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Lesson Info

Post Type
Social Post
Level
Level 3 / B1
Published
Title
He Wasn’t Always Like This
Webpage
https://eslnewsstories.com/smposts/he-wasnt-always-like-this/

In this lesson:

  • Warm-up
  • Vocab List
  • Reading and Audio
  • Read the Comments Identify what each commenter is doing in the conversation.
  • Why Did They Post? Identify what the poster wants from readers.
  • True or False Check understanding.
  • Words That Go Together Connect words and collocated phrases from the lesson.
  • Everyday Expressions Choose the meaning that fits each expression in context.
  • Reply Builder Use sentence frames to reply to the original poster.
  • Discussion Questions Open speaking questions for discussion (or writing practice).
  • Answers Answer key for the printed tasks.

Think Ahead: What do you guess is causing problems in this relationship?

a) The boyfriend spends too much time with his friends.

b) The boyfriend has stopped taking care of himself.

c) The couple disagree about where they should live.

A casually dressed young man stands before a bedroom mirror while his girlfriend, ready to go out, watches him with concern from the doorway of their untidy room.
How long have I been wearing this shirt?

VOCAB LIST

attracted (adj.) — Interested in someone in a romantic or physical way.
move past (phr. v.) — To accept a difficult feeling or experience and continue with your life.
embarrassed (adj.) — Feeling uncomfortable or ashamed because of a situation.
beer belly (n.) — A large, round stomach, especially on someone who drinks a lot of beer.
pull away (phr. v.) — To move your body away from another person.
shallow (adj.) — Caring too much about appearance and not enough about more important qualities.
deeply (adv.) — Very much or very strongly.
torn (adj.) — Having two different feelings and not knowing what to do.

Reading

My boyfriend and I are both in our late twenties. When we got together, I was very attracted to him, but lately he has really let himself go. His car is a mess, his room is dirty, and he rarely brushes his hair or shaves. He also drinks alcohol every day and has developed a large beer belly.

I’ve brought it up many times, but nothing has changed. Now I feel embarrassed when we go out together, and I sometimes pull away when he touches me. I feel awful even writing this because I don’t want to sound shallow. I’m really torn because I still love him deeply. He is my best friend, makes me laugh, and cares for me in every other way.

I want to stay in love with him, but I’m worried that I won’t be able to move past these feelings. How can I bring this up without hurting him? I accept him for who he is, but I also need to be honest about how this is affecting me. I am afraid things will only get worse.

He Wasn’t Always Like This

Level 3 Social

Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It

A casually dressed young man stands before a bedroom mirror while his girlfriend, ready to go out, watches him with concern from the doorway of their untidy room.
How long have I been wearing this shirt?
Poster
Amanda

My boyfriend and I are both in our late twenties. When we got together, I was very attracted to him, but lately he has really let himself go. His car is a mess, his room is dirty, and he rarely brushes his hair or shaves. He also drinks alcohol every day and has developed a large beer belly.

I’ve brought it up many times, but nothing has changed. Now I feel embarrassed when we go out together, and I sometimes pull away when he touches me. I feel awful even writing this because I don’t want to sound shallow. I’m really torn because I still love him deeply. He is my best friend, makes me laugh, and cares for me in every other way.

I want to stay in love with him, but I’m worried that I won’t be able to move past these feelings. How can I bring this up without hurting him? I accept him for who he is, but I also need to be honest about how this is affecting me. I am afraid things will only get worse.

Read the Comments

Read the Comments

  • EmilyR

    You are not a bad person for feeling this way. Talk to him honestly, but focus on his drinking and how he cares for himself, not only his appearance.

    This comment

    b. Focuses on his habits, not only his appearance
  • DanielK

    Drinking every day and not caring for himself may be signs that something is wrong. Ask him if he has been feeling unhappy or stressed.

    This comment

    c. Suggests there may be a deeper problem
  • Mia87

    You cannot make yourself feel attracted to someone. If he will not discuss the problem or try to change, you may need to think about ending the relationship.

    This comment

    a. Explains when leaving may be reasonable
  1. a. Explains when leaving may be reasonable
  2. b. Focuses on his habits, not only his appearance
  3. c. Suggests there may be a deeper problem

Speaker: American Female  Duration: 1:18  YouTube

Ideas for using this audio: , .

Why Did They Post?

Choose one answer, then click CHECK to see your result.

Why Did They Post?

  • She wants advice on how to talk to her boyfriend without hurting him. Correct answer
  • She wants to know if she should break up with him.
  • She wants to know if her boyfriend might be depressed.
True or False

Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.

  • The poster and her boyfriend are both in their late twenties.
  • Her boyfriend recently started taking better care of himself.
  • The poster is only concerned about her boyfriend’s appearance.
  • She has already spoken to her boyfriend about the problem.
  • She no longer cares about her boyfriend.
  • She is afraid the situation will get worse.

True or False

1. The poster and her boyfriend are both in their late twenties. TRUEFALSE True

2. Her boyfriend recently started taking better care of himself. TRUEFALSE False

3. The poster is only concerned about her boyfriend’s appearance. TRUEFALSE False

4. She has already spoken to her boyfriend about the problem. TRUEFALSE True

5. She no longer cares about her boyfriend. TRUEFALSE False

6. She is afraid the situation will get worse. TRUEFALSE True

Words That Go Together

Loading vocabulary activity...

Words That Go Together

Match each word with the words it goes with:

1. Bef) attracted to someone

2. Sounde) shallow

3. Feeld) torn

4. Lovec) someone deeply

5. Developb) a beer belly

6. Affecta) a relationship

a) a relationship

b) a beer belly

c) someone deeply

d) torn

e) shallow

f) attracted to someone

Everyday Expressions

  1. Choose the meaning of 'lets himself go'. If someone lets himself go, he his appearance or health.
  2. Choose the meaning of 'brings it up'. If someone brings it up, they it.
  3. Choose the meaning of 'pulls away'. If someone pulls away, they another person.
  4. Choose the meaning of 'moves past these feelings'. If someone moves past these feelings, they them.

Everyday Expressions

Choose the correct meaning.

  1. If someone lets himself go, he pays more attention to his appearance or health. or stops taking care of his appearance or health.
  2. If someone brings it up, they start talking about it. or avoid mentioning it.
  3. If someone pulls away, they move closer to another person. or move back from another person.
  4. If someone moves past these feelings, they stop being affected by them. or begin experiencing them.

Reply Builder

  1. Show that you understand her feelings.

    I understand why you feel because .

  2. Say what may be happening with her boyfriend.

    He may be , which could explain why .

  3. Suggest how she could begin the conversation.

    You could start by saying, “.”

  4. Give your final advice.

    I think you should before .

Reply Builder

  1. Show that you understand her feelings.

    I understand why you feel because .

  2. Say what may be happening with her boyfriend.

    He may be , which could explain why .

  3. Suggest how she could begin the conversation.

    You could start by saying, “.”

  4. Give your final advice.

    I think you should before .

Discussion Questions
  1. How messy or tidy are you?
  2. Is it important not to “let yourself go”? Why?
  3. Do you think attraction naturally fades in all relationships?
  4. How important is physical attraction in a relationship?
  5. Does the poster’s boyfriend seem okay? Could he be depressed?
  6. Which of his habits would bother you the most?
  7. Do you think the poster is being shallow?
  8. Is honesty always best, even when it might hurt someone?

Discussion Questions

  1. How messy or tidy are you?
  2. Is it important not to “let yourself go”? Why?
  3. Do you think attraction naturally fades in all relationships?
  4. How important is physical attraction in a relationship?
  5. Does the poster’s boyfriend seem okay? Could he be depressed?
  6. Which of his habits would bother you the most?
  7. Do you think the poster is being shallow?
  8. Is honesty always best, even when it might hurt someone?

Answers He Wasn’t Always Like This / Level 3

Think Ahead: b

Read the Comments:

  1. EmilyR: b. Focuses on his habits, not only his appearance
  2. DanielK: c. Suggests there may be a deeper problem
  3. Mia87: a. Explains when leaving may be reasonable

Why Did They Post?: She wants advice on how to talk to her boyfriend without hurting him.

True or False:

  1. True. She begins by saying that they are both in their late twenties.
  2. False. She says that lately he has stopped taking care of himself.
  3. False. She is also concerned about his dirty car and room, his drinking, and how little care he takes over his appearance.
  4. True. She says that she has brought it up many times, but nothing has changed.
  5. False. She says that she still loves him deeply and describes him as her best friend.
  6. True. She ends by saying that she is afraid things will only get worse.

Vocabulary:

  1. Be: attracted to someone
  2. Sound: shallow
  3. Feel: torn
  1. Love: someone deeply
  2. Develop: a beer belly
  3. Affect: a relationship

Everyday Expressions:

  1. b
  2. a
  3. b
  4. a

Reply Builder examples:

  1. I understand why you feel worried because his habits are affecting your relationship.
  2. He may be unhappy or stressed, which could explain why he doesn't shave.
  3. You could start by saying, “I’m worried about you and want to know if something is wrong.”
  4. I think you should have an honest conversation before making a decision about the relationship.

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