INTEGRATING SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL) IN ENGLISH LESSONS

Abstract

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) is an effective approach to develop students’ emotional intelligence while improving language skills. At the beginning of the lesson, teachers can implement “Emotional Check-In” activities. Students share their current feelings using short words, emojis, or visual cues. This allows teachers to gauge their emotional state and helps students recognize their own emotions. Emotional vocabulary lessons can expand students’ language skills by teaching words like happy, sad, excited, or nervous. Small-group activities encourage empathy and collaboration, as students help one another during discussions or tasks. Emotional storytelling activities let students read or create stories that reflect different feelings. This practice enhances understanding of others’ emotions and reduces stress. Journaling activities can be integrated, where students reflect daily on their feelings and describe them in English. Role-playing scenarios allow students to act out situations, expressing emotions verbally and nonverbally. Arts-based activities like drawing, music, or poetry help students creatively express emotions. Teachers can also guide students in analyzing the intensity of emotions using rating scales. Combining all these activities fosters emotional awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and stronger interpersonal skills. Over time, students gain confidence in expressing emotions in English. Integrating SEL into lessons supports holistic student development and makes language learning engaging, meaningful, and interactive