The Key thing is the Heart

When people look at me, what do they see? Someone tall, someone skinny, or right through me?

Do they see me as a normal boy? Or do they see me as someone's toy?

Do they see me as poor or rich? Or do they see me as a snitch?

Why do they judge me for the way I look? My heart is the thing that should get them hooked.

Because looks aren't always what they seem They can be tricky, well you know what I mean

We shouldn't go for them because they look good, We should go for the thing that we should.

Not for them because they're rich, poor, lean or tall, But the Heart, which is most important of all.

The Heart will tell you what you need to know, Whether you should stay with them, or whether you should go.

Tarelle Robinson

Word Guide

Ex.7. Read the words and guess their meaning.

Survey – an investigations of opinions;

Focus (on smth) – to direct attention, efforts; to concentrate on smth.;

Credit – praise, approval, respect;

Thigh – part of the human leg between the knee and the hip;

Self-confidence – a state of having confidence in oneself, one’s abilities;

Sensible – reasonable;

Improve – to make, become better;

Pirouetting – rapid turn or spin made esp. by a dancer;

Strive (for smth) – to struggle hard, make a great effort to gain something;

Hurl – to throw with force.

Skim Reading Task:

Ex.8. Read the text and give your arguments on the problem of body image.

Almost everyone has something about their body they don’t like. According to a survey 56% of women and 43% of men are dissatisfied with their appearance, and two-thirds of the women and over half of the men are dissatisfied with their weight. In fact, weight is so linked to personal happiness that 24% of women and 17 percent of men said they would give up more that three years of their lives to be thinner.

Why do so many people have a negative or distorted body image?

Studies reveal one of several factors that lead to self-disagreement; media’s message of beauty and happiness come from being thin, and a teenager’s body image is greatly influenced by what they see on television and in movies and magazines.

Much of your appearance is genetic. Many top athletes have genetics to thank for their success. They were born to be what they are. A swimmer’s large, flexible shoulders pull him through the water; a gymnast’s lean, petite frame and long arms hurl her across the mat; a runner or a skater’s powerful thighs for speed; a ballerina’s swan-like neck and flexible hips for graceful pirouetting. Still, it’s important to strive for self-improvement. But it’s also important to be realistic about what you can change about yourself and being content with what you can’t. You should exercise, eat a sensible diet and practice other good health habits to change a negative body image into a positive one.

Here are some tips to improve your body image:

1) Talk to a therapist, find books, videos and Cds that may lead you to self-acceptance.

2) Seek support, associate with people who have accepted their own bodies. Your self-worth must come from you not from what other think of you.

3) Recognize that your body is only part of what you are. Focus on the positive aspects of your personality.

4) Turn negative thoughts into negative ones. Each time you think “my thighs are fat” replace it with “these are important muscles that get me where I am going”.

5) Give yourself credit and develop your inner-self.

6) Treat your body with the respect it deserves. Your body does an amazing number of things for you every day.

7) Give yourself time. With age you’ll begin to think that bodies aren’t the most important part of being human. 8) And remember, self-confidence looks good on any body.

Ex.9. Answer the questions about your body shape.

1. When you look in the mirror, do you like what you see?

2. Do you find the reflected image of a person too thin, too heavy, or just right?

3. Do you like your body?

4. What body would you like to have?

5. What do you expect to gain if you make the change?

6. What should you do to change your body image?

Ex.10. In groups of 3-4 students guess what these words mean. Tell your group-mates what qualities you possess and which you would like to gain.

Self-acceptance, self-confidence, self-control, self-discipline, self-esteem, self-possession

Ex.11. Mind your pronunciation: pirouetting, thigh, petite, hurl

Ex.12. Tick the things that you think are important components of physical fitness. Discuss them in pairs.

Walking, weight, stress, cosmetic surgery, sleep, jogging, exercise, diet, self-esteem, swimming, fun, breathing, work, water, friends, time.