Listening

Warm Up

Helpful Words and Phrases

Listen and repeat.

  1. wail
    • ex. Her wail was so loud that everyone turned to look.
  2. a chapter
    • ex. This club has a chapter in many cities around the country.
  3. a stress reliever
    • ex. Listening to music is a good stress reliever after a long day at work.
  4. a rough patch
    • ex. She is going through a rough patch after losing her job.
  5. vocal
    • ex. She is taking a vocal class to improve her singing.

Article

Read the article below and answer your tutor's questions.

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A group in Seattle is helping people release stress by screaming together in public places. At a recent event, participants let out a loud wail near the water as part of a meeting of Scream Club, a group that is growing across the United States. This group is a chapter of a larger community that meets regularly. People say the activity is a powerful stress reliever, helping them feel calm after expressing strong emotions.

Scream Club began in Chicago when Manny Hernandez and Elena Soboleva went through a rough patch in their relationship. During a walk, they decided to scream to release their feelings, and others nearby joined them. After that experience, they started organizing group meetings. These meetings usually include breathing exercises and simple vocal exercises before people scream together.

The idea is partly based on older forms of therapy that use screaming and crying to release feelings. While experts say it is not a good treatment for mental health problems, many people still find it helpful. People join for different reasons, such as dealing with loss, illness, or daily stress, while others come to share a positive moment.

This material was based on an article by The Associated Press.

Discussion

Choose a topic and discuss the questions with your tutor.

Scream Club

  • The article describes a Scream Club where people scream together to release stress. What do you think about this idea? Discuss.
  • Would you join a Scream Club if there is one in your community? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • According to the article, some people join the Scream Club to share a positive moment. In your opinion, what positive moments might people in Scream Club share? Discuss.

Stress and Stress Relievers

  • What things do you think cause stress (ex. work, illness)? Discuss.
  • What are your stress relievers (ex. traveling, exercising)? Discuss.
  • In your country, what is a common way people reduce stress? Discuss.