南京九中 張茹芳

Teaching aims:

(1) Encourage the Ss to grasp the main topics of the three sections---types of stand-up, a famous comedian and the fact that laughter is good for your health.

(2) Stimulate the Ss’ interest in learning English by talking about their own opinions when it

comes to the topic “Laughter is the best medicine”.

(3) Students are expected to gain some knowledge about stand-up comedy and reinforce their reading comprehension.

(4) Develop the students’ reading ability---how to guess the meanings of new words.

Important points & difficult points:

(1) Find the main points in the three sections and express them.

(2) Understanding the text.

Procedure:

Step 1 Lead-in

(1) Warming up:

Learn about famous comedians and well-known forms of comedy.

(2) General questions:

1. What is the article about? Stand-up comedy.

2. How many types of stand-up are there? There are four main types.

3. What is laughter good for? Our health.

Step 2 Reading comprehension

Detailed information:

C1: Answer the following questions.

1.What is special about stand-up comedy?

2.What are the four main types of stand-up?

3.When did Billy Crystal begin practising stand-up?

4.What is one reason Billy Crystal has become so famous?

5. How many times has Billy Crystal hosted the Academy Awards?

6. Who were Bob Hope and George Burns?

7. What does your brain do when you laugh?

8. What is the English idiom about laughter mentioned in the text?

C2: (1)Choose the correct type of stand-up comedy.

1.Observational a. A comedian stands on stage and holds a banana to his ear. He says, ‘Hello? Hello? I’m sorry I can’t hear you. Something must be wrong with my phone.’

2.Prop b. A comedian puts on glasses, changes his or her voice and pretends to be someone else.

3.Physical c. A comedian walks on stage. As she introduces herself, she falls down.

4.Impressionist d. A comedian says, ‘My Grandmother started walking 1 km a day when she turned 60. She’s 89 now, and don’t know where she is!’

(2)Will you create similar situations to perform the four types of stand-up comedy?

Step 3 Further reading

Choose the correct answer:

1.A stand-up comedian _____ while performing.

A. enjoys laughing B. enjoys making fun of himself

C. usually takes advantage of the audience D. has prepared a lot of jokes in advance

2.Which of the following is the style of prop?

A. jokes in everyday life B. visual humour

C. body action D. imitation of a well-known person

3.Billy Crystal started his career ____.

A. as a television actor B. as a film actor

C. as a stand-up comedian D. as a host

4.What does the word ‘routine’ in Para 3 probably mean?

A. road B. performance C. lines D. style

5.What does the word ‘improvise’ in Para 4 probably mean?

A. perform without permission B. perform without preparation

C. act well D. act fast

6.At the 2004 Academy Awards, a very old actor ______ at first.

A. was asked to make a silent speech B. didn’t turn on the microphone on purpose

C. made the audience laugh D. couldn’t make himself heard

7.What does the word ‘a(chǎn)ppropriate’ in Para 4 probably mean?

A. proper B. clear C. silly D. enjoyable

8.We can infer from the 5th paragraph comedians are expected to ______.

A. enjoy a very long life B. work till the end of life

C. have no plans to stop work D. perform stand-up

Step 4 Developing reading ability through usage

1.Fill in the blanks according to the text.

(1)

One of the most well-known and well-loved types of ________ is called stand-up. There are different ______ of stand-up comedy. The main _____ are observational, prop, physical and impressionist. There has always been _______ in them to make people watching them laugh.

(2)

Billy Crystal, a famous stand-up ________, has hosted the Academy Awards ____ times. Each time, he performs his stand-up _______ in front of millions of people when the show is broadcast ____ on TV. His outstanding ability is to ________has impressed people around the world.

(3)

Doctors have discovered that people who laugh a lot live ____ after researching what _____ stand-up and other forms of comedy have on us. When we laugh, our ____ sends chemicals around the body that are good for us. _______ helps the body stay healthy, as the saying goes, ‘Laughter is the best ________’.

2. E(p5) Complete the passage.

1.American 2. observe

3. appropriate 4. comedy

5. television 6. actors

7. improvise 8. host

9. healthy 10. comedian

Step 5 Consolidation and Expansion (Choose one of the following.)

F(p5) Discuss the questions:

1. What kind of comedy do you enjoy the most? Why?

2. Laughter is good for you and for everyone else. How do you make other people laugh?

3. Tell a funny story to your classmates.

Step 6 Homework

1. Write a funny story.

2. Relevant exercises in Assessment book.