Youtube Exercise » English Grammar Homework

I had a black dog, his name was depression

World Health Organization (WHO)

13.2M views 14 years ago

Warm-up Questions

What do you think the title means by 'a black dog'?
What feelings or ideas do you expect this video to talk about?
Do you think this title sounds literal, symbolic, or both? Why?

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Start With: Word Definition

Order: Alphabetical Random

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I had a black dog, his name was depression

Living with the black dog (00:00 – 01:35)

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1. How does the speaker say life seemed when the black dog appeared?

More colorful
Easier
Slower
More exciting

2. What did the black dog do in social situations?

Chased away the speaker's confidence
Made people laugh
Encouraged conversation
Helped the speaker relax

3. What did the black dog often wake the speaker up with?

Happy memories
Loud noises
New ideas
Repetitive and negative thinking

I had a black dog, his name was depression

Crisis, help, and recovery (01:35 – 02:52)

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1. What did the speaker become good at as things got worse?

Traveling alone
Self medication
Public speaking
Hiding from friends

2. What had the black dog finally succeeded in doing?

Making the speaker more social
Hijacking the speaker's life
Improving the speaker's discipline
Helping the speaker sleep

3. What does the speaker say can be an absolute game changer?

Being emotionally genuine and authentic with close people
Moving to a new place
Buying a pet
Changing jobs

I had a black dog, his name was depression

Managing depression and a message of hope (02:52 – 04:18)

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1. According to the speaker, what makes the black dog bark louder?

Being tired and stressed
Cold weather
Too much free time
Watching television

2. What does the speaker say can be cathartic and often insightful?

Working longer hours
Avoiding other people
Keeping a mood journal
Listening to music

3. What is the only shame, according to the speaker?

Taking medication
Missing out on life
Feeling tired
Talking to the wrong people

I had a black dog, his name was depression

Transcript will load here…

1. In the video, what does the 'black dog' represent?

Depression
A childhood memory
A bad dream
A real pet

2. What is one main message of the video?

Exercise is the only useful treatment
Depression always disappears quickly on its own
People should hide their struggles
Recovery can begin with support and the right steps

3. How does the speaker's attitude toward the black dog change by the end?

The speaker thinks it was helpful from the beginning
The speaker pretends it never existed
The speaker has learned to manage it better
The speaker is still completely controlled by it

Discussion Questions

Discuss the ideas from this video

I had a black dog, his name was depression

Why do you think the speaker uses the image of a 'black dog' to describe depression?
Which coping strategy mentioned in the video do you think is most useful, and why?
Why can shame and stigma make it harder for people to ask for help?
What can friends, family, or schools do to better support someone experiencing depression?