UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE COLOMBIA

DIRECCIÓN ACADÉMICA – SEDE BOGOTÁ

DIRECCIÓN NACIONAL DE INNOVACIÓN ACADÉMICA –

DNIA

PROGRAMA DE SEGUNDA LENGUA – PLE

 PROGRAMA DE SEGUNDA LENGUA- PLE

INGLÉS LEVEL IV

SUBJECT CODE: 1000047

CONTENT: SIX UNITS

 UNIT 1
How to overcome stress!
WELCOME TO UNIT 1
• Welcome!

In this unit we are going to talk about causes and effects of stress in
people’s lives, and how to overcome it.
Syllabus
OBJETIVES
• Students will express causes and effects.
• Students will give advices and solutions.
PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE – CONTENT
Before completing this unit, it is necessary to remember:

• How to take decisions, make promises and predict.

• How to express suggestions and offer something or to do something for you.
SPEAKING

Activity 1.1 (Classwork)

Discussion:
As you know stress is the disease of the century. Have you ever been in a situation that causes you stress?
Discuss with your partners.

Read the statements below, and tick the ones that probably, make you mad or stressed you out. If none you are
unique!

 Tossing and turning all the night on.

 Having conflicts with your parents/ relatives / colleagues / friends.
 Having an important meeting / event and getting stuck in a traffic jam.
 Not having enough time to complete your assignment in your university or job.
 Leaving home late and arriving late to work / university / an appointment.
SPEAKING
Activity 1.2 (Classwork)
As nobody is unique, in pairs discuss with your partner the ones
you have chosen or other situations that make people mad.
Use the expressions in the box below.

EXPRESSING DISCOMFORT

I don’t like it when…

I hate it when…
I can’t stand it when…
… bothers me a lot
… gets on my nerves
What bothers me is when …
LISTENING
Activity 2
Watch the video ‘ON the street: Living with stress’. Complete the chart with the cause or with the
solution according to what you hear.
LISTENING

STRESS

CAUSES SOLUTIONS

1. Studying for midterms and finals 1.

2. Parents: 2. Having a glass of wine or two.

3. Saving patients’ lives specially, when they are under

3.
critical conditions

4. 4. Tattoos and workouts.

LISTENING

RESPUESTAS Activity 2

STRESS

CAUSES SOLUTIONS
1. Studying for midterms and finals 1. Dancing

2 Parents: They worry about their children even when 2. Having a glass of wine or two
they are adults
3. Saving patients’ lives when they are under critical 3. Netflix. Watching about 30-minute show
conditions

4. Changes in schedules or time already planned 4. Tattoos and working out/ workouts.
READING
Activity 3
Read the following article ‘Myths of Stress’. After reading, match each heading with its corresponding paragraph.

 Stress is everywhere, so you can't do anything about it.

 Stress is the same for everybody.
 Only major symptoms of stress require attention
 No symptoms, no stress.
 The most popular techniques for reducing stress are the best ones.
 Stress is always bad for you.

Myth 1:  _____________________________________________________________.

Completely wrong. Stress is different for each of us. What is stressful for one person may or may not be
stressful for another; each of us responds to stress in an entirely different way.

Myth 2:  _____________________________________________________________.

According to this view, zero stress makes us happy and healthy. Wrong. Stress is to the human condition
what tension is to the violin string: too little and the music is dull and raspy; too much and the music is
shrill or the string snaps. Stress can be the kiss of death or the spice of life. The issue, really, is how to
manage it. Managed stress makes us productive and happy; mismanaged stress hurts and even kills us.
READING

Myth 3:  ____________________________________________________.

Not so. You can plan your life so that stress does not overwhelm you.
Effective planning involves setting priorities and working on simple
problems first, solving them, and then going on to more complex
difficulties. When stress is mismanaged, it's difficult to prioritize. All your
problems seem to be equal and stress seems to be everywhere.

Myth 4:  ____________________________________________________.

Again, not so. No universally effective stress reduction techniques exist. We
are all different, our lives are different, our situations are different, and our
reactions are different. Only a comprehensive program tailored to the
individual works.
READING
Myth 5:  _____________________________________________________________.
Absence of symptoms does not mean the absence of stress. In fact, camouflaging symptoms with
medication may deprive you of the signals you need for reducing the strain on your physiological and
psychological systems.

Myth 6:  _____________________________________________________________.

This myth assumes that the "minor" symptoms, such as headaches or stomach acid, may be safely
ignored. Minor symptoms of stress are the early warnings that your life is getting out of hand and that
you need to do a better job of managing stress.
READING

Respuestas Activity 3

Myth 1:  Stress is the same for everybody.

Myth 2:  Stress is always bad for you.

Myth 3:  Stress is everywhere, so you can't do anything about it.

Myth 4:  The most popular techniques for reducing stress are the best ones.

Myth 5:  No symptoms, no stress.

Myth 6:  Only major symptoms of stress require attention.

LISTENING
PRE-LISTENING
Activity 4 (Classwork)
In groups, read the following statement, do you agree with it? Why? Why not?

“Nowadays, being busy and stressed seems to be the new norm”

Now, discuss the following question.

 Is there anybody who doesn’t suffer stress these days?

 What signs or behaviours make you realise that you are stressed out?
 Can you notice when other people are stressed?
 What do you do to relieve stress?
LISTENING
Activity 5
Watch the video ‘Stress management strategies: ways to unwind’. After watching, drag the causes of
stress and the symptoms that identified stress.
LISTENING
SYMPTOMS CAUSES

Increase the risk of heart attack Memory loss High blood pressure

Disrupted sleep Upset stomach

Tense sore muscles Headaches

Increased heart rate
Shallow breath
LISTENING
Respuestas Activity 5

CAUSES
Headaches
SYMPTOMS
High blood pressure
Tense sore muscles
Upset stomach
Memory loss
Shallow breath
Disrupted sleep
Increased heart rate Increase the risk of heart attack
LISTENING
Activity 6
Watch the video ‘Stress management strategies: ways to unwind’ again, and complete the chart with the information
missing.

*pare down: diminishing / to trigger: to provoke, to generate / to stave off: to prevent

STRESS RELIEF

TIP ADVICE REASON

1. Stay in and a. Do a ____________ activity a. Allows _________ _________ to pare down, and focus
____________

b. Take a ____________ bath or hot ____________ b. Triggers _________ in the body and _________

c. Try ____________ muscle relaxation c. Allows you to _________ as a _________

2. Get out for a. Do yoga and ____________ a. Helps _________ the mind to stave off feelings of
____________ _________

b. Go ____________ for a good dose of ____________ light and little b. Lessens anxiety and _________ maintaining relax of calm
____________ (exercise)

c. ____________ up with friends and get in a good____________ c. Creates feelings of _________ and euphoria

3. Treat yourself to a. Eat ____________ a. Helps _________the blood vessels which reduces blood
____________ _________

b. Appeal to your ____________ of smell b. Have de-stressing _________

LISTENING
POST-LISTENING
Activity 7 (Classwork)
In groups, choose the correct option according to the last part of the video.

1. Why the incorporation of stressful strategies into your daily routine is it important?
a. because you’re feeling neurotic.
b. because life is filled with ups and downs.
c. because it is good to exercise.
LISTENING
Respuestas Activity 7

1. B
SPEAKING
REMINDER
GIVING ADVICE & RECOMMENDATIONS

1. Form: Should / shouldn’t

Example:

• You should do more exercise.

• You shouldn’t argue with your relatives.
• I think you should take some days off.
• I don’t think you should eat too much chocolate.

ought to or ought not to can be used instead of should or shouldn’t

• You ought to quit your job if you don’t like it.

• You ought not to spend too much money in unnecessary things.
SPEAKING
REMINDER
GIVING ADVICE, RECOMMENDATIONS, SUGGESTING & INVITING

2. Form: Why don’t you…? / How about…?

Why don’t you + verb…

How about + a noun or a noun phrase (verb-ing)...

Example:
 Why don’t you do some more exercise?
 How about doing some more exercise?
 How about some exercise?
SPEAKING
REMINDER
GIVING ADVICE

3. Form: If I were you, I would (not) + verb…

Example:

• If I were you, I would take a warm shower to relieve stress.

• If I were you, I wouldn’t have heavy meals before going to bed.
SPEAKING
REMINDER
GIVING ADVICE, RECOMMENDATIONS & SUGGESTIONS

4. Form: I would suggest / I would recommend

I would suggest not / I would recommend not + verb-ing…

Example:

• I would suggest taking yoga classes to get some relaxation.

• I would recommend doing some more exercise to keep you fit.
• I would suggest not wasting too much time changing diets.
SPEAKING
REMINDER

GIVING A STRONGER ADVICE OR WARNING

5. Form: ‘d better + verb … (You’d better + verb…)

‘d better not + verb… (You’d better not + verb…)

Example:
• You’d better sleep at least 7 hours, otherwise, you’ll feel tired all day long.
• You’d better not drink alcohol before driving.
SPEAKING
Activity 8 (Classwork)

The stressful situations, we discussed previously (activity 1.1), occur frequently. Read
them and talk about their possible effects and, as good friends, propose solutions and
recommendations. Use the REMINDERS. Get in groups of 4 and complete the chart.
 PROBLEMS EFFECTS SOLUTIONS
Tossing and turning all night on.

Having conflicts with your parents/

relatives / colleagues / friends.

Having an important meeting / event and

getting stuck in a traffic jam.

Not having enough time to complete

your assignment in your university or
job.
Leaving home late and arriving late to
work / university / an appointment.

Being starving and your order takes too

much time, and finally, when it comes, it
is cold.
WRITING
ACTIVITY 9 (To do this activity, go to Moodle)
OVERCOMING STRESS!
From the chart above, take one of the problems and write down a paragraph in terms of stating the problem,
explaining its effects and giving solutions and recommendations. Use the REMINDERS above.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
READING
FREE-ACTIVITY
Activity 10
Do you know how much stress is there in your life? To figure it out, in your free time go to the ‘Greater
Good Magazine’ website and take the ‘Stress and Anxiety quiz’

Click on the link: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/quizzes/take_quiz/stress_and_anxiety

CONGRATULATIONS!
You have finally completed this unit. Now you can:

• Talk about the causes and effects of the stress in people’s lives.
• Give advice on how to relieve stress.
 BIBLIOGRAFÍA

• Video – ‘ON the street: Living with stress’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAX3FbzmfE4

• Video – ‘Stress management strategies: ways to unwind’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fL-pn80s-c
• Article – ‘Myths of Stress’: http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/stress-myths.aspx
• Quiz – ‘Stress and Anxiety quiz’ https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/quizzes/take_quiz/stress_and_anxiety
LISTA DE RECURSOS UTILIZADOS
Créditos
PLE Coordinator: Nohra Cecila Vargas Buitrago, M.A. in ELT
Universidad Nacional de Colombia

ELT Editor: Paula Melissa Vera Diettes, M.A. in Linguistics

Professor for Explora UN Mundo and the Intensive English Programme
Universidad Nacional de Colombia