How Are You, Really?
Emotion vocabulary — B1 → B2
🌊 When Everything Feels Like Too Much
overwhelmed adj.
When everything feels like too much at once — tasks, emotions, responsibilities piling up.
“I just feel overwhelmed right now. There’s too much going on and I can’t think straight.”
frustrated adj.
Annoyed because you’re trying to do something and it’s not working, or you can’t change a situation.
“I’m so frustrated with my progress — it feels like I’m stuck no matter what I do.”
anxious adj.
Worried and uneasy about something that might happen. More specific than just “nervous” — it lingers.
“I’ve been anxious about the hike — what if I’m not fit enough?”
on edge idiom
Irritable, easily upset, nervously alert — like you’re waiting for something bad to happen.
“Sorry I snapped at you, I’ve been on edge all week.”
🫂 When It’s About Other People
touched adj.
Emotionally moved by someone’s kindness or thoughtfulness — in a warm way.
“I was so touched when she remembered — she’d been paying attention the whole time.”
vulnerable adj.
Feeling exposed or open to being hurt — when you let your guard down.
“It’s hard to be vulnerable with people you don’t fully trust yet.”
resentful adj.
Bitter and angry about unfair treatment — the feeling that builds up when things feel one-sided.
“She felt resentful that she was always the one compromising.”
reassured adj.
Calm and confident again because someone or something eased your worry.
“After talking to her, I felt reassured — maybe it wasn’t as bad as I thought.”
🔋 When It’s About Your Energy
worn out adj.
Completely depleted — body and mind. Like you’ve been running on nothing.
“After that week of training, I was just worn out. Everything hurt.”
fired up adj.
Energized and motivated — when something excites you so much you want to act on it right now.
“After that conversation, I was fired up — I wanted to start immediately.”
bottled up adj. / phrasal verb
Keeping feelings inside instead of expressing them — until they eventually spill over.
“She’d been bottling it up for months, and then she just exploded over something tiny.”
nostalgic adj.
A warm, bittersweet longing for the past — missing how things used to be.
“That smell made me so nostalgic — it reminded me of summers at my grandmother’s house.”
B1→B2
🧩 Match the Feeling
Click an expression, then click its meaning
Tap a word on the left, then tap the matching definition on the right. Mistakes are fine — that’s how it sticks!
Expressions
Definitions
Let’s Talk About It
Conversation prompts — no right answers
🏃♀️ The Big Challenge
Warm-up
You’re preparing for a long hike/run/ascent. What’s the part that makes you most anxious? And what part gets you fired up?
Deeper
Has there ever been a moment during training when you felt completely worn out but kept going? What kept you going?
🧴 Skincare & Self-Care
Warm-up
Do you have a skincare routine that makes you feel reassured? Like, “Okay, at least I did this one thing for myself”?
Deeper
Some people use skincare as “me time” to decompress. Others rush through it. When do you feel like you’re actually taking care of yourself vs. just going through the motions?
👥 People & Relationships
Warm-up
What’s something small someone did for you recently that really touched you?
Deeper
Is it hard for you to be vulnerable with people? Or does it come naturally?
Follow-up
Have you ever been on edge around someone and not known why? What was going on?
✈️ Travel & Nostalgia
Warm-up
Is there a place that makes you nostalgic? Like, you go back and suddenly remember how things used to feel?
Deeper
Do you ever feel overwhelmed by choices when you travel? Or does the freedom feel like relief?
💡 For the teacher: The prompts are designed so the target vocab comes up naturally. If the student doesn’t use the word, you use it — then ask a follow-up with it. “So you felt overwhelmed by all the options? What did you end up choosing?” They’ll absorb it without feeling corrected. The matching game is their “homework” — it’s playful enough that they’ll actually do it.
B1→B2