Reflex

Lead-in

  • Have you ever done something by yourself that you’re proud of?
  • Do you enjoy spending time by yourself, or do you prefer being with others?

Presentation

Pre

  • What’s a famous artist you know? What makes them interesting?
  • Do artists usually work alone or with others? Why?

Top Down

  • Which sentence best describes what the text is about?
  • A list of artists and famous paintings around the world
  • Artists who used their art to express or heal themselves
  • How to become famous by copying other people’s work
  • A list of artists and famous paintings around the world
  • Artists who used their art to express or heal themselves
  • How to become famous by copying other people’s work

The Artists Who Painted, Played, and Rebuilt Themselves

Some artists don’t just create art—they reinvent themselves through it.

Yayoi Kusama, the famous Japanese artist, spent most of her life battling mental illness. Instead of giving up, she taught herself how to use art to cope. She covered entire rooms with dots and mirrors, creating worlds that let her express what she couldn’t say in words. She once said, “I paint for myself. I paint to heal myself.”

Dave Grohl, the drummer from Nirvana and the frontman of Foo Fighters, had to pull himself together after his best friend and bandmate Kurt Cobain died. Instead of quitting music, he locked himself in a studio and recorded an entire album—playing every instrument by himself. Later, he formed a new band, proving he could rebuild himself and move on.

Jean-Michel Basquiat and artist Andy Warhol were very different, but they challenged and inspired each other. Basquiat was wild and spontaneous; Warhol was calm and methodical. They created several paintings together and even did an art show. Though they argued sometimes, they respected each other deeply and grew as artists because of their friendship.

Whether painting mirrors, recording in solitude, or collaborating with friends, these artists didn’t just make things—they found themselves, supported each other, and healed through their passion.

Bottom Up

  • Read the text again and answer the following questions.
  1. How did Yayoi Kusama use her art to deal with her personal struggles?
  2. What did Dave Grohl do after Kurt Cobain’s death?
  3. Why was it surprising that Basquiat and Warhol worked together?
  4. What did Basquiat and Warhol gain from their friendship?
  5. What is one way that all three artists used art to grow or change?
  6. What does the text suggest about the connection between art and self-discovery?
  1. Yayoi Kusama used her art to express herself and cope with mental illness, painting for herself to heal.
  2. Dave Grohl recorded an entire album by himself and later formed a new band to rebuild his career.
  3. It was surprising because Basquiat and Warhol had very different personalities and artistic styles.
  4. They inspired and challenged each other, which helped both of them grow as artists.
  5. All three artists used art to understand themselves better, overcome struggles, or connect with others.
  6. The text suggests that art helps people discover who they are, heal emotionally, and connect with each other.

Post

  • Do you think creating something by yourself is more powerful than working with others? Why or why not?
  • Have you ever done something creative (a drawing, a song, a story) to express your feelings?
  • What do you think is the connection between art and emotions?

Target Language

Reflexive Pronouns and Each Other

  • I am teaching myself to play the piano.  
  • You should like yourself more than you like other people.
  • He hurt himself by cutting his own hair. 
  • She wanted to show herself off. 
  • The dog spent hours licking himself. 
  • There are a lot of ways we can entertain ourselves. 
  • Help yourselves to some cookies. 
  • They enjoyed themselves at the club last night. 
  • You should talk to each other. 
  • They always pay attention to each other. 
  • We don’t like each other. 

Expressions With Reflexive Pronouns

  • Enjoy yourself 
  • Speak for yourself 
  • Help yourself (to something) 
  • Take care of yourself 
  • Suit yourself 
  • Make yourself at home 

Controlled Practice

  • Choose the best option for each sentence.
  1. Yayoi Kusama painted for herself / itself / themselves to heal.
  2. Dave Grohl recorded an entire album by yourself / himself / themselves after Nirvana ended.
  3. Warhol and Basquiat challenged and inspired themselves / ourselves / each other.
  4. Many artists use art to express ourselves / themselves / each other.
  5. Sometimes, we learn more when we work with each other / yourself / themselves.
  6. Basquiat taught each other / ourselves / himself how to succeed without formal art training.
  1. Yayoi Kusama painted for herself to heal.
  2. Dave Grohl recorded an entire album by himself after Nirvana ended.
  3. Warhol and Basquiat challenged and inspired each other.
  4. Many artists use art to express themselves.
  5. Sometimes, we learn more when we work with each other.
  6. Basquiat taught himself how to succeed without formal art training.

Freer Practice

  • Complete the sentences with your own ideas. Use the target language.
    • When I feel that I have to enjoy myself I…
    • If you think that… Speak for yourself!
    • Taking care of yourself is…
    • When someone tells me to make myself at home I…
    • Everyone should… themselves because…

Production

  • Imagine you are a famous painter, sculptor, or musician. Write a 10 lines paragraph (minimum) about how you create your art and how you take care of yourself during the process. Use reflexive pronouns like myself, yourself, himself, etc.

Example: I am a painter, and I work by myself in a small studio. Every morning, I make a cup of coffee and give myself time to think about…

Homework

Select the best reflexive pronoun to complete each sentence.

  1. I cut _________ while shaving.
  2. Did you enjoy _________ at the party?
  3. The cat washed _________ .
  4. We introduced _________ to the new neighbors.
  5. She looked at _________ in the mirror.
  6. They blamed _________ for the mistake
  1. I cut myself while shaving.
  2. Did you enjoy yourself at the party?
  3. The cat washed itself.
  4. We introduced ourselves to the new neighbors.
  5. She looked at herself in the mirror.
  6. They blamed themselves for the mistake.

Choose the best option for each sentence.

Example: I wish I were less/more stressed. > I wish I were less stressed.

  1. They hugged (themselves / each other) after the win.
  2. I bought (myself / each other) a new book.
  3. We told (ourselves / each other) jokes all night.
  4. He blamed (himself / each other) for the accident.
  5. The kids helped (each other / themselves) with their homework.
  6. She reminded (herself / each other) to lock the door.
  1. They hugged each other after the win.
  2. I bought myself a new book.
  3. We told each other jokes all night.
  4. He blamed himself for the accident.
  5. The kids helped each other with their homework.
  6. She reminded herself to lock the door.

Match the expression with its meaning.

  • Enjoy yourself
  • Help yourself (to food)
  • Suit yourself
  • Take care of yourself
  • Make yourself at home
  • Speak for yourself

(   ) Don’t worry about what others think, do what you want
(   ) Relax and feel comfortable here
(   ) Don’t include me in your opinion
(   ) Have fun
(   ) Stay safe and healthy
(   ) Take food or drink freely without asking

  1. Enjoy yourself
  2. Help yourself (to food)
  3. Suit yourself
  4. Take care of yourself
  5. Make yourself at home
  6. Speak for yourself

(3) Don’t worry about what others think, do what you want
(5) Relax and feel comfortable here
(6) Don’t include me in your opinion
(1) Have fun
(4) Stay safe and healthy
(2) Take food or drink freely without asking

Put the words in the correct order

Example: be / more / relaxed / want / a / bit / I / to > I want to be a bit more relaxed.

  1.  completing / themselves / they / proud / after / of / were / the / project
  2. the / each other / hugged / during / teammates / ceremony / award / the
  3. you / told / not / late / yourself / to / be / again
  4. careful / herself / reminded / to / during / the / she / hike / be
  5. friends / became / over / each other / helping / while / with / homework / they
  6. forgot / we / ourselves / because / to / introduce / we / were / nervous
  1. They were proud of themselves after completing the project.
  2. The teammates hugged each other during the award ceremony.
  3. You told yourself not to be late again.
  4. She reminded herself to be careful during the hike.
  5. They became friends while helping each other with homework.
  6. We forgot to introduce ourselves because we were nervous.

Find and correct the mistakes.

Example: He is bit angrier. > He is a bit angrier.

  1. They love itself very much.
  2. We blamed each ourselves for the loss.
  3. I always talk to each other when I’m alone.
  4. She taught themselves how to play the piano.
  5. He introduced herself to the group.
  6. The boys helped ourselves with the homework.
  1. They love themselves very much.
  2. We blamed ourselves for the loss.
  3. I always talk to myself when I’m alone.
  4. She taught herself how to play the piano.
  5. He introduced himself to the group.
  6. The boys helped themselves with the homework.

Writing

Imagine you and your friends or family spent one full day without using any technology—no phones, no internet, no television. Write a short narrative (100 – 120 words) about what happened. Focus on how you had to rely on yourselves and help each other to solve problems, stay entertained, and get things done.

Example: On that day we had to cook lunch by ourselves, and…