Lesson 4 – A messy home means a messy mind

Warm-up

1. Ask the students if they think that where we are can affect the way we feel and think.
2. Ask if they have any special places that always make you feel a particular way.
3. Ask if they have got any suggestions for improving our surroundings to make us feel better, e.g. our room or our house. Ask them to chat with a neighbour first. Listen to suggestions and encourage comments.

Main Activity

Listening

Ask if anyone know anything about Feng Shui. If not, tell them that Feng Shui is a way of improving our surroundings and that they are going to hear a radio program about it.

Ask them to listen to the program and answer the questions.

Answer key:
1. China, 2.Energy/life force, 3. Wealth health, success, 4.Untidiness, mess, things we don’t use, need or love, 5. remove it, throw it away, 6. it blocks the movement of chi

Speaking

1. Tell students they are going to read more information about Feng Shui. Put them in pairs. Ask them to read the text in section 1 and discuss what they think about the information. Is it sensible and useful?
2. Tell them to lLook at the rooms in section 2 and discuss how Feng Shui could be used and make notes.
3. Ask their opinion and encourage comments on each other’s ideas.
4. Ask which room has the biggest problem, and why.

2. How could Feng Shui be applied to these rooms?

Follow up

• In groups of three or four, discuss how they might use the ideas in their own rooms, houses, the classroom, and the school building. They make notes on each other’s suggestions.
• The class exchange ideas and comment on each other’s suggestions.