B1U8_t

Lesson one audio: female

Lesson two audio: male

Home listening: female

Supplementary reading: male

Unit 8 Beyond the Blues

Lesson One

Audio Studio

Task 1 Identifying the Gist

Listen to the audio clip and choose the right answers to the questions.

Task 2 Checking the Facts

Listen to the audio clip again and decide whether the following statements are true or false.

Lesson Two

Audio Studio

Task 1 Identifying the Gist

Listen to the audio clip, and choose the right answers to the questions.

Task 2 Checking the Facts

Listen to the audio clip again and fill in the blanks according to what you have heard. Repeat the sentences after you have completed them.

Home Listening

Listen to the audio clip and fill in the blanks with the exact words or sentences. You are expected to do it after class and check the answers on your own.

If you know a person who is showing signs of severe depression, the best thing you can do is be there for them and show them you care. The key to remember here is to provide support and companionship, even though they may repeatedly refuse your offers of help and even seek to avoid you. Listen to what they have to say. Suggest to them that perhaps they should seek professional help. Support them by going with them to the doctor, if they feel your company will be a help. Encourage them to engage in activities such as going to the cinema or taking a walk in the park. If the y don’t want to do that, then perhaps suggest renting a movie to watch at home. I remember that during my depressive bouts I preferred to stay indoors, so I always appreciated someone renting a movie for me to see at home.

Another thing that I was grateful for during those difficult times were the inspirational books and gifts that friends gave me. Many of those books were memoirs and stories of people who had experienced similar things and were able to overcome them. The gifts were as simple as a frame or jewelry that symbolized hope. Those things I held very close to my heart, and still do.

If you have a friend or know someone who is showing signs of depression, support them any way you can and remember to never use phrases such as "snap out of it". Phrases such as these can be very harmful and even dangerous for the individual suffering from depression. They may feel misunderstood and their feelings of loneliness can intensify, causing them to have irrational thoughts that can even contribute to erratic behavior.

Awareness and knowledge are very important in dealing with complex and sensitive illnesses such as depression. The more knowledge we have, the more helpful we are to ourselves, our friends and families, and even to society as a whole.

Unit 8 Beyond the Blues

Supplementary Reading