My Shoes – Grateful Exercise

MY SHOES – A short film

Topic: Envy and empathy

1. Write the words  My Shoeson the board and tell your students that they are going to watch a short film with this title. Ask them what they think the film will be about.

2. Tell students they are going to watch the film and that they should compare their stories with the one told in the film.

3. Put students into small groups and ask them to discuss the following questions:

What is the message of the film?

How does the film make you feel?

What adjectives would you use to describe the film?

4. First Lesson: You can’t really have everything in life. Some people may seem to have MOST of it but NOT everything.

Second: Be grateful for all the things you have. Do not compare your life with others. You don’t know the story behind theirs and what they are going through.

Third: Sometimes, we tend to think that others have it better than us, not realizing how much more we are really blessed compared to them.

Love yourself. Make the most of it.

5. In the same groups ask students to read both comments, discuss them and say which one they most agree with.

6. Write the following proverbs and idiomatic expressions on the board:

The grass is always greener on the other side.

Walk a mile in someone else’s shoes. 

Put yourself in someone else’s shoes.

Don’t judge a book by its cover. 

Count your blessings.

Keywords : Grateful, understand, solidarity, empathy