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Claustrophobia
Claustrophobia

Learn English with this claustrophobia English lesson

Date: Dec 07 2018

Themes: Health

Grammar: Imperative Form

Intro

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2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

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Try to remember the last time you were in a small elevator. Did you become short of breath? Were your hands clammy? Did you panic? If you answered yes to all of these questions, you are probably claustrophobic. People with this phobia can become sweaty, find it difficult to breathe, and want to get out right away.

If you’re afraid of small spaces, like elevators, you can always use the stairs. Most of the time, there are choices available to you that will keep you out of tight places. But not always! When there simply is no other option, staying calm is what’s most important. Remember to breathe slowly, think about relaxing things, and tell yourself that it will be over soon. It feels scary, but you will live through it.

Jessica and Marni are talking about riding in an elevator. Find out who’s claustrophobic in today’s English lesson about a common fear.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Marni

Marni

Jessica

Jessica

Marni:  Oh god!

Jessica:  Marni, are you OK? Why are you short of breath?

Marni:  Oh my goodness. I was just in this really small elevator to get up here. And there were so many people. I felt like the walls were closing in on me.

Jessica:  Don’t panic. Don’t panic. It’s OK. We’re in a big space now.

Marni:  I am so claustrophobic.

Jessica:  Look at you. You’re clammy and you’re sweaty. Just breathe. It’s OK.

Marni:  Thank you.

Jessica:  Small spaces don’t worry me or scare me at all.

Marni:  You’re so lucky.

Jessica:  I know.

Marni:  I just have this phobia of small spaces. And I always have, ever since I was small. I can’t take it. You know? I just feel like I can’t breathe whenever I get in a small space.

Jessica:  Oh my goodness. Does anything help? Is there anything I can do?

Marni:  Just talking me through it.

Jessica:  OK.

Marni:  Yeah.

Jessica:  Well, we’re in a very big space now.

Marni:  Thank you.

Jessica:  I’m so glad I’m not claustrophobic.

Marni:  You’re lucky. It’s not fun.

 

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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Discussion

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Marni is extremely anxious. She was just in an elevator, and the space felt very small to her. In fact, it felt like the walls were closing in on her, and she felt like there was nowhere to go. Marni has a fear of being in small spaces, and it’s even harder for her when there are other people sharing that space.

Jessica tries to make Marni feel more relaxed. She tells Marni more than once that she’s in a big space now, and that it’s important to breathe. It seems that just talking to Marni makes her calmer, and Jessica is happy to do that for her friend. Jessica feels lucky that she doesn’t have the same fear in elevators.

Are you claustrophobic? How do you feel when you are in a small space?

 

Comments

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eduardosoutoSuper Member!

Brazil

I’m not claustrophobic, but I really don’t enjoy being locked up in a small space!


It can bring me some discomfort, I’d rather be in an open air space <3

01:00 PM Jun 19 2017 |

1 person likes this

jorgeguevara61Super Member!

Colombia

I am not claustrophobic, but the elevator in special to me is very boring. 

07:53 PM Nov 30 2014 |

1 person likes this

vik32

vik32

India

fortunately i amnot

09:10 AM Nov 12 2014 |

1 person likes this

Jasonlongo

Jasonlongo

Congo, Democratic Republic Of The

I really am claustrophobic than ever !!!

07:35 PM Nov 10 2014 |

 julito

julito

Argentina

Unlike Marni i am not claustrophobic but riding in an elevator, and more if it is a tight space, the ride with  strange people makes me a bit nervous , i don´t know what to say  or if i should say something to ” break the ice”  

07:06 PM Nov 10 2014 |

naira71

naira71

Azerbaijan

every person feels discomfort when he is in a close place and when ia lone there this feeling becomes sharp.

01:53 PM Nov 10 2014 |

sara1234b

sara1234b

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Hi !


Claustrophobia is an anxiety disorder that can severely limit your life.


No, happily, im not .


01:41 PM Nov 10 2014 |

Seiyf_khawas

Turkey

human being is very interesting and a complex creature..and some of them has claustrophobia..fear of being in small spaces..


this human being waits in a small,confined-special- place about 9 months before coming to earth :)) 


first human beings were living in the small caves for protecting theirselves from wild nature and animals in the Ancient times..:))



10:26 AM Nov 10 2014 |

kotlesya

kotlesya

Belarus

The lesson about insectophobia speaks to me much more than this kind of phobia we discuss today :-D


Fortunately, I am not claustrophobic 

08:55 AM Nov 10 2014 |

hamid123

hamid123

Algeria

it isn’t so bad  if you are claustrophobia but that so bad if you don’t find someone helps you…..

08:06 AM Nov 10 2014 |

jansladek

jansladek

Slovakia

I´m not claustrophobic, but sometimes I do worry in small spaces for a short period of time.

07:41 AM Nov 10 2014 |

foz12

foz12

Saudi Arabia

My father is claustrophobic like Jessica.

02:12 PM Nov 07 2014 |

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