Spanglish: Low Self-Esteem

This is a great movie. Language teachers also enjoy it. This is a great scene to talk about self-esteem.

Self-Esteem - Pride in oneself; self-respect.

According to this informative and constructive site, these are the characteristics of genuine low self-esteem.

http://www.self-confidence.co.uk/articles/top-ten-facts-about-low-self-esteem/

Social withdrawal

Anxiety and emotional turmoil

Lack of social skills and self confidence. Depression and/or bouts of sadness

Less social conformity

Eating disorders

Inability to accept compliments

An Inability to see yourself 'squarely' - to be fair to yourself

Accentuating the negative

Exaggerated concern over what you imagine other people think

Self neglect

Treating yourself badly but NOT other people

Worrying whether you have treated others badly

Reluctance to take on challenges

Reluctance to put yourself first or anywhere.

Reluctance to trust your own opinion

Expecting little out of life for yourself.

I. Talk to a partner:

1. According to the symptoms above, what are the consequences of having low self-esteem?

2. What do you think one can do to reverse that situation?

3. What can relatives do in order not to lower someone's self-esteem?

4. For one to have low self-esteem, he must have various of the symptoms above. Do you feel any of the symptoms above? How do you rate your self-esteem?

II. Watch the segment and discuss the questions.

1. What do you think about the teenager's self-esteem?

2. What exactly makes her esteem low?

3. What's your opinion about her mother's presents? How well did she mean? 

4. How effective is the mother's strategy?

III. Read the tips given by this awesome site to improve one's self-esteem. Then say how each one would help the teenager and what she could do about each of the tips.

http://www.spiritwire.com/selfesteemtips.html

Be true to yourself. Live your life doing what feels right to you, not what someone else thinks you should do. It’s ok to listen to advice, but in the end, make the decision that feels best for you. 

Change your mental diet. Read uplifting books. Listen to uplifting tapes and CDs and attend uplifting workshops.  Don’t focus on negativity. Stop watching the news. Avoid whiners and complainers. Walk away.

Upgrade your physical diet. Processed foods contain very little nutritional value when compared to raw, organic fruits and vegetables. Eat fresh produce rather than processed foods whenever possible. Drink plenty of water, fresh juices and smoothies instead of caffeinated beverages or energy drinks. 

Stop comparing yourself to others. You are not supposed to be like anyone else. You are you. You are the only one who can be you. 

Create an uplifting environment for yourself. This can be joyful colors, uplifting music, nature photos, plants, uplifting posters, open windows… you decide. Wear clothes that you feel good in.

Celebrate your successes. Even the small ones. Don't wait to get perfect. 

Create a list of accomplishments and review it often. We tend to get overwhelmed looking at what’s left to be done and forget to give ourselves credit for how far we’ve already come.

Don’t take yourself, or life, too seriously. Lighten up. Dare to have fun. 

Do something nice for yourself. You deserve it! Maybe a massage, a bath or nap. Take yourself out on a date. 

Do something nice for someone else. Volunteer. Being of service, without expectation of reward, feels really good.

Spend time regularly doing things you find joyful. What make your heart sing? Do more of it! 

Do something physical. Clean out a closet. Get out of the house. Go for a walk.

MOVIE SEGMENT DOWNLOAD - SPANGLISH