1. To have a discussion that elicits expressions relating to living and dealing with the high levels of stress present in the world today;  

2. To increase the familiarity and use of such expressions; 

3. To translate the visual information from the video clip into the appropriate language; 

4. To use the audio information in the corresponding exercises;

5. To reinforce productively the language that has been learned.

●  Think about the following questions and try to answer them.

1) Are we living faster than ever before? Is the pace of life getting quicker and quicker?

2) Do you think that we are more time-driven, time-obsessed and generally rushed?

3) Do you know how to manage stress?

* suggested answers:

1) Yes, we are living faster. It seems that nothing can slow down the pace of life. This explains why we are living under such stress.

2) Yes, absolutely. This pressure is occurring because we are living faster.

3) As I see it, stress management varies according to the individual. Everybody has his/her own way of managing stress. I work out to get my mind off my job. That’s my way managing stress and relaxing myself.

●  The following expressions can be used to state that you are out of money. Listen and complete the sentences below with the missing words.

1) You’re overdoing it.

2) You’re doing too much.

3) You’re trying to do too much.                 

4) You’re taking on too many things.              

5) You’re taking on too much.                   

6) You’re overcommitted.                      

7) You’re carrying the world on your shoulders.     

8) You need to set your priorities.               

在全球化的今天，压力已成为无法回避的一个生活主题。但是，相互关心的人情依然存在。任何一种文化在任何一个时代都视关心别人为一种美德。

当某人承受工作压力而得不到放松时，我们应该表示关心，并给以提醒。学好这方面的英语表达，有助于你在英语国家中与人友好相处。你可提醒你的上司、同事、朋友： “You’re overdoing it” （ 你承受得太多了） ；“You’re carrying the world on your shoulders” （ 你肩负的责任太重了） ； “You need to set your priorities” （ 你需要确定一下事情的轻重缓急） 。

当你听到别人这样提醒你时，你会有什么感受呢？应该是有一种温馨感吧！

●  Useful Language from the Video Episode

●  Watch the video and then complete the following passage based on your observations.

This is Shelley’s office. She is sitting at her desk, burying (埋头)  herself in her work. The man, who is called in, is Shelley’s executive assistant. Shelley is checking her schedule with him. He looks quite concerned about his workaholic boss. 

A. Watch the video and then decide whether each of the following statements is true (T) or false (F).

1) Shelley has a tight schedule today.(T)

2) Shelley is meeting her executive assistant in her office to check her schedule.(T)

3) The meeting is scheduled to discuss the annual budget for half an hour. (F)

4) In her assistant’s eyes, Shelley is trying to do too much. (T)

5) Shelley cannot wait to enjoy a few of life’s simple pleasures on her break next week because she has been working nonstop for so long. (F) 

B. Now watch the video again and then complete the following conversation.

Shelley:  Richard, I’d like to see you in my office, please.

Richard:  Good morning, Shelley. 

Shelley: Good morning, Richard. Please have a seat. Is the annual budget ready?

Richard: Yes, it is. The meeting will start at nine-thirty, in half an hour.

Shelley: Yes, I know. I’ll get the annual budget approved at the meeting.

Richard:  But the directors on the board are critical, aren’t they?

Shelley: They sure are. Now, what else is on the schedule today?

Richard: Well, at twelve o-clock you have a lunch appointment with Mr. Li, the client from the Lianhua  chain stores. 

Shelley: Hmm. Anything else?

Richard:  Mr. Johnson called to confirm the appointment with you at three o’clock this afternoon. He seems to be anxious about the project. 

Shelley: I see. Well, that all depends on the results of the meeting this morning. Richard, we’ll need to work tomorrow. 

Richard: What?! Shelley, when was your last day off?! 

Shelley: Hmm. I can’t remember.

Richard:  You are doing too much. You really ought to take some time off. 

Shelley: What for? 

Richard: To smell the flowers. To enjoy the simple things in life…

Shelley: I know, Richard. Maybe soon. 

Richard:  Come on. You’re taking on too many things. You’re a workaholic.

Shelley: I know. But…

Richard: But what? Is it a sense of accomplishment you are looking for? Nobody can work, work and work still more, never taking a break.

C. After watching the video a third time, complete the following third-person account of the conversation.

      Shelley is meeting her executive assistant Richard in her ofice to check her schedule for the day. According to her schedule, Shelley is to attend a meeting at 9:30 to make a presentation of an annual budget. At twelve o’clock, she has a lunch appointment with Mr. Li, the client from Lianhua  chain stores. At 3:00 p.m., she has an appointment with Mr. Johnson about a joint-venture. On top of that, Shelley is planning to work tomorrow, on Saturday. Richard advises her to take some time off because she is overdoing it. But Shelley is a workaholic and so can’t ever take a break.

1) Watch the video again, with a female student doing Shelley’s voice.

2) Watch the video once more, with a male student doing Richard’s voice.

3) Watch the video one last time, with a male student and a female student doing both of the voices for the whole conversation.

● 1. Here are some useful expressions for you to draw on when giving advice to someone whose life is too busy. Try to use them in situations you make up with a partner in class.

1) You can’t please everybody. (cliché)

2) You can’t be all things to all people. (cliché)

3) You’ve got your fingers in too many pies. (idiomatic)

4) You’ve got your irons in too many fires. (idiomatic)

5) You’re burning the candle at both ends. (cliché)

* suggested dialogue: 

A. You know what time it is?

B: I don’t know. I just know there is too much left to be done. I’m in the middle of studying one book for our English test. But look at those books still waiting to be reviewed.   

A: Come on. You’re burning the candle at both ends — you’ll never be able to keep this up!  

B. I know. Thank you for reminding me of that. I completely lose track.

A: Take my advice and get a few hours of sleep — you’ll be able to do a better job. I mean, you’ll be more efficient preparing for finals. 

B: There’s something to be said for that. OK, I’ll take a break.

● 2. Discuss the following topic in groups.

In any culture, there is no substitute for hard work.

* suggested answer:

Thomas A. Edison once said, “Genius is one per cent inspiration (灵感) , and ninety-nine per cent perspiration (汗水) .” Nobody can succeed without hard work, not even a genius. In any culture, one is not born a winner; one becomes a winner. Hard work is the only way that leads to success. Nothing can take the place of it on the way to success.

A. You will continue to watch a video clip. Below are suggested steps for the learning activities:

● Watch the video without reading the text for the irst time;

● Read the text while listening;

● Watch it again for speciic information;

● Complete the table with the information from the video;

● Use the irst technique to help your partner relax in class.

Techniques to Deal with Stress at Work

      There are a couple of really effective ways to deal with stress at work. The first thing you want to do if you’re feeling stressed at work is just to start to breathe. So often when we feel stressed we either completely stop breathing or we breathe shallowly (浅浅地) . 

      So you want to start to take some nice deep breaths, put your hands on your lower belly (腹部) . Really let yourself have Buddha (菩萨)  belly, and really make sure that you’re inhaling (吸入)  into the bottom of your lungs, using the full capacity (全容量)  of your lungs. This is gonna make you feel calm and centered. This is gonna start to clear your mind and just make you feel better.

      Next thing we wanna do is treat the body. When we’re stressed, we have the stress hormones adrenaline (应激激素)  and cortisol (皮质醇)  running through our system, and they can create chronic tension and tightness. So what you wanna do is get up from your desk and literally (真正地)  just start to use your muscles in a different way. Shake out your arms, shake out your hands, shake out your legs. If you can, do a little bouncing (摇动) . Bounce up and down, loosen your shoulders and just let the movement of your body start to release some of this holding. Start to get blood, start to get oxygen lowing through your system. You’ll start to feel better really quickly. 

      So, the next thing you wanna do is get organized (有条理的) . If you don’t have a to-do list (待办事项列表) , create one. I know this sounds so simple, but trust me, it really works. Write down everything you have to do, get it on a piece of paper, and you have everything that do need to do right in front of you. If you have simple or smaller things to do that are easy to take care of, do those irst, get them out of the way, cross them off (划掉)  the list. Then tackle (应付)  the harder things.

      Another great little tip is to limit your email. If you can, check your email every ten, every ifteen minutes. This will limit distractions (分心)  from your email and this will help you to stay focused on your task at hand.  

      And inally, if you can, try to identify (辨别)  the source of your stress. What at work is stressing you out? Is it a person? Can you sit down with them and have a conversation? Is it a project? Is it not as organized as it should be, or do you need to map it out (制定)  with greater precision (精确) ? Identifying your source of stress at work can help you igure out what, if anything, you can change. Work is stressful, there’s no doubt about it. But there are little things you can do, little steps you can take to help you feel better throughout the day.

B. Complete the following table based on the video information.

C. Use the first technique to help your partner relax in class as indicated below. To begin with, try to use the functional and notional language you have just learned.