Understanding Learned Helplessness
This worksheet is designed for EFL teachers to help students understand the concept of learned helplessness. It is suitable for students at the A2 CEFR level. Start by dividing the class into two groups, A and B. Group A will receive anagrams such as "TAB", "LEMON", and "CINERAMA", while Group B will work on "WHIRL", "SLAPSTICK", and "CINERAMA". Give the students 5-10 minutes to solve the anagrams. Afterward, facilitate a discussion about their experiences and feelings during the activity.The worksheet includes an article explaining learned helplessness, which occurs when someone repeatedly faces uncontrollable situations and eventually believes they cannot change their circumstances. This phenomenon can impact students' confidence and willingness to try again, leading to a cycle of failure and low self-esteem. The article emphasizes the importance of building resilience through setting small goals, seeking support, celebrating successes, and maintaining a positive outlook.The worksheet features warm-up questions to engage students, vocabulary matching to reinforce key terms, and reading comprehension questions to ensure understanding. Additionally, it includes discussion questions and a creative activity where students draw and describe a situation where they felt helpless and how they overcame it. This comprehensive approach helps students grasp the concept of learned helplessness and develop strategies to combat it, fostering a growth mindset and resilience.