Week 1 Vocabulary Activities

EMOTIONS DIALOGUES

Luis: You know, sometimes I feel like I’m carrying this weight on my shoulders since I moved here. It’s hard to explain.

Laura: I get that. It’s not just about leaving home; it’s also about leaving behind everything you knew. What do you miss the most?

Luis: Definitely my family. I used to see them every week. Now, it’s just video calls. It’s not the same, you know?

Laura: I understand. I miss the little things too, like the smell of my mom’s cooking. It’s those small moments that stick with you.

Luis: Exactly! And then there’s the guilt of feeling happy here sometimes. It feels wrong when my family is struggling back home.

Laura: That’s the hardest part. We want to succeed, but it often feels like we’re tearing ourselves in two. It’s a complicated mix of emotions.

Luis expresses that since moving, he feels a heavy emotional burden, particularly missing his family, whom he used to see weekly but now only connects with via video calls. Laura empathizes, sharing her longing for the simple pleasures of home, like her mother’s cooking. They both acknowledge the guilt that can accompany happiness in their new lives, recognizing the struggle of wanting to succeed while feeling torn about their families’ hardships back home, highlighting the complex mix of emotions that immigrants often experience.

TRUE OR FALSE?

Statements: 

1. The author feels happy about moving to a new place. 

2. The author misses seeing their family in person. 

3. Laura enjoys cooking at home with her mother. 

4. The author feels guilty about being happy in their new life. 

5. The author connects with their family through phone calls. 

Correct answers:

1. False – The author expresses a heavy emotional burden, not happiness. 

2. True – The author misses their family, whom they used to see weekly. 

3. False – Laura misses her mother’s cooking, not enjoys it. 

4. True – The author acknowledges feeling guilty about happiness in their new life. 

5. False – The author connects with their family via video calls, not phone calls.

EXTRA CREDIT – ANSWER ONE OF THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION QUESTIONS. Select one of the following discussion questions and answer it in 3-5 sentences in the comments section at the bottom of this page:

1. Do you have family members who live far away from you? 

2. How do you feel when you miss your family? 

3. What is your favorite food that reminds you of home? 

4. How often do you talk to your family on the phone or video calls? 

5. Have you ever moved to a new place? How did it feel? 

6. What makes you happy about your new life? 

7. Do you think it is hard to be away from family? Why? 

8. Can you share a memory with your family that makes you smile? 

9. How do you stay connected with friends and family? 

10. What do you like to do to feel better when you are sad?

Luis: You ever think about how much we carry inside us, Laura? I mean, all those emotions from leaving everything behind.

Laura: All the time, Luis. It’s like a weight that never really goes away. Sometimes I feel guilty for feeling sad when I know others would love to be here.

Luis: That guilt can be overwhelming. I miss my family so much, but I also want to succeed here. It’s confusing.

Laura: Exactly! It’s that constant tug-of-war between embracing this new life and longing for home. Do you think it ever gets easier?

Luis: I don’t know. I think it just changes. Some days I feel hope, and others, I just want to cry and call my mom.

Laura: Same here. But maybe sharing those feelings helps? Like right now, it feels lighter just talking about it.

MENTAL HEALTH DIALOGUES

Luis: Hey Laura, I’ve been thinking a lot about mental health lately. It’s tough being an immigrant, you know?

Laura: I hear you, Luis. The pressure to adapt can be overwhelming. Sometimes I feel like I’m carrying the weight of two worlds on my shoulders.

Luis: Exactly! And it’s hard to talk about it. People assume we’re just grateful for the opportunity, but it’s more complicated than that.

Laura: Right? I sometimes feel guilty for feeling anxious or sad. Like, I should be stronger because I made it here.

Luis: You’re not alone in that. It’s okay to struggle. I’ve been seeing a therapist, and it’s helped me a lot to share my feelings.

Laura: That’s great! I’ve been thinking about it too. Maybe we can support each other in finding the right resources. It might make a difference.

Luis and Laura discuss the challenges of mental health as immigrants, expressing the overwhelming pressure to adapt and the complexity of their emotions. Luis shares his feelings of being burdened by the expectations of gratitude while admitting to struggles with anxiety and sadness, which Laura relates to, feeling guilty for her emotions. They both acknowledge the importance of seeking help, with Luis mentioning his positive experience with therapy, and they consider supporting each other in finding resources to improve their mental well-being.

TRUE OR FALSE?

Statements: 

1. Luis feels happy about his life as an immigrant. 

2. Laura feels guilty about her emotions. 

3. The author thinks seeking help is not important. 

4. Luis has had a good experience with therapy. 

5. Luis and Laura do not want to help each other. 

Correct answers:

1. False – Luis shares feelings of anxiety and sadness, not happiness. 

2. True – Laura expresses feelings of guilt regarding her emotions. 

3. False – The author acknowledges the importance of seeking help. 

4. True – Luis mentions his positive experience with therapy. 

5. False – Luis and Laura consider supporting each other in finding resources.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. How do you feel about talking to friends when you are sad? 

2. What makes you happy in your daily life? 

3. Have you ever felt pressure to be grateful for something? 

4. Do you think it is okay to ask for help when you have problems? 

5. What do you do to feel better when you are anxious? 

6. Can you share a time when you felt overwhelmed? 

7. How important is it to talk about feelings with others? 

8. What activities make you feel relaxed and calm? 

9. Do you know someone who helps others with their feelings? 

10. How can friends support each other during tough times?

Luis: Hey Laura, I’ve been thinking a lot about how tough it can be for immigrants, especially when it comes to mental health. Have you found that to be true for you?

Laura: Absolutely, Luis. It’s like you’re carrying this invisible weight. The stress of adapting to a new culture, the pressure to succeed, it can all feel overwhelming at times.

Luis: I hear you. Sometimes I feel like I can’t talk to anyone about it. Everyone expects us to be strong, but inside, it can be really lonely.

Laura: Exactly! I tried looking for support groups, but they don’t always understand our specific struggles. It’s frustrating when you just want someone to listen.

Luis: Right? And even when we do find resources, there’s often a language barrier that makes it even harder to express what we’re feeling.

Laura: Yes! We need more open conversations about mental health in our communities. It’s okay to not be okay, and we should feel comfortable sharing that.

HEALTH DIALOGUES

Luis: Hey Laura, have you noticed how hard it is to find affordable healthcare around here?

Laura: Definitely. It’s overwhelming. I’m just afraid of the bills if I ever need to see a doctor.

Luis: Same here. I’ve been putting off a check-up for months. I just can’t afford it right now.

Laura: I get that. Do you know if there are any community clinics nearby? I’ve heard they can help.

Luis: Yeah, I’ve heard of a couple. They might offer sliding scale fees, but I’m still worried about the language barrier.

Laura: That’s a valid concern. Maybe we can go together? It could make it easier to navigate the process.

Luis and Laura discuss the challenges of finding affordable healthcare, expressing their fears about potential medical bills and the need for doctor visits. Luis mentions he has postponed a check-up due to costs, while Laura inquires about nearby community clinics that may offer sliding scale fees. They both acknowledge the worry about language barriers and suggest that visiting the clinics together could help them navigate the process more easily.

TRUE OR FALSE?

Statements: 

1. Luis and Laura are happy about their healthcare options. 

2. Luis has delayed going to the doctor because of high costs. 

3. Laura is not interested in finding community clinics. 

4. They both worry about understanding the language at the clinics. 

5. Visiting the clinics alone will make it easier for them. 

Correct answers:

1. False – The text shows that Luis and Laura are worried about healthcare, not happy. 

2. True – Luis mentions he has postponed a check-up due to costs. 

3. False – Laura is looking for nearby community clinics, which shows she is interested. 

4. True – They acknowledge the worry about language barriers. 

5. False – They suggest visiting the clinics together to help navigate the process.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. Do you think healthcare is important for everyone? 

2. Have you ever been to a doctor or clinic? 

3. What do you feel when you think about medical bills? 

4. Can you talk about a time when you needed to see a doctor? 

5. How do you find out about affordable healthcare options? 

6. Do you know any community clinics in your area? 

7. What helps you feel better when you are sick? 

8. Have you ever had trouble understanding a doctor? 

9. Why do you think some people avoid going to the doctor? 

10. How can friends help each other with healthcare visits?

Luis: Hey Laura, have you noticed how hard it is to find affordable healthcare since we moved here?

Laura: Absolutely, Luis. I feel like every time I go to the clinic, they just throw a stack of bills at me. It’s overwhelming.

Luis: I know what you mean. I often wonder if it’s even worth seeing a doctor when the costs are so high. How do you deal with it?

Laura: I try to stick to community health centers, but even then, it’s a struggle. Sometimes I feel like we’re just navigating a maze.

Luis: Yeah, and the language barrier doesn’t help either. I get anxious trying to explain my symptoms.

Laura: Same here. It feels like we need not just medical help but someone to guide us through all this. It’s tough, but we’ll figure it out together.