The Function of HumorThe Function of HumorSession 1Session 1

Grade/Class/Subject: Grade 10

Unit Theme: Humor

Lesson ObjectiveLesson Objective

• 1. be able to read, recognize and spell the specific words related to the reading material--The Functions of Humor

• 2. be able to realize the importance and functions of humor in our daily life.

• 3. be able to conclude and retell the functions of humor based on the videos and reading material.

Video (New Words)Video (New Words)• Self-deprecating: 自贬的• seductive: 引诱的，有魅力的• Executive ：决策人，董事长• Promote: 升职• Chuckle: 暗笑• Blood vessel: 血管• Immune System: 预防体制• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dfvk-RJbH-8 (0:25-01:13)

CommercialsCommercials

• Why can you understand these advertisements of other countries?

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8PN73W2He0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFg3HBMJyV4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeBJEiGmvs0

Transition SentencesTransition Sentences

• 1. So what’s the functions or the charm of humor?

• 2. Except all of these functions, humor sometimes is regarded as a certain kind of art.

• 3. Since humor is so important, how can we learn to be humorous in our daily life?

• 4. There are many ways to learn how to be humorous.

QuestionsQuestions

1.What are the functions of humor?

2. Why is humor regarded as a certain kind of art?

3. How can we become humorous in our life? What are your suggestions?

4. Do you know other functions of humor?

Examples of Relative ClausesExamples of Relative Clauses

1. China is a country which has a long history.

2.  His brother who is now a doctor always encourages him to go to college.

3. This is the person who won the first prize at the Speech Contest.

4. I don’t like the person who is arrogant and indifferent.( 冷漠的）

5. His mother is out of danger, which excites their family very much.

Differences between “Which” Differences between “Which” and “Whoand “Who””

• who 前面的先行词只能是人

• which 前面的先行词可以是物或是一个完整的句子 , 但是不能指人

HomeworkHomework

• All the students are divided into two large groups. After class, students from group A are responsible for searching the materials about the development of humor. Group B take charge of different forms of humor. In the next class, students need to present their achievement of their research in front of the class.

The development and Forms of Humor

Session 2

Lesson Objectives:

1. Learning about the develpment and different patterns of humor.

2. Improving the skills of critical thinking and speech presentation

3. Comprehending the usage of V-ing.

4. Remembering new vocabulary in the first paragraph.

Movie Clip of "Merchant of Venice"

• http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMjcwODMyODQ0.html

• Questions:• 1. What are your feelings about this play, whethe

r this is humorous or not? • 2. Did you find some differences between 17th c

entury’s humorus play and current humorous shows?

The Supplemental information

• The word “Humor” originated from a latine word “homorem”, which refered to “fluid”. Humor was initially a biological word. Later Galen connected this type of biological fluid with persnal psycological personality, rendering humor the biological meaning. In the 16th century, humor was always associated with the words“weird” “abnormal”, refering the abnormal norms or behavior. Finally, in the seventeenth century, the meaning of humor was expanded and was connected with “funny” and “amusing”.

Video Clip of Chinese Cross-talking

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2KDa383DGc• 1. Do we have some other forms of humor in Chi

na? • 2. Do we have some different forms of humor in

western countries?

The Supplementary Information

• 1. Cross-talking• 2. Comics• 3. Joke• 4. TV shows• 5. Xiaopin• 6. Talk show• 7. Story

V-ing

• 1.Swimming every morning makes my grandmother healthy.

Listening to English songs is fun.• 2.You have to keep reading English everyday.

Do you enjoy watching American TV shows?• 3.She is afraid of making new frineds.

They are talking about making cookies.

Humor--Reading Text

Session 3

Lesson Objective• 1. be able to read, recognize, spell and apply

the new vocabulary of the whole text “Laughing Matters.”

• 2. be able to comprehend the theme and structure of this text.

• 3. be able to master the fixed phrases or some certain collocation.

• 4. be able to learn about the writing skill of “comparison”.

Listening Activity

• 1. What was the man’s job?• 2. How close to each other the man and the

woman live?• 3. Where did the woman ask the minister to

marry her?• 4. When did the man ask the woman to marry

him?

Vocabulary

Clown n. 小丑

Vocabulary

Comediann. 喜剧演员

Vocabulary

Expression n. 表情

Vocabulary

Conversationn. 对话

Vocabulary

Conversationn. 对话

New words

Nouns: Clown Make-up Comedian

Conversation Richness Expression

Adjectives: Weird Fluent

Verb: Entertain Exaggerate Applaud

Appreciate

Phrase: Make fun of, Make use of,

Dress up, In front of

Skimming Questions

• 1. Why are clowns and comedies so funny?• 2. Why are some of Shakespeare’s comedies

not funny at all to us?• 3. What are the differences among crowns,

comedies and sketch? Use your own words.• 4. How long has the traditional talk-show

originated from China? Use your own words.

True or False• ( ) 1. Cross-dressing means men dressed up as

women andwomen as men. • ( ) 2. Word play creates fun byusing a word or phrase

that has two meanings or words having the same sound butdifferent meanings.

• ( ) 3. Shakespeare'splays are no longer funny because English has greatly changed.

• ( ) 4. Clowns usually make peoplelaugh by what they look and what they do, not by what they say.

• ( ) 5. Clothes, body language,facial expressions and word play are all very important in comedians' shows.

Ture or False• ( T ) 1. Cross-dressing means men dressed up as wome

n andwomen as men. • ( T ) 2. Word play creates fun byusing a word or phrase t

hat has two meanings or words having the same sound butdifferent meanings.

• ( T ) 3. Shakespeare'splays are no longer funny because English has greatly changed.

• ( T ) 4. Clowns usually make peoplelaugh by what they look and what they do, not by what they say.

• ( F ) 5. Clothes, body language,facial expressions and word play are all very important in comedians' shows.

Comparison

• Unlike clowns, comedians’ clothes are usually not very strange. Although body language and their face are important in their shows, they do not use the make-up that clowns use. Comedians may act out a situation during their shows. We call that a sketch, but usually, their shows don’t look like comedies. What comedians have in common with the players in a comedy is their way of playing with words.

比较• 比较就是将两个或两个以上的事物放在同一语境

之中 , 辨别异同 , 分出高下 , 它是认识事物的重要方法。作家通过比较可以让描写更生动传神 , 让抒情更真挚感人 , 让说明更清晰明了 , 让议论更深刻透彻。

Homework

• Writing a short composition which adopted the technique of "comparison".

• The topic can be drama characters, countries and food.

Comparison between Chinese Humor and English

HumorSession 4

Humor

• Humor is not only the tool of amusement but also a certain kind of art. It not only refelcts a country's or a district's cultural backgound, but also depends on a person's growing context, experiences, funds of knowledge and family backgounds.

Lesson Objective

• 1. Be able to comprehend that humor is not absolute. The understanding of humor depends on people’s cultural background, funds of knowledge and experiences.

• 2. Be able to catch the general characters of Chinese and American humor.

• 3. Be able to associate the characters of Chinese and American humor with their different culture and lifestyle.

Chinese Humor

• In China, some people like watching cross-talking shows and Xiaopin, however, some people don't like them, thinking them boring and a waste of time.

• In China, people from Southern part have totally different dialects and slangs with the notherners, and that's why a lot of southerners don't like cross-talking show and Xiaopin because they cannot understand the actors' dialects and their experiences.

• Therefore, different person has different understanding to humor as they have different growing backgound and funds of knowledge.

American South and North

• As people are from different familes and cultural backgounds, each person has his own appreciation of humor.

• As to the great author Mark Twain, who is a famous author in American 18th century. American Southerners thought his work very funny and meaningful. However,most of the American northerners cannot understand his humor not alone our Chinese. The reason is because when people don't have similar experiences with another person, he can hardly understand his humor.

SimilaritiesEmploy their language,expression and

motion to explain their humor.

They all make us feel funny and relax.Being laughable, amusing or funny is the

essence of humor. The ability of arousing amusement and expressing what is comical is a basic condition of being humorous.

Differences

• Chinese usually employ humor in words.

• Americans like to use their expressions and body language to express humor which is obvious and direct to audience like Mr. Bean, Tom and Jack and The Simpson.

Differences

• Americans have a special taste for sextual humor, ethic humor and aggressive humor.

• On the contrary, Chinese are more likely to prefer topic relevant to daily trifles in daily life and defects of formal people such as drunkness, small quarrel...

What would you prefer to?

Differences

• In the American definitions, humor is in the form of laughter to express one's pleasure.

• While in Chinese explanations, humor is integrated to social component.

Reasons

Chinese study about humor is young. IChinese study about humor is young. In the past, Chinese gave priority to the n the past, Chinese gave priority to the development of humor itself.development of humor itself.

Chinese moral emphasizes the respect Chinese moral emphasizes the respect to superiors and be serious to our studto superiors and be serious to our study and work. That's why we Chinese do y and work. That's why we Chinese do not play jokes in work and study.not play jokes in work and study.

Results

We always fail to understand each other's humor.Sometimes we feel something is humorous,but it is hard to explain why it to foreigners.

• 某人刻苦学习英语，终有小成。一日上街不慎与一老外相撞，忙说： I am sorry 。

　　老外应道： I am sorry too 。

　　某人听后又道： I am sorry three 。

　　老外不解，问： What are you sorry for? 某人无奈，道： I am sorry five 。

•

• 小明上英文课时跟老师说： May I go to the toilet? 老师说： Go ahead. 小明就坐了下来。过了一会儿，小明又跟老师说：

　　 May I go to the toilet? 老师说：Go ahead. 小明又坐了下来。他旁边的同学于是忍不住问：你不是跟老师说要上厕所吗？怎么不去？

　　小明说：你没听老师说“去你个头”啊！

Daily Life Examples

• Did you find some differences and similarities between Chinese and American humor in your daily life? Including TV shows, jokes, commercials or speaking styles.

Thank you

Students' Growing Portfolio

Students' Presentation

• Pictures

Students' Debating Contest

• Pictures

Students' Performance

• Pictures

Students' Suggestions and Comments