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GENERAL ENGLISH
· VOCABULARY DEVELOPMENT
· UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)
OPTIMISM
AND
PESSIMISM
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1
Warm up
Look at the pictures below and discuss the questions.
1.
What is happening in each photo?
2.
What do you think an optimist would think? What about a pessimist?
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OPTIMISM AND PESSIMISM
Now match the quotes below to the pictures above, and try guessing if an optimist or a pessimist said
them.
2
Vocabulary 1
Replace the underlined parts of the questions with the correct form of the words below. You might
also have to add words and change their order. Then answer the questions in pairs.
cynical (adj)
mindset (n)
optimist (n)
pessimist (n)
realists (n)
sunny (adj)
1.
Do you think people who see the good side of everything are happy all the time?
2.
Do you think optimism can be changed by someone’s mental attitude?
3.
Do you know anyone with a cheerful attitude? How would you describe them?
4.
What do you think of people who are practical? Is that what everyone should aim to be?
5.
What kinds of experiences would turn a person into someone who sees the world from a negative
perspective?
6.
Would you say people who see the worst in everything are not trusting of others?
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3
Listening 1
Listen to an extract from a podcast on optimism and pessimism and reorder the sentences below in
order of appearance.
the physical effects of optimism
a list of things in the environment which may affect your optimism
how age affects optimism and pessimism
how much genetics contribute to optimism and pessimism
examples of things you can do to improve your mindset
4
Listening 2
Listen to an extract from a podcast on optimism and pessimism and correct the sentences below. Fix
them to match the points in the podcast.
5
1.
Aisha thinks she is a pessimist, because of her cynical personality.
2.
Pessimism and optimism are all in the mindset and have no other influences.
3.
The environment contributes 25% to your chances of being an optimist or a pessimist.
4.
People are more likely to be pessimists when they are young.
5.
Being an optimist can make your physical health worse.
Vocabulary 2
Try to complete the sentences below from memory with the words below. Then, relisten to the
podcast to check.
best
blessings
doom
1.
on in there.
hang
matter
and gloom.
2.
All
3.
It may be only a
4.
Learn to make the
5.
Count your
of time.
of a situation.
.
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6
Grammar
Read the grammar box.
Gerund
Read the sentences from the podcast. What do the underlined words have in common?
We use the gerund form when a verb acts as the subject or the object of a sentence.
A) Even if it seems like bad things keep happening around you
B) Well, being an optimist has been shown to have many benefits to physical health, as well as
mental.
C) Would someone who is always sad be able to suddenly become happy by changing the way
they think?
D) You end up spending more time worrying about things.
Which sentence has a gerund form...
1
because it’s the subject of the sentence?
2
because it follows a preposition?
3
because of the verb that comes before it?
4
because it’s the object of the sentence?
Complete the sentences below with the correct form of the verbs in the box.
be - change - feel - happen - journal - listen
1.
2.
a bit blue is expected after something bad happens.
3.
4.
your lifestyle might help you become an optimist.
My favourite pastime is
to podcasts on wellbeing.
a pessimist may be due to genetics.
5.
6.
because it did nothing for her mood.
Laura stopped
You can’t stop bad things from
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7
Game
You are going to do a quiz to find out whether you are an optimist, a pessimist, or a realist. Choose
the closest option, even if it’s not exactly what you would do or think.
1.
Your friend seems to be a bit distant today and is not talking to you much. What do you think
happened, and what do you do?
a.
They must be mad at me. Why else would they not be talking to me? I will probably leave
them alone and go hang out somewhere else by myself.
b.
I’m sure this has nothing to do with me personally! I will try my best to cheer them up, and
make sure they know they can always tell me anything.
c.
I will ask them if they are okay, and try to find out what happened; I can’t help if I don’t know
the problem.
2.
You are going to school/work when your bus breaks down. How do you react?
a.
I am not surprised. These sorts of things always happen to me. I just have bad luck.
b.
That’s okay! My school/office is not that far anyway, and it is a beautiful day to take a walk!
c.
Accidents happen. I’ll just stay on the bus, and let my school/boss know that I will be late. I
can’t control these things after all.
3.
After being busy all afternoon, you check your phone to see a missed call from your parent.
a.
There is probably an emergency! I feel so awful that I did not answer the call! I start thinking
about all the horrible things that could have happened.
b.
They are probably calling me to tell me they love and miss me! I should probably call back
immediately!
c.
I was busy all afternoon, and still have some more work to do. Whatever it is, I’m sure it can
wait a bit until I am finished with all I need to do.
4.
Your boss calls you into their office at work. What do you think they want to talk about?
a.
They are going to fire me. I am not very good at my job, and they probably realised I am not
worth having in the office.
b.
Maybe they are going to give me a promotion! I have been working hard lately, and I am very
proud of the work I have been doing.
c.
5.
Whatever it is, I’m sure there is a reasonable explanation for it.
You are waiting for the doctor to come back with the results from your checkup.
a.
They are taking too long. Surely they found something bad, and they are trying to find a way
b.
to tell me the bad news.
They didn’t see anything bad on my last checkup, and I have been trying to be healthier, so
I’m sure it’s all good!
c.
I can’t know for sure what the results will be, and I can’t change them, so I just wait for the
doctor.
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6.
You receive an unexpected letter from your bank in the mail.
a.
It is probably a huge bill for my credit card, or somehow my bank details got hacked.
b.
Maybe they are notifying me of my incredible credit score, and that I’m finally ready to put a
mortgage on my dream house!
c.
Honestly? It’s probably my bank statement. They sometimes send it earlier than usual.
If you answered mostly:
•
A - You are a pessimist! While there is nothing wrong with that, it is important to remember that,
bad things can happen in life, but good times are sure to follow! Why not try some meditation, or
yoga, to help with these negative thoughts and feelings?
•
B - You are an optimist! There are many benefits to seeing the positive side of things, but everything
is better in moderation! Keep going, but do not let the bad times take you by surprise!
•
C - You are a realist! You tend to expect the expected. That is all fine, but why not try to live life
with more emotion? Try to picture better things to come, and let yourself feel when bad things
happen!
8
Talking Point
Answer the questions below in pairs or small groups.
1.
Do you think it is better to be optimistic, pessimistic or realistic? Why?
2.
Do you agree that if you expect the worst, you will never be disappointed? Why or why not?
3.
Do you think that being optimistic helps people to be healthier? Why or why not?
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9
Extension activity 1
Try to complete the sentences below from memory with a word or short phrase. Then, relisten to the
podcast, and correct any mistakes.
, hang on in there!
1.
If you are listening in and
2.
I’m neither a pessimist nor an optimist. I’m a
3.
People say I’ve got a
4.
A study on twins showed that 25% of optimism may be
5.
See, it can be things like your home life, grades, and even your
6.
I was definitely more
7.
Well, being an optimist has shown to have many benefits to
.
personality.
!
.
as a teenager.
health,
as well as mental.
8.
10
Well, maybe I will join my yoga class to change my
point of view!
Extension activity 2
In pairs, you are going to roleplay a pessimist and an optimist. Try to convince each other of your
opinion on the topics below.
Student A, you are an optimist, student B, you are a pessimist. Below is a list of topics you may discuss.
•
Climate change
•
Use of AI in future
•
Education
•
Healthcare
•
Your professional future
•
Social Media
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TEACHER MATERIALS
·
UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)
OPTIMISM AND PESSIMISM
Transcripts
4.
Listening 2
Aisha:
Hey, what’s up, you guys! Welcome back to the Smilecast, the podcast where we share
with you the psychology behind being happy! If you are listening in and feeling a bit blue,
hang on in there! We are here to show you that it’s not all doom and gloom!
Neeti:
That’s right everyone, and today we’re going to be talking about why some people are
pessimists, and other people are optimists! Aisha, would you say you’re an optimist?
Aisha:
I would definitely consider myself an optimist. People say I’ve got a sunny personality.
What about you, Neeti?
Neeti:
See, it’s ironic that I say this since I’m a host of this podcast (chuckles) but I would say I’m
neither a pessimist nor an optimist. I’m a realist.
Aisha:
Realist or cynical?
Neeti:
Both (laughs). I think it’s important to present the facts to our listeners. Anyways, Aisha
and I researched why some people are optimists, while others are pessimists.
Aisha:
Right, Neeti, why don’t you go first?
Neeti:
Right so, what you’re probably wondering is if it’s all in the mindset. Would someone who
is always sad be able to suddenly become happy by changing the way they think?
Aisha:
Of course! The mind is very powerful!
Neeti:
Well, that’s the thing - it’s not just that which affects if you are an optimist or a pessimist!
A study on twins showed that 25% of optimism may be inherited!
Aisha:
What?! Surely not! My dad is such a pessimist, so how am I an optimist?
Neeti:
It’s true! But that still means that 75% of it is down to the world around you, and your
experiences. So even if you are born an optimist, it may be only a matter of time before
your environment turns you into a pessimist!
Aisha:
But what about your environment may turn you into a pessimist?
Neeti:
See, it can be things like your home life, grades, and even your finances. But research has
shown that age also has an effect!
Aisha:
Well, I was definitely more defeatist as a teenager.
Neeti:
Funnily enough, the results show the opposite - as a teen, you are more optimistic about
your future, and as you grow older, you become more of a pessimist! You end up spending
more time worrying about things.
Aisha:
So no matter what, I will become a pessimist when I grow old?
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TEACHER MATERIALS
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OPTIMISM AND PESSIMISM
Neeti:
That’s where mindset comes in! While not the explanation behind it all, it still has an
effect on your mood and your perspective in life, even if bad things happen to you! It’s
even believed that optimism is something that can be learned!
Aisha:
Well, yes! Some people just learn to make the best of the situation!
Neeti:
Now, Aisha, would you be able to tell us why optimism is so important? You said you’ve
done some research on that.
Aisha:
Gladly, Neeti. Well, being an optimist has shown to have many benefits to physical health,
as well as mental.
Neeti:
And why’s that?
Aisha:
It has been shown that optimists are more likely to practise healthy habits! This might be
because optimism helps people become healthier because they feel more positive about
these habits. But another theory is that these behaviours themselves may help a pessimist
become an optimist, as they can help prevent things such as depression!
Neeti:
And this is where the environmental influences come in.
Aisha:
Exactly! But as you said, mindset can also have a strong influence. In fact, I came across
some tips on how you can become more optimistic!
Neeti:
Oh wow! Could you share some of them with us?
Aisha:
Of course! Well, one tip is to train your mind. There are many ways you can do that. One
of them is to look out for the good things in your life and count your blessings. You should
also keep the hope that good things will happen in your life, even if it seems like bad things
keep happening around you. And it is also important to not blame yourself when they do
happen. Activities such as meditation and journaling can help us understand that and
focus on our mindset to change how we see life around us.
Neeti:
Well, maybe I will join my yoga class to change my cynical point of view!
Aisha:
It certainly can’t hurt to try!
Neeti:
(laughs) Thank you so much, Aisha! And for all of you listening to the Smilecast, I hope we
have helped you smile today, and thank you so much for tuning in! Join us next week for
a brand-new episode!
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TEACHER MATERIALS
·
UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)
OPTIMISM AND PESSIMISM
Key
1.
Warm up
5 mins.
Students look at the pictures and try to guess what an optimist and a pessimist would feel and think about the
situations. Elicit ideas and correct as a class.
5 mins.
Students read the quotes and match them to the pictures, saying whether a pessimist or optimist would think or
say that.
1) Picture 3 / pessimist; 2) Picture 6 / pessimist; 3) Picture 1 / optimist; 4) Picture 5 / optimist; 5) Picture 2 /
pessimist; 6) Picture 4 / optimist
2.
Vocabulary 1
5 mins.
Ask students to look at the words and think about what they mean. They then replace the underlined parts of the
questions with the words in the box. Remind them that they may have to change some of the words, as well as
their order. After correction, students answer questions in pairs, and then elicit some ideas as a whole class.
1. Do you think people who are optimists are happy all the time?
2. Do you think optimism can be changed by someone’s mindset?
3. Do you know anyone with a sunny attitude? How would you describe them?
4. What do you think of people who are realists? Is that what everyone should aim to be?
5. What kinds of experiences would turn a person into a pessimist?
6. Would you say people who see the worst in everything are cynical?
3.
Listening 1
10 mins.
Students listen to the podcast, then reorder the topics below. Correct as a whole class.
how much genetics contribute to optimism and pessimism
a list of things in the environment which may affect your optimism
how age affects optimism and pessimism
the physical effects of optimism
examples of things you can do to improve your mindset
4.
Listening 2
10 mins.
Students listen to the podcast, then rewrite the sentences below to correct them. Correct as a whole class.
1. Aisha thinks she is an optimist, because of her sunny personality.
2. Pessimism and optimism are not just in the mindset and have many other influences.
3. Genetics contributes 25% to your chances of being an optimist or a pessimist.
4. People are more likely to be pessimists when they are older.
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TEACHER MATERIALS
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UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)
OPTIMISM AND PESSIMISM
5. Being an optimist can make your physical health better.
5.
Vocabulary 2
10 mins.
Students try to complete the sentences below using the wordbox, then relisten to the podcast, and complete the
sentences below with a word or phrase from the text. Correct as a class.
1. Hang
6.
2. doom
3. matter
4. best
5. blessings
Grammar
10 mins.
Students read the grammar box below as a class. Elicit the correct answer for the question as a class and explain
the task using the grammar box. Students complete the sentences by conjugating the verbs in the word box to
follow the gerund.
Grammar box:
1. B
2. C
3. A
4. D
Sentences:
7.
1. Feeling
2. journaling
3. Changing
4. listening
5. Being
6. happening
Game
10 mins.
Students do the quiz below. Answer any questions they may have, and share results as a class.
8.
Talking Point
5 minutes
Monitor the activity. Make a note of any typical errors and write useful language on the board.
As a follow-up activity, students can discuss how an optimist and a pessimist would behave in the following
situations:
1. You are about to go on a date for the first time with someone your friend set you up with.
2. You have been trying to give up coffee but yesterday you had your first cup in two weeks.
3. Your business goes bankrupt.
4. You make a serious mistake at work.
5. You go on holiday and it rains most of the time.
9.
Extension activity 1
15 mins.
Students try to complete the sentences from memory, then relisten to the podcast, and complete the sentences
below with a word or phrase from the text. Correct as a class.
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TEACHER MATERIALS
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UPPER-INTERMEDIATE (B2-C1)
OPTIMISM AND PESSIMISM
10.
1. feeling a bit blue
2. realist
3. sunny
4. inherited
5. finances
6. defeatist
7. physical
8. cynical
Extension activity 2
15 mins.
In pairs, students role-play as a pessimist and an optimist. Encourage them to use the key vocabulary from the
lesson, and mention the pros and cons of the topics. While they are talking, monitor and assist when necessary.
You can make a note of praiseworthy and problematic language for a feedback session afterwards.
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