English Lesson (Vocabulary and Speaking): "Feelings"

LESSON: GENERAL ENGLISH
Topic: “Talking About Feelings”
Vocabulary and speaking.

Feelings like happy, sad, lonely, confused, and tired are not included here because they are well-known to most beginner English learners.


1. ANGRY
What makes you angry? Or: What angers you?

Patterns:

• My sister makes me angry.
• I become angry when people do not keep their appointments.
• I do not easily become angry.
• It’s personal. It’s a secret.
• Your own example: 

Past Experience: I was angry yesterday because my friend broke my cell phone.

ANGRY or MAD

“Angry” is more formal and “Mad” is informal, used in conversations.
“Mad” also mean crazy. Example: “My neighbor acts a bit mad when he talks to his plants like they can talk back.”

Mad about (or: crazy about) [someone or something] means a strong liking or passion for someone or something

Examples:

• Enthusiastic: "She is mad about soccer and watches every game."
• Excited: "He is mad about his new video game and plays it every day."
• Affectionate: "They are mad about their puppy and take him everywhere."
• “I am mad about you.”
• “I am crazy for you.”

 What are you mad about? –


2. CONFIDENT
What are you confident about?

Patterns:

• I am confident about my ability to manage people.
• I am confident about my English-speaking skills.
• I am confident that I will finish the project before the deadline.
• Your own example: 

3. INSECURE
What are you insecure about?

Patterns:

• I feel (I am) insecure about my cooking skills.
• I feel insecure about my height.
• Your own example: 

*Insecure (condition not a feeling) also means “not locked or well protected”

Examples:
One of the building's rear doors was insecure.
The country's borders remain insecure.


4. EMBARRASSED /ɪmˈberəst/ and ASHAMED /əˈʃeɪmd/

Ashamed: This means you feel bad about something you did or who you are. It’s a strong feeling, often about doing something wrong. Example: I felt ashamed when I lied to my friend.

Talk about a time when you felt ashamed. -

Embarrassed: This means you feel awkward or uncomfortable, often because of a mistake or something silly that happened. It’s a lighter feeling. Example: I was embarrassed when I tripped and fell in front of everyone.

Do you easily become embarrassed?

Patterns:

• I don’t easily become embarrassed.
• I get/become embarrassed when I make a mistake in public.
• Your own example: 

Past Experience: Talk about an embarrassing situation.

• It is personal. I prefer not to share.
• Last week, I felt embarrassed because I tripped.
• Your own example: 

5. CALM
What calms you down?

Patterns:

• My children calm me down.
• Listening to music calms me down.
• I become calm when I watch a comedy movie.
• Your own example: 

 

6. BORED /bord/ [the verb is “bore”]
What bores (verb) you? Or: What makes you bored?

Patterns:

• I usually feel (get) bored when I listen to long lectures.
• The meeting was boring so I felt (I was) bored.
• Bore as a verb: Waiting in line bores me.
• Your own example: 

Past Experience: Talk about the last time you were bored. - Last night, I got bored watching politicians debate on TV.
Your own example: 

 

7. FRIGHTENED /ˈfraɪ-tn̩d/ 
What frightens you?

LEVEL: scared of - frightened of - terrified of - petrified of

Patterns:

• I am frightened of snakes.
• I am frightened of my boss. 
• I am frightened when I walk alone at night. 
• I am frightened that I might fail the exam.
• Your own example: 

8. JEALOUS [often used for relationships, like love]
What makes you jealous?

Patterns:

• I don’t easily become jealous.
• When my boyfriend/girlfriend talks to another girl/boy, I become jealous.
• I am jealous of my brother because my parents gave him a new car.
• Your own example: 

Past Experience: Talk about the last time you became jealous. - Last month, my girlfriend met her ex-boyfriend, so I was really jealous.
Your own example: 

 

9. ENVIOUS [the verb is “envy”]

• Do you easily become envious? - I don’t easily become envious. Answer:
• Who are you envious of? Who do you envy? - I am envious of my friend because he has a good job that allows him to travel around the world. Answer:
• Who do you NOT envy? - I don't envy members of the British Royal family because they do not have freedom even though they are rich and famous. Answer:

 

Past Experience: Talk about the last time you became envious. - Last month, I was envious of my friend because he went to India.
Your own example:

10. ANXIOUS / WORRIED /ˈwɚrid/
What are you anxious about?

Patterns:

• I am anxious about (+ noun) climate change.
• When I ride a taxi alone at night, I feel anxious.
• Your own example: 

Past Experience: Talk about the last time you became anxious. - Last Friday, I was anxious because I waited for the result of my doctor’s check-up.
Your own example:


11. STRESSED /ˈstrɛst/ [the verb is “stress”]
What stresses you? Or: What makes you stressed?

Patterns:

• I feel stressed when I study English.
• I am stressed about (+ noun) my work.
• I don’t easily become stressed.
• Your own example: 

Past Experience: Talk about the last time you became stressed. - Last year, I was so stressed because I had so many problems at work and at home.
Your own example:


12. RELIEVED /rɪˈliːvd/
What makes you feel relieved? 

Pattern: Every time my class ends, I feel relieved.

Past Experience: Talk about the last time you were relieved

• When I finished my project, I felt relieved.
• Yesterday, I thought I left my cell phone in the taxi but when I arrived home, my phone was just on my bed. I felt relieved.
• Your own example: 

 

13. SHOCKED /shoct/
Shocked is different from “surprised” and “startled.”

Compare:
SURPRISE is a feeling caused by something unexpected or unusual.

• Emotion: Generally positive or neutral; can lead to happiness or curiosity.
• Example: "I was surprised to see my friend at the party."  

STARTLE is a sudden reaction to something unexpected, often involving a quick physical response.

• Emotion: Typically a brief, reflexive response; often associated with fear or alarm but not necessarily negative.
• Example: "The loud noise startled me."

SHOCK is a strong emotional reaction to something that is deeply disturbing or surprising.

• Emotion: Usually negative; it implies a more intense and prolonged emotional response than surprise or startle.
• Example: "I was in shock after hearing the bad news."

Past Experience: Talk about the last time you became shocked. - I was shocked when I saw flying cockroaches in my house. Answer:  

Have you ever experienced culture shock? Explain. - Some Americans are shocked when French people kiss to say "hi," or what they call "faire la bise." Answer: 

 

14. FRUSTRATED /ˈfrʌˌstreɪtəd/ [the verb is “frustrate”]
What frustrates you? Or: What makes you feel frustrated?

Patterns:
I am frustrated about (+ noun) the lack of progress in my project.
When I cannot remember many words in English, I become frustrated.
Your own example:

Past Experience: Talk about the last time you felt frustrated.

• I was frustrated because I did not get the job.
• Last month, my repairman promised me that he would come to my house to fix my door, but he never arrived so I felt frustrated.
• Your own example: 

 

15. OVERWHELMED /ˌoʊ.vərˈwɛlmd/
What makes you feel overwhelmed?

Patterns:

• I feel (get) overwhelmed when I have a lot of tasks to finish at the same time.
• Having too many social events in one week can really overwhelm me.
• Your own example: 

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed with too many tasks? Answer:

 

16. GRATEFUL

• What are you most grateful for in your life? - I am most grateful for my family because they support me in everything I do. Your own example:
• How do you show that you are grateful to someone? - I show that I am grateful by saying thank you and helping them in return. Your own example:
• Why is it important to be grateful? It's important to be grateful because… Your own example: 

 

17. GUILTY

• What makes you feel guilty? - I feel guilty when I forget to call a friend on their birthday. Your own example:
• Can you remember a time when you felt guilty about a mistake? - I felt guilty when I didn’t try my best in the game and my team lost. Your own example: 

 

18. INSPIRED /ɪnˈspaɪərd/ [the verb is “inspire”]
What makes you feel inspired? Or: What inspires you?

Patterns

• ___ inspires me to ___: Nature inspires me to be creative.
• Great artists like Van Gogh inspire me.
• I feel inspired when I see people working hard and achieving their dreams.
• Your own example: 

What inspired you to pursue your current career? - I saw someone I admire succeed in this career, and he inspired me to try.
Your own example: 

 

19. RELUCTANT [also: hesitant]
Talk about a time when you felt reluctant to do something.

• I felt reluctant to present my project at work. I was nervous because I didn’t want to make mistakes in front of my colleagues.
• I felt reluctant to try a new restaurant with my friends. I was afraid I wouldn’t like the food, but I went anyway.
• Your own example: 

 

20. SKEPTICAL
What are you skeptical about?

• I am skeptical about new products because they often don’t work as advertised.
• I feel skeptical about some news stories because they can be fake
• Your own example: 

 

21. INTIMIDATED
Talk about the last time you felt intimidated.

• The last time I felt intimidated was during a job interview. I was nervous because I wanted to impress the interviewer.
• The last time I felt intimidated was when I met my friend's parents for the first time. They seemed very serious, and I wanted them to like me.
• Your own example: 

 

22. INDIFFERENT

• What are you indifferent about? - I am indifferent about fashion trends now. Your own example:
• What issues have most people in your country become indifferent about?Many people have become indifferent about political debates. Your own example: 

23. RESENTFUL
Are you resentful of something or someone?

Patterns:

• I try not to feel resentful of people and things.
• I am resentful about not getting credit for my ideas.
• Your own example:  

 

- END