I subbed in class for English language learners today, and I really enjoyed teaching the basic skills and knowledge included in the textbook lesson that their teacher had left. Perhaps my favorite part was an activity on the many shades of meaning that the verb "feel" can have.
In the first paragraph of the text, the word was used three times in different ways: How do you feel about nature? What do you feel like doing after a long day? And how do you feel after being outside? The nuance was something that a native speaker like me rarely considers. Still, these English language learners had to parse each one and match it with its meaning, identifying which usage expresses an opinion, which shows a desire, and which refers to physical or emotional sensations.
Of course, I could do it, but explaining it to students with emerging language skills proved to be challenging. Even so, I felt it was a valuable experience. (I also felt like skipping the gym and heading straight home after teaching three solid blocks with only a lunch break, even though I knew I would feel better if I went.)
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