HOW TO TAKE CARE OF A BROKEN HEART: Language skills in Science. Use of Language. Final Session. #alqareading #crosscurricular

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF A BROKEN HEART

The surprising physical toll of heartbreak

Have you had your heart broken recently? You are not alone. In fact, according to the BBC, the pain you are experiencing could have a surprising physiological explanation. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also known as 'broken heart syndrome', is a generally short-term heart condition triggered by an intense emotional or physical stress.

To work in the very last part of a three-sessions learning unit, the students had to approach the concept of IDIOMS. So we will start there: WHAT IS AN IDIOM? An idiom is a word, group of words or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is not easily deduced from its literal definition. English idioms can illustrate emotions more quickly than a phrase that has a literal meaning. When working on the use of English as a second language through skills, in addition to learning vocabulary and grammar, one must understand the phrasing of the figurative language of idiomatic phrases in order to know English like a native speaker. We examined the meaning of some idioms containing the word "heart", which is in turn connected to the Learning Situation: HOW TO TAKE CARE OF A BROKEN HEART.

HOW TO TAKE CARE OF A BROKEN HEART is a CO-TEACHING multi-dimensional unit in which, once the students have acquired all the knowledge about the anatomical features and nomenclatures of the human heart with the Language Adviser, Marina, and once they have learnt about the circulatory system with their specialist teacher, Dr. Victoria Merino, the students move one to a social-emotional dimension of the topic:

1. We began with a WARMING UP: A friend in need is a friend indeed. What does this idiom suggest you? Would you like to listen to a song by Placebo? Yeah! The song has sensitive content as it addresses the topic of suicide. We used just some clips from the song for this reason. It is undeniably true that over the past few years, youth mental health and suicide have received growing attention as a result of increasing percentages of youth experiencing hopelessness and making suicide plans. So the topic is not to be tabooed but addressed and I reckon schools must play active roles in students' mental health. For that reason, I include a link here to Extremadura's approach to suicide prevention for families and another for teachers. While many youth have suicidal thoughts, most will find help and hope. But the earlier we can identify and intervene with youth who are struggling, the better their outcomes. Schools sit in prime spots to help prevent youth suicide.
2. A hug can help, inwards and outwards.
3. Firstly, outwards, thinking of a friend who's heartbroken for whatever reason. This also allows us to redefine the concept of friendship and cater for the bullying problems that may arise. We used this part also to work on language use: PRONUNCIATION, STRESS, RHYTHM AND INTONATION, and how intonation can add up to content and feelings expression.
4. secondly, inwards, through a look inside our one's hearts: what do we need when we feel heart-broken? self-reflection, listening to our inner self, critical thinking and several soft skills will be needed to perform this part of the learning situation.
5. then, so as to practice listening skills in science.
6. finally, at a language level, the work focuses on the use of English idioms containing the word heart. This is exactly what this lesson samples focus on.

WORKING "INWARDS"(Critical thinking, emotional intelligence, awareness, vocabulary work)

Connecting this session with the previous one, we have identified the signs of a healthy friendship, the warning signs of a non-healthy relationship and what an unhealthy friendship may make us feel deep "in our hearts". 

Understanding how you feel, why you feel what way, and how to communicate that (to yourself or others), can be empowering and helpful. Below is one of my the emotions roulette that we used in class as a way to learn the range of emotions. With this awareness activity, the students acknowledge their feelings and widen their vocabulary range.

USE OF ENGLISH

SAMPLES OF THE LAST SESSION

Elena Martín Cava

Elvira Damas

Andrea Verdión

Carlos Vázquez

Marina Elviro

Jimena Ceme

LEIRE García García: To get at the heart of the matter

Netsanet García: TO BREAK SOMEONE'S HEART.

CROSS-CURRICULAR approach #ALQAREADING BOOKCLUB: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

FINALLY, WE WILL ESTABLISH A CROSS-CURRICULAR CONNECTION WITH OUR #ALQAREADING BOOKCLUB: The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, a CROSS-CURRICULAR WITH "LANGUAGE SKILLS IN SCIENCE".

Remember what the Tin Man said in the “Wizard of Oz” after he finally got a heart….

“Now I know I've got a heart because it’s breaking.”

How do you live with a broken heart? The answer isn’t how you fix it or move beyond it. The skill is learning to live with it.

Isn’t that what life is all about? Endings and beginnings, closings and openings? The heart was designed to navigate you through this forever winding adventure called life. But you have to be willing to feel…..and to live with a broken heart.

ANSWERS:

Jimena Ceme Paucar

I think it is important to accept what makes you feel bad, angry or sad and just trying not to forget it because that thing its not going to dissapear and you can let that feeling consume you or you can just accept it and keep going no matter what.

Jorge Cuño Fernández

I think the best way to live with a broken heart, is to allow the emotions to flow. I think this because is not good to forget or try to ignore your feelings, because if you are going to live with a broken heart is better to now the things that you are feeling than to ignore your emotions and life with a feeling that is not familiar to you.

Leire García García

When your heart is broken, normally continuing to live life finds it hard more than normal because it is a difficult time to have good or positive sensations or feelings, so, also depending on the case, you may feel insufficient, incomplete, unhappy, etc, and in addition, if a person you trusted in these types of moments is that person, you don't know who to be supported by, and if you don't have anyone to do it, it's even more difficult to feel loved and try to move forward.

Although, sometimes, it is also good to feel bad and not keep the bad feelings, just like we do with the good ones.

In my opinion, I think they break your heart, as with everything, it makes us learn, mature, grow as people, etc., so it isn't that bad either, as long as we know how to get those lessons, if we don't take advantage of these opportunities to learn during our path of life, when else?

Carlos Holguín Corrales

I think that you can live with a broken heart distracting you with different activities or venting with your family or friends.

Elena Martín Cava

First of all, face your feelings, I mean, don't ignore them, show your feelings, cry, vent. Talk to people you trust and who can help you, open up to them and show them how you feel.  The next thing you can do is to focus on yourself, don't get stuck in the past, close one chapter and open a new one full of experiences. Feel yourself, think about yourself, and do things that make you happy, forgetting about everything. Don't think it's all over, when a door closes, a window always opens.

Nora Rodríguez Borrego

Your heart will eventually mend, and you will find love again.

Lucas Silveira Congregado

Living with a broken heart isn't easy, but you have to deal with it, you have to stay with the people that loves you and forget the thing that broke your heart.

Carlos Vázquez Fernández

I think that the best way to do so is by not paying attention to it in some moments: for example, if you are meeting your friends, and these bad feelings affect you, just try to have fun!

What I am saying with this is that you don't need to try t forget about them (this sometimes can even be worse), just try not to change the way you are, or let these horrible feelings to condition your life.