past experiences and supporting a friend.

Self-Care Strategies & Why Talking Helps
💬 Warm-up
1 What do you do when you feel stressed?
2 Who is someone you can talk to about your feelings?
3 Why is it important to take care of your mental health?

🎯 Objectives

  • Use should/shouldn't to give advice about self-care.
  • Use past simple to share personal experiences.
  • Identify and discuss self-care strategies.
  • Practice being a good listener in a support role-play.
In this block:

📚 Vocabulary

1.
journal
"I wrote in my journal every night last week."
a notebook where you write your thoughts and feelings.
2.
talk
"You should talk to a friend when you feel sad."
to speak with someone about something.
3.
share
"Yesterday, I shared my worries with my mom."
to tell someone about your feelings or experiences.
4.
support
"My friends always support me when I'm having a hard day."
to help someone by being there for them.
5.
trust
"I trust my best friend because she always listens."
to believe that someone is honest and will help you.
6.
friend
"A good friend should listen without judging."
a person you like and enjoy spending time with.
7.
counselor
"If you feel very upset, you should talk to a counselor at school."
a person trained to help with mental health problems.
8.
help
"Asking for help is a brave thing to do."
to make it easier for someone to do something or to feel better.
🗓️ Friday, 9th October 2026
journal
a notebook where you write your thoughts and feelings.
talk
to speak with someone about something.
share
to tell someone about your feelings or experiences.
support
to help someone by being there for them.
trust
to believe that someone is honest and will help you.
friend
a person you like and enjoy spending time with.
counselor
a person trained to help with mental health problems.
help
to make it easier for someone to do something or to feel better.

✍️ Practice

Guess the missing word.
1. Your friends will support you if you tell them how you feel.
2. Last week, I decided to share my problem with my brother.
3. It's important to trust the people you confide in.
4. You should always talk to someone if you feel sad.
5. If you can't stop worrying, visit a school counselor for advice.
6. A true friend listens without interrupting.
7. Every night I write in my journal to organize my thoughts.
8. Asking for help is one of the best self-care habits.
🗓️ Friday, 9th October 2026
1. Your friends will support you if you tell them how you feel.
2. Last week, I decided to share my problem with my brother.
3. It's important to trust the people you confide in.
4. You should always talk to someone if you feel sad.
5. If you can't stop worrying, visit a school counselor for advice.
6. A true friend listens without interrupting.
7. Every night I write in my journal to organize my thoughts.
8. Asking for help is one of the best self-care habits.

📖 Reading

A Guide to Self-Care: Why Talking Helps

Self-care means taking time to look after your mental health. It's not selfish — it's necessary. Everyone should practice self-care, especially when they feel stressed or tired.

One of the best self-care strategies is to talk to someone you trust. You can share your feelings with a friend, a family member, or a school counselor. When I was in Grade 10, I felt very overwhelmed with exams. I didn't know what to do. Finally, I decided to talk to my best friend. She listened and gave me support. Just sharing made me feel so much lighter.

Another great habit is to keep a journal. Writing down your thoughts helps you understand them better. You can write about your day, your worries, or things you are grateful for. You shouldn't keep everything inside. It's okay to ask for help.

Remember, self-care isn't only about relaxing. It's also about doing things that make you feel strong and supported. So if you have a problem, don't stay quiet. Find someone you trust and talk to them. You'll be glad you did.

Comprehension Questions

1.
Why is self-care necessary according to the text?
It helps you look after your mental health and is especially important when you feel stressed or tired.
2.
Who can you talk to for support, according to the guide?
You can talk to a friend, a family member, or a school counselor.
3.
What did the writer do when they felt overwhelmed in Grade 10?
They talked to their best friend, who listened and gave support.
4.
How does keeping a journal help with mental health?
Writing down thoughts helps you understand them better and can make you feel lighter.
5.
What should you do if you have a problem, based on the guide?
Find someone you trust and talk to them instead of staying quiet.

🎧 Listening Practice

Jessica's Self-Care Story

0:00 / 0:00
Listening context

Comprehension Questions

1.
How did Jessica feel last month?
She felt really stressed about a group project.
2.
What did Jessica's sister tell her?
She said you should share your feelings with someone you trust.
3.
How did Emma respond when Jessica called her?
She listened well, said Jessica shouldn't worry so much, and offered to help with research.
4.
What new habit did Jessica start?
She started writing in a journal every night, listing three things she's grateful for.
5.
According to Jessica, what should you do instead of keeping everything inside?
Find a friend, a counselor, or someone you trust to talk to.

🗣️ Pair Work

Support Role-Play

"Work with a partner. One of you will share a small problem (real or made-up). The other will practice being a good listener. Use should and shouldn't to give advice. After 2 minutes, switch roles."

👉 Step 1: Person A shares a problem. Use a sentence like 'Yesterday I felt really nervous about...' or 'I don't know what to do about...'

👉 Step 2: Person B listens without interrupting. Then respond with support. Use phrases like 'You should try...', 'You shouldn't worry too much...', 'I support you.'

👉 Step 3: After 2 minutes, switch roles. Use vocabulary words like share, trust, support, friend, help.

🚀 EnglishDee Tasks

KEYWORDS: journal talk share support trust friend counselor help
✍️ WRITING

Self-Care List

Write a list of 5 things you can do to take care of your mental health. Use should/shouldn't and past simple to describe 1 thing you tried before. Write 80–100 words.

✅ Checklist:
  • Your list must include 4 vocabulary words from the lesson.
  • Use 'should' or 'shouldn't' at least twice.
  • Use past simple to describe one past self-care action.
  • Minimum 80 words.
🎙️ SPEAKING

Support Message

Record a 45-second voice note checking in on a friend who seems stressed. Start with a friendly greeting, ask how they are, and give advice using should/shouldn't.

✅ Checklist:
  • Duration: 45 seconds.
  • Use at least 4 vocabulary words from the list (e.g., talk, trust, support, help).
  • Use 'should' or 'shouldn't' once.
  • Speak clearly at a natural pace.
Helpful Phrases
  • I think you should take a break when you feel tired.
  • Yesterday I felt stressed, so I talked to my mom.
  • You can always trust a good friend to listen.
  • It helps to share your feelings with someone.