Having a laugh in English

INSTRUCTIONS to teachers and students:

ENGLISH: These English lessons are designed to be used either by students to help themselves improve their English or by teachers to use when delivering lessons to their students. Every lesson has six sections. Common idioms and expressions, a gap fill exercise, a reading text with new vocabulary, a grammar section, a speaking section and a writing section. These six sections help students and teachers cover the main elements of the English language.

 

Grammar included: ‘Received Pronunciation’ and ‘The Correct Pronunciation of “ED” in a regular verb.

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Remember that during the lesson we are continuing our RP practice to be able to improve our pronunciation and diction.

READING (Concentrate on your pronunciation of the ‘ed’ sounds. You will find the ‘ed’ lesson at the end of this English lesson.

 

SECTION ONE

VOCABULARY SECTIO


 

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HAVING A LAUGH VOCABULARY
  • 1. Dry Humour

    Meaning: A form of humour marked by a deliberate lack of emotion or expression. Example: “His dry humour left us wondering if he was serious or joking.”

    2. Sarcasm

    Meaning: The use of irony to mock or convey contempt. Example: “When I asked if she enjoyed the rainy weather, her sarcastic reply was, ‘Oh, I just love getting drenched.'”

    3. Wit

    Meaning: The ability to use words in a clever and amusing way. Example: “Her wit made every conversation with her a delightful challenge.”

    4. Self-Deprecation

    Meaning: Humour that involves making fun of oneself. Example: “He often used self-deprecating humour, joking about his clumsiness.”

    5. Puns

    Meaning: A joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word. Example: “He had a pun for every occasion, like ‘I’m reading a book on anti-gravity. It’s impossible to put down.'”

    6. Double Entendre

    Meaning: A phrase that has two meanings, one of which is usually risqué or indecent. Example: “The comedian’s double entendres had the audience laughing and blushing.”

    7. Irony

    Meaning: The expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite. Example: “It was ironic that the fire station burned down.”

    8. Satire

    Meaning: The use of humour, irony, or exaggeration to criticize people’s stupidity or vices. Example: “The show is known for its satire, often poking fun at political figures.”

    9. Understatement

    Meaning: The presentation of something as being smaller or less important than it actually is. Example: “Saying ‘it’s a bit windy’ during a hurricane is a classic British understatement.”

    10. Deadpan

    Meaning: A form of comedic delivery in which humour is presented without a change in facial expression or emotion. Example: “His deadpan delivery of jokes made them even funnier.”

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SECTION TWO

1). INTRODUCTION: 

Having a laugh in different languages can be difficult because each nationality and culture have their own forms of humour.

Humour is a universal language that transcends borders, yet it is also deeply rooted in the cultural fabric of each society. What tickles the funny bone in one country might leave someone in another part of the world scratching their head. From the dry wit of the British to the slapstick comedy beloved in many South American cultures, the nuances of humour reveal a lot about a nation’s values, history, and social dynamics.

Now discuss any new vocabulary:

In this English lesson, we will embark on a fascinating journey across continents to explore the diverse senses of humour that make each culture unique. We’ll look into the historical and social contexts that shape comedic styles, and examine how humour serves as a mirror reflecting the complexities of human experience. Whether it’s the irony-laden jokes of the French, the self-deprecating humour found in American stand-up, or the playful banter common in African storytelling, each form of humour offers a window into the heart of a culture.

Now discuss any new vocabulary:

Join me as we laugh our way through the world, discovering the rich and varied ways that humour connects us all, while celebrating the delightful differences that make each culture’s comedic expression so distinctive.

Now discuss any new vocabulary:

Grammar Question ONE:   In the sentence “The butler served tea and crumpets to the Queen,” which part of speech is the word  “served”?

 https://translate.google.co.uk/

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SECTION THREE

VIDEO LISTENING SECTION ONE: Watch and listen to the video about English humour (Little Britain) below and then answer the questions: Little Britain was a TV show with David Walliams and Matt Lucas. Their humour was always about the British culture.

QUESTIONS:

        1. According to the commentator, 80% of Americans are ‘morbidly obese’  what does ‘morbidly obese’ mean? (MORBID, OBESE).
        2. Matt Lucas said: ‘pop your fat paws up’  what are paws?  (POP), (PAWS).
        3.  When Matt was talking to fat Tony, Tony said he liked hamburgers.  Matt’s advice was to cut out the cheese, meat and mayo. What does ‘cut out’ mean?  (CUT OUT), (MAYO).
        4.  According to Matt what is the low fat alternative to beans?  (ACCORDING TO).

VOCABULARY: Now discuss any new vocabulary. https://translate.google.co.uk/  

Grammar Question TWO:  Where does the comma go in the following sentence?  “After watching a marathon of Monty Python sketches I decided to write my own.”

PARAGAPH TWO:   ‘Monty Python’

British humour is renowned for its distinctive wit, dry delivery, and often self-deprecating nature. It frequently employs irony, understatement, and sarcasm, making it a subtle yet powerful form of comedy. This style of humour often revolves around the absurdity of everyday situations and the quirks of human nature. Classic examples can be seen in the works of Monty Python, where surreal and nonsensical elements are combined with intellectual undertones. Additionally, British humour does not shy away from poking fun at societal norms and institutions, making it both a source of entertainment and a means of social commentary. Its unique blend of clever wordplay and observational comedy has made it beloved not just in the UK, but around the world.

VIDEO LISTENING SECTION TWO: Watch and listen  the video about English humour (Monty Python) below and then answer the questions:

Questions: 

      1. ‘Tis, but a scratch’  What does this mean?  (A SCRATCH), (TIS).
      2.  Where is King Arthur’s Court?   (A COURT).
      3.  The black knight said, “I move for no man.”  What did he mean?  (A KNIGHT).
      4.  At the end of the fight he black knight said, “alright we’ll call it a draw.”  What is a draw?  (A DRAW).

Grammar Question THREE:  Which is the appropriate possessive form in this sentence: “Is this the Prime Minister’s hat or the Prime Ministers hat?”

VOCABULARY: Now discuss any new vocabulary.  https://translate.google.co.uk/

PARAGRAPH THREE:   ‘What makes people laugh’

Laughter is a universal human experience, often considered the best medicine for its ability to lift spirits and foster social connections. People laugh for a myriad of reasons, ranging from the clever wit in a well-timed joke to the sheer absurdity of a slapstick comedy scene. Humour can be subjective, influenced by cultural norms, personal experiences, and individual tastes. However, common elements that provoke laughter include surprise, incongruity, and the playful subversion of expectations. The social context also plays a significant role; laughter is more likely in the company of others, serving as a bonding mechanism that enhances group cohesion and mutual understanding. Ultimately, laughter is a complex interplay of cognitive and emotional responses, making it a fascinating subject of study in psychology and social sciences.

Grammar Question FOUR:  Choose the correct verb form to complete the sentence: “The British weather always (encourage) _____________ me to carry an umbrella.”

VOCABULARY: Now discuss any new vocabulary.  https://translate.google.co.uk/

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SECTION FOUR

SPEAKING SECTION:

  1. Discuss your national humour compared to British humour. What do you thing is different?

WRITING SECTION:

  1. Write a well known joke from your culture and try to make your teacher laugh..

SECTION FIVE (REVISION)

How to pronounce the ‘ed’ sounds in regular verbs.

 

‘ED’ practice text

In this text remember that we are practicing our RP but at the same time we are going to practice how to pronounce the ‘ed’ in regular verbs. Here is an explanation.

In English, the pronunciation of the past tense suffix “-ed” varies and is determined by the final sound of the root verb:

1. /t/ Sound: We use this sound when the root verb ends in voiceless consonants (except for /t/), such as /p/, /k/, /s/, /ʃ/ (sh), /ʧ / (ch), and /f/. For example:
– “walk” becomes “walked” and is pronounced as /wa: kt/
– “laugh” becomes “laughed” and is pronounced as /laugh: ft/

2. /d/ Sound: We use this sound with root verbs ending in voiced sounds, which include all vowel sounds and voiced consonants (except for /d/), such as /b/, /g/, /v/, / z/, etc. For example:
– “call” becomes “called” and is pronounced as /ca lld/
– “rob” becomes “robbed” and is pronounced as /rob bd/

3. /ɪd/ or just /d/ Sound: We use this sound distinctly when the root verb ends in either a /t/ or a /d/. This additional syllable makes it easier to pronounce. For example:
– “want” becomes “wanted” and is pronounced as /ˈwant: id/
– “need” becomes “needed” and is pronounced as /ˈneed: id/

 

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