Doodles: Psychoanalysis

Submitted by Derek Spafford on 2 November, 2010 - 12:08

This is a simple speaking activity that can provide practice for describing personalities. The lesson
is designed for adults but could also be used with older teenagers.
Level: A2+
Age: Adults or Senior YLs

Preparation
Make one copy of the worksheet per student.

Procedure

On the board write Do you doodle? When do you doodle? Ask students if they know what doodle
means. If nobody knows, invite students to speculate. Offer a few clues: Most people doodle when
they are waiting or bored. You need a pencil or a pen to doodle. Finally explain the meaning or
invite a student to look up the word in a dictionary and explain to the rest of the class.
Give each student a copy of the handout and tell them to spend three minutes doodling. They
should doodle in each box. They should concentrate on their doodling and not copy or speak.
When students have finished doodling, put them into pairs; A and B.
Draw this key on the board:
1 = The way you see yourself
2 = The way other people see you
3 = The way you want to be seen
4 = The real you

Explain that they are going to pretend to be psychoanalysts. They should take turns to analyse
each others doodles, using the key as a guide.
Put students into new pairs to repeat the speaking part of the activity.

Extension
Collect the worksheets in and then hand them out again in a random order. Students write a brief
analysis of their doodler using the key as a guide.