Teaching Plan for English Expression of Basic Human Emotions

As human beings, we are endowed with a rich array of emotions. These emotions are at the core of our experiences, shaping how we react to the world around us and how we interact with others. In English, we have many different words and phrases to describe these emotions, each with its unique nuances and shades of meaning. In this teaching plan, we will explore some of the most common and important basic human emotions in English, and provide strategies for teaching them effectively to language learners.


1. Sadness

Sadness is a feeling of sorrow, disappointment or unhappiness. It is a common human emotion that we all experience at some point in our lives. Some common expressions for expressing sadness include:

- I'm feeling down today.
- I'm feeling a bit blue.
- I'm sorry, I'm just not feeling myself today.

To teach these expressions effectively, teachers can use role-playing or vocabulary-building activities that encourage learners to express their feelings in English. This might involve giving learners a series of prompts or scenarios to respond to, such as "You failed an important exam" or "Your best friend moved away". They can then practice expressing their sadness using the target expressions.

2. Happiness

Happiness is a positive emotion that is associated with feelings of joy, contentment, and satisfaction. We often express happiness when we experience something enjoyable, such as being with friends, going on vacation, or achieving a goal. Some common expressions for expressing happiness include:

- I'm feeling great today!
- I'm over the moon!
- I'm on cloud nine!

To teach these expressions effectively, teachers can use vocabulary-building activities or games that encourage learners to identify situations where they might feel happy. This might involve giving learners a set of pictures or icons that represent different emotions, and asking them to match them to different scenarios. Learners can then practice using the target expressions to describe how they would feel in each situation.

3. Anger

Anger is a strong negative emotion that is associated with feelings of irritation, frustration, and annoyance. We often express anger when we feel that our needs or desires have been blocked or ignored, or when we perceive injustice or unfairness. Some common expressions for expressing anger include:

- I'm really mad right now.
- I'm so angry I could scream!
- I'm sick and tired of this!

To teach these expressions effectively, teachers can use role-playing or scenario-based activities that encourage learners to express their anger in English. This might involve giving learners a series of scenarios to respond to, such as "Someone cuts in front of you in line" or "Your boss gives you extra work on a Friday night". Learners can then practice expressing their anger using the target expressions.

4. Fear

Fear is a negative emotion that is associated with feelings of danger or threat. It is a natural response to situations that we perceive as dangerous or risky, such as a loud noise or a threatening gesture. Some common expressions for expressing fear include:

- I'm really scared right now.
- I'm terrified!
- I'm shaking like a leaf!

To teach these expressions effectively, teachers can use visual aids or storytelling activities that encourage learners to imagine and describe scenarios where they might feel afraid. For example, teachers might give learners a picture of a dark forest or a spooky old house, and ask them to describe how they would feel in that situation. Learners can then practice using the target expressions to describe their fear.

In conclusion, teaching English expression of basic human emotions requires an effective and comprehensive approach that encourages learners to practice and use these expressions in real-life scenarios. By using a variety of techniques such as role-playing, vocabulary-building, and storytelling, teachers can help learners develop their skills and confidence in expressing their emotions in English.