Look at the images and discuss:
What do you think this place is usually used for?
What feels unusual about it?
How would you feel if you were there alone?
Does the image feel peaceful, nostalgic, creepy, or sad?
What story might have happened here?
Which image feels the most unsettling? Why?
Useful language
It gives me the impression that...
It reminds me of...
It feels as though...
There's something unsettling about...
What strikes me most is...
The atmosphere seems...
I can't quite explain it, but…
Vocabulary
Listening
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N63pQGhvK4M&t=110s (0:00–5:30)Choose the best answer (A, B, C, or D).
1. What is a liminal space?
A. A dangerous place that people should avoid
B. A place that exists between two states or situations
C. A place where people work
D. A place that only exists in dreams
2. Which example of a liminal space is mentioned?
A. A crowded stadium
B. A busy shopping mall
C. An empty parking lot at night
D. A beach during summer
3. Why do liminal spaces often feel strange?
A. They are usually very old
B. They are unfamiliar to most people
C. They seem both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time
D. They are always dangerous
4. According to the video, what emotions do liminal spaces commonly evoke?
A. Excitement and happiness
B. Nostalgia and unease
C. Anger and frustration
D. Confidence and motivation
5. Why have liminal spaces become popular online?
A. People use them as travel destinations
B. They are used in advertising campaigns
C. Online communities enjoy sharing and discussing them
D. They are part of a school project
6. What makes liminal spaces particularly intriguing?
A. They contain hidden messages
B. They feel like they exist between reality and dreams
C. They are always connected to ghost stories
D. They are impossible to explain
7. According to psychologists, why can liminal spaces feel unsettling?
A. They are usually unsafe
B. They remind us of bad experiences
C. They violate our expectations about how places should look and feel
D. They are always dark and empty
8. Which description best captures the atmosphere of a liminal space?
A. Busy and energetic
B. Warm and welcoming
C. Familiar yet strangely unsettling
D. Luxurious and comfortable
9. Why might an empty school or airport feel uncomfortable?
A. Because people are not allowed to enter
B. Because we expect these places to be full of activity
C. Because they are difficult to navigate
D. Because they are often abandoned
10. What role does memory play in our reaction to liminal spaces?
A. They often trigger memories of past experiences
B. They make people forget where they are
C. They improve concentration
D. They create false memories
11. What contradiction do liminal spaces create?
A. They are both modern and old
B. They are both large and small
C. They can feel comforting and unsettling at the same time
D. They are both noisy and silent
12. What is one reason people continue to be fascinated by liminal spaces?
A. They offer a unique combination of mystery, nostalgia, and uncertainty
B. They are easy to visit
C. They are scientifically proven to reduce stress
D. They are becoming less common
The Psychology of Liminal Spaces
Have you ever found yourself standing in an empty airport terminal late at night or walking through a silent hallway and felt strangely uneasy? These places are known as liminal spaces—transitional environments that exist between one destination and another. While they may seem ordinary, they often provoke powerful emotional reactions.
The word liminal comes from the Latin word limen, meaning "threshold." A liminal space is a place, moment, or state of being that exists between two stages. Physically, liminal spaces include airports, staircases, bridges, hallways, and doorways. These are places we pass through rather than places where we stay. Because we usually spend very little time in them, they often go unnoticed. However, when we are forced to remain in these spaces longer than expected, they can begin to feel unsettling.
Liminality is not limited to physical spaces. Psychologists also use the concept to describe emotional transitions. Major life events such as graduating from university, moving to a new city, changing careers, getting divorced, or losing a loved one can place us in a liminal state. During these periods, one chapter of life has ended, but the next one has not yet begun. As a result, people may experience uncertainty, confusion, and anxiety about the future.
Ultimately, liminal spaces remind us that life is constantly changing. While the space between where we have been and where we are going may feel uncomfortable, it is often where some of our most meaningful personal transformations take place.
Discussion Questions
- Why do humans find uncertainty difficult to tolerate?
- Why are liminal spaces often associated with anxiety?
- Can uncertainty ever be beneficial? Why?
- Why was the COVID-19 pandemic considered a liminal experience?
- Which life transitions do you think are the most challenging?
- How can people cope with periods of uncertainty?
- Do you agree that personal growth often occurs during difficult transitions?
- Are you currently experiencing any kind of liminal space in your life?
Vocabulary in Context
Match the words with their meanings:
- threshold
- uncertainty
- vulnerability
- predictability
- transformation
- mindfulness
a. the quality of being able to anticipate what will happen
b. a significant change in form or character
c. awareness of the present moment
d. the state of not knowing what will happen
e. the point of entering a new stage
f. openness to emotional or physical harm