Is It Normal to Talk to Yourself?

science

Is It Normal to Talk to Yourself?

An A2 English worksheet exploring the topic of self-talk, its benefits, and how it affects our emotions and performance.

Title

Is It Normal to Talk to Yourself?

Seo_intro

An A2 English worksheet exploring the topic of self-talk, its benefits, and how it affects our emotions and performance.

Reading Text

Many people talk to themselves every day. You might say, "Where are my keys?" when you leave your house. Talking to yourself can feel embarrassing, but psychologists say it is completely normal. Most adults use an inner voice inside their head, but young children often speak out loud when they play. This helps them learn to manage their emotions and behaviors. As we grow older, this speech becomes quiet thoughts. What we say to ourselves is important. Positive self-talk can boost your focus and help you perform better on everyday tasks. For example, athletes use instructional self-talk to improve their concentration during practice. However, negative self-talk can harm your mental health. If you constantly blame yourself, it can cause stress and anxiety. Psychologists suggest using kind and helpful words when you talk to yourself, because your inner voice is a partner for life.

Activities

Vocabulary

Items:

Label: psychologists
Answer: def1
Label: emotions
Answer: def2
Label: boost
Answer: def3
Label: athletes
Answer: def4
Label: anxiety
Answer: def5

Definitions:

Text: Scientists who study the human mind and behavior.
Text: Strong feelings such as happiness, anger, or fear.
Text: To increase, improve, or make something stronger.
Text: People who play sports or take part in physical exercises.
Text: A feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease.

Fill In The Blanks:

Before: Many
After: study how people think and act.
Answer: psychologists
Before: It is important to learn how to control your
After: when you are angry.
Answer: emotions
Before: Good sleep can
After: your energy for the next day.
Answer: boost
Before: Professional
After: train for many hours every day.
Answer: athletes
Before: Practicing deep breathing can help reduce
After: before a big exam.
Answer: anxiety

Comprehension

Questions:

Text: Psychologists say that talking to yourself is abnormal.
Answer: false
Text: Young children often speak out loud to themselves while playing.
Answer: true
Text: Positive self-talk can help improve your focus.
Answer: true
Text: Athletes never use self-talk during practice.
Answer: false
Text: Negative self-talk can cause stress and anxiety.
Answer: true

Scrambled:

Answer: Many people talk to themselves every single day.
Answer: Young children often speak out loud when playing.
Answer: Positive self-talk can boost your overall concentration.
Answer: Athletes use instructions to improve their performance.
Answer: You should always use kind words with yourself.

Written Expression

Questions:

Text: When do you usually talk to yourself, and what do you say?
Text: How can you change negative thoughts into positive ones when you feel stressed?

Examples:

Example 1: I usually talk to myself when I am looking for my lost items at home. I say, "Where did I put my phone?"

Example 2: When I feel nervous before a test, I tell myself, "I studied hard, and I can do my best!"

Critical Thinking

Title: Discussion & Critical Thinking

Instructions:

Why do you think people feel embarrassed when others catch them talking to themselves?
How can encouragement from our inner voice change how we handle difficult situations in life?