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Lesson Info

Post Type
Social Post
Level
Level 3 / B1
Published
Title
Tattoo Regret
Webpage
https://eslnewsstories.com/smposts/tattoo-regret/

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.
  • Put Events in Order Arrange events from the story into the order they happened.
  • 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: Why do you think he wanted to cover up the old tattoo?

a) It reminded him of an ex-girlfriend.

b) The tattoo had started to fade.

c) He wanted a larger tattoo on his leg.

Close-up comparison of a calf with a small bird tattoo before it is covered by a larger, unfinished floral tattoo.
Before and after.

VOCAB LIST

cover up a tattoo (phr. v.) — To hide an old tattoo by putting a new tattoo over it.
approve (v.) — To say that you agree to or accept something.
tattoo artist (n.) — A person whose job is giving people tattoos.
regret (v.) — To feel sorry about a decision or wish you had done something differently.
shading (n.) — Darker areas added to a tattoo to create depth.
ruin (v.) — To damage something so badly that it is no longer good or attractive.
laser removal (n.) — A treatment that uses a laser to remove or fade a tattoo.
session (n.) — A period of time spent doing one part of an activity or treatment.

Reading

I don’t usually post about personal problems, but I’m in a bad situation right now and I honestly don’t know what to do. I had a small bird tattoo on my lower leg that my ex-girlfriend did a couple of years ago. After we broke up, I wanted to forget her, and I wanted to cover it up for a long time.

A few months ago, I found a tattoo artist and decided to get a bigger design over it. Before the appointment, we didn’t really discuss the design in detail. When I arrived, she showed me what she had prepared. I wasn’t completely sure about it, but it looked bold and impressive, so I approved it. I really wish I had stopped and thought about it more carefully.

I’ve had one session so far, and the tattoo is much larger and darker than I expected. It still needs another session of shading, but I already regret it. I keep looking at my leg and thinking I’ve made a terrible mistake. I’m worried it has ruined my look.

I know this is only on me and no one else. I approved the design, and I’m not blaming the artist. I’m just scared of making the situation even worse. Should I let her finish it, wait and see how I feel, or look into laser removal?

Tattoo Regret

Level 3 Social

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

Close-up comparison of a calf with a small bird tattoo before it is covered by a larger, unfinished floral tattoo.
Before and after.
Poster
Dmitry

I don’t usually post about personal problems, but I’m in a bad situation right now and I honestly don’t know what to do. I had a small bird tattoo on my lower leg that my ex-girlfriend did a couple of years ago. After we broke up, I wanted to forget her, and I wanted to cover it up for a long time.

A few months ago, I found a tattoo artist and decided to get a bigger design over it. Before the appointment, we didn’t really discuss the design in detail. When I arrived, she showed me what she had prepared. I wasn’t completely sure about it, but it looked bold and impressive, so I approved it. I really wish I had stopped and thought about it more carefully.

I’ve had one session so far, and the tattoo is much larger and darker than I expected. It still needs another session of shading, but I already regret it. I keep looking at my leg and thinking I’ve made a terrible mistake. I’m worried it has ruined my look.

I know this is only on me and no one else. I approved the design, and I’m not blaming the artist. I’m just scared of making the situation even worse. Should I let her finish it, wait and see how I feel, or look into laser removal?

Read the Comments

Read the Comments

  • MayaL

    Don’t rush into another decision while you’re panicking. The tattoo is still new, so give yourself some time to get used to it before you decide what to do next.

    This comment

    b. Suggests waiting before making another decision
  • BenC

    If you already dislike the design, I wouldn’t continue with more shading yet. Talk to another experienced tattoo artist and ask what your options are.

    This comment

    c. Suggests getting a second opinion
  • SophieK

    You approved the design, but that doesn’t mean you have to keep making choices you’re unhappy with. You could also speak to a laser removal clinic and find out what is possible.

    This comment

    a. Recommends exploring laser removal
  1. a. Recommends exploring laser removal
  2. b. Suggests waiting before making another decision
  3. c. Suggests getting a second opinion

Speaker: American Male  Duration: 1:27  YouTube

Ideas for using this audio: , .

Why Did They Post?

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

Why Did They Post?

  • He wants advice about what to do after regretting a tattoo cover-up. Correct answer
  • He wants to complain about the tattoo artist who did the cover-up.
  • He wants help choosing a different tattoo design.
True or False

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

  • The poster wanted to cover up a tattoo connected to his ex-girlfriend.
  • He and the tattoo artist discussed the new design carefully before the appointment.
  • He felt completely sure about the new design when he first saw it.
  • The new tattoo is bigger and darker than he expected.
  • The tattoo is already completely finished.
  • The poster says the artist is responsible for his mistake.

True or False

1. The poster wanted to cover up a tattoo connected to his ex-girlfriend. TRUEFALSE True

2. He and the tattoo artist discussed the new design carefully before the appointment. TRUEFALSE False

3. He felt completely sure about the new design when he first saw it. TRUEFALSE False

4. The new tattoo is bigger and darker than he expected. TRUEFALSE True

5. The tattoo is already completely finished. TRUEFALSE False

6. The poster says the artist is responsible for his mistake. TRUEFALSE False

Put Events in Order

Put the events in the order they happened, from first to last.

  • 1 His ex-girlfriend tattooed a small bird on his lower leg.
  • 2 After they broke up, he decided he wanted to cover the tattoo.
  • 3 He found an artist and decided to get a bigger design over the old tattoo.
  • 4 He approved the design even though he was not completely sure about it.
  • 5 After the first session, he began to regret the new tattoo.

Put Events in Order

Put the events from the story in the correct order from first (1) to last (5):

  • He approved the design even though he was not completely sure about it.
  • His ex-girlfriend tattooed a small bird on his lower leg.
  • After the first session, he began to regret the new tattoo.
  • After they broke up, he decided he wanted to cover the tattoo.
  • He found an artist and decided to get a bigger design over the old tattoo.
  1. His ex-girlfriend tattooed a small bird on his lower leg.
  2. After they broke up, he decided he wanted to cover the tattoo.
  3. He found an artist and decided to get a bigger design over the old tattoo.
  4. He approved the design even though he was not completely sure about it.
  5. After the first session, he began to regret the new tattoo.

Words That Go Together

Loading vocabulary activity...

Words That Go Together

Match each word with the words it goes with:

1. Approvef) a design

2. Regrete) a decision

3. Maked) a terrible mistake

4. Ruinc) my look

5. Blameb) the artist

6. Needa) another session

a) another session

b) the artist

c) my look

d) a terrible mistake

e) a decision

f) a design

Everyday Expressions

  1. Choose the meaning of 'ruined my look'. If I say something has ruined my look, I mean it has
  2. Choose the meaning of 'look into'. If you look into something, you it.
  3. Choose the meaning of 'on me'. If I say a mistake is on me, I mean it is
  4. Choose the meaning of 'wish I had stopped'. If I say I wish I had stopped, I mean I

Everyday Expressions

Choose the correct meaning.

  1. If I say something has ruined my look, I mean it has made my overall appearance worse. or made me want a completely different style.
  2. If you look into something, you try to find out more about it. or decide not to think about it.
  3. If I say a mistake is on me, I mean it is something I cannot control. or my responsibility.
  4. If I say I wish I had stopped, I mean I regret continuing at that time. or think stopping would have caused a problem.

Reply Builder

  1. Show that you understand how he feels.

    I understand why you feel because .

  2. Comment on the decision he already made.

    You may have , but that doesn’t mean .

  3. Suggest what he could do next.

    Before you , you could .

  4. Give your final advice.

    I think you should before .

Reply Builder

  1. Show that you understand how he feels.

    I understand why you feel because .

  2. Comment on the decision he already made.

    You may have , but that doesn’t mean .

  3. Suggest what he could do next.

    Before you , you could .

  4. Give your final advice.

    I think you should before .

Discussion Questions
  1. Do you have any tattoos, or would you ever get one? Why or why not?
  2. Did the poster make a mistake? If so, what was his mistake?
  3. Do you think he should let the artist finish the tattoo? Why or why not?
  4. Why do people sometimes regret tattoos?
  5. How important is it for a design to match someone's personality?
  6. Which kinds of decisions are hardest to undo?
  7. Is it better to fix a mistake quickly or wait before making another decision?
  8. Is it easier to forget an ex if you get rid of things that remind you of them?
  9. When does changing your appearance help you feel like a new person?

Discussion Questions

  1. Do you have any tattoos, or would you ever get one? Why or why not?
  2. Did the poster make a mistake? If so, what was his mistake?
  3. Do you think he should let the artist finish the tattoo? Why or why not?
  4. Why do people sometimes regret tattoos?
  5. How important is it for a design to match someone's personality?
  6. Which kinds of decisions are hardest to undo?
  7. Is it better to fix a mistake quickly or wait before making another decision?
  8. Is it easier to forget an ex if you get rid of things that remind you of them?
  9. When does changing your appearance help you feel like a new person?

Answers Tattoo Regret / Level 3

Think Ahead: a

Read the Comments:

  1. MayaL: b. Suggests waiting before making another decision
  2. BenC: c. Suggests getting a second opinion
  3. SophieK: a. Recommends exploring laser removal

Why Did They Post?: He wants advice about what to do after regretting a tattoo cover-up.

True or False:

  1. True. His ex-girlfriend tattooed a small bird on his lower leg, and after they broke up he wanted to cover it up.
  2. False. He says that they did not really discuss the design in detail before the appointment.
  3. False. He says that he was not completely sure about it, although it looked bold and impressive.
  4. True. He says that the tattoo is much larger and darker than he expected.
  5. False. It still needs another session of shading.
  6. False. He says that the decision is on him and that he is not blaming the artist.

Put Events in Order:

  1. His ex-girlfriend tattooed a small bird on his lower leg.
  2. After they broke up, he decided he wanted to cover the tattoo.
  3. He found an artist and decided to get a bigger design over the old tattoo.
  4. He approved the design even though he was not completely sure about it.
  5. After the first session, he began to regret the new tattoo.

Vocabulary:

  1. Approve: a design
  2. Regret: a decision
  3. Make: a terrible mistake
  1. Ruin: my look
  2. Blame: the artist
  3. Need: another session

Everyday Expressions:

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

Reply Builder examples:

  1. I understand why you feel anxious because the tattoo is much bigger than you expected.
  2. You may have approved the design, but that doesn’t mean you have to continue with it.
  3. Before you have more shading done, you could get a second opinion from another tattoo artist.
  4. I think you should give yourself some time before making another permanent decision.

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