Humour &
21 Laughing
Key Vocabulary
comedian/comic actor stand-up comedy
sit-com/comedy film-show/comical video clip
witty/clever/humorous/amusing/comical
hysterical/hilarious/side splitting/cracks me up
laugh my head off/burst out laughing/laugh out loud/giggle/chuckle
great way to socialize/hang out with friends/good night out
see the funny side/enjoy a good laugh/have a good time
good at telling jokes/a good joker teller/remember many jokes
help us to cope with difficult situations
laughter is therapeutic/the best medicine: good for blood circulation/lower
blood pressure/boost the immune system
reduce stress/depression/anger
entertain/stimulate
informative/thought provoking
stimulate the imagination/inspire/motivate/uplift
revitalize/energize/entertain
relaxing/a good way to unwind
Vocabulary Builder
A. Match the words to a synonym, antonym, or idiom.
1. sit-com
thought provoking
2. comedian
comic actor
3. witty
unwind
4. cracks me up
burst out laughing
5. socialize
inspire
6. stimulate the imagination
comedy show
7. informative
motivate
8. lower blood pressure
hang out with friends
9. relax
boost the immune system
10. inspire
clever
B. Circle the odd word/s out.
1. sit-com
comical video clip
comedy show
2. comical
comedian
comic actor
3. witty
shallow
clever
4. hysterical
funny
cracks me up
5. giggle
laugh my head off
burst out laughing
6. socialize
hang out with friends
relax
7. unwind
best medicine
lower blood pressure
8. inspire
inform
uplift
9. imagination
stress
depression
10. anger
side splitting
depression
C. Fill in the gaps with the correct word from the key vocabulary above, circle the
correct word in bold, and then answer the questions, using the structure provided
but with information that is true for you.
1. What kinds of thing make you laugh?
While there are many/much, what often cracks me up are some
____________ films or stand up ____________ on TV, and, also, a lot of
YouTube video ____________ posted in/on Facebook can be quite
____________.
(contrast two short answers)
2. Do you like making other people laugh?
Yes, and even though I can’t ____________ many/much jokes, I think it’s
important to see the ____________side of things, which can make
____________ far more enjoyable.
(short answer + contrast two explanations)
3. Do you think it’s important for people to laugh?
No question since laughter is ____________, or as they say/said, it’s a/the
best ____________ given it can reduce ____________ and lower blood
____________.
(short answer + explanation)
4. Do you think laughing is the same as feeling happy?
No because there can be many/much different reasons why people laugh. They
may do so if they hear something really ____________, but also if they are
embarrass/embarrassed or nervous/nervousness.
(short answer + contrast two explanations)
Additional Vocabulary
• routine
• satire/ridicule/parody/slapstick/spoof/mimic/
caricature/black comedy/farce/sarcasm/irony
• jest
• pun
• nuance
• punchline
• one-liners
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
kidding
light hearted
share a funny moment
see the funny side of things/life
had me in stiches
make fun of/poke fun at
shallow/empty/superficial
boring/unamusing
Humor &
22 Laughing
Speaking
Part 2
Approach
State setting, describe topic, and tell 1-2 stories related to it.
One Minute Preparation - identify a story (problem) related to the topic
Write down:
1. main verb tense
2. uncommon words and ideas to describe the topic + story related to it.
Describe a film or television show that made you laugh.
Setting (where/when/who/what)
Description
- When I was in the sixth grade,
- I remember when I was 12 years old,
- I remember the time when…
- Around six years ago,
- As far back as I can remember,
- appearance
- characteristics
- special qualities
Ideas
Story 2
Story 1
- important events?
-Vocabulary
problem/difficulty/challenge?
- solution?
- outcome/result?
- feelings
- important events?
- problem/difficulty/challenge?
- solution?
- outcome/result?
- feelings
Vocabulary
• Story:
- What happened - important
events from start to finish?
- Problem/difficulty/challenge?
- Things done to solve problem?
- Solution?
- Outcome/result?
- Feelings?
- Lesson learnt?
• Earliest memory
• Highlights
• Disappointments
• Why particularly liked it
• What didn’t appeal
Ex. Friends/characters are a bit shallow/artificial
• stand-up comedy/sit-com/comedy filmshow/comical video clip
• comedian/comic actor
• witty/clever/humorous/amusing/comical
• hysterical/hilarious/side splitting
• laugh my head off/burst out laughing/laugh
out loud/giggle/chuckle/had me in stiches
• great way to socialize/hang out with
friends/good night out
• see the funny side/had a good laugh/a good
time
• good at telling jokes/a good joker
teller/remember many jokes
• help us to cope with difficult situations
• laughter is therapeutic/the best medicine:
good for blood circulation/lower blood
pressure/boost the immune system
• reduce stress/depression/anger
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
entertain/stimulate
informative/thought provoking
stimulate the imagination/inspire/uplift
revitalize/energize/entertain
relaxing/a good way to unwind
comedy routine
satire/ridicule/parody/slapstick/spoof/
mimic/caricature/black comedy/sarcasm/irony
punchline
one-liners
kidding
light hearted
share a funny moment
see the funny side of things/life
make fun of/poke fun at
shallow/empty/superficial
boring/unamusing
Humor &
22 Laughing
Speaking
Part 3
Answer the questions, using the structures indicated below.
Children and laughter
1. What things do adults often laugh about?
By and large, while it is often at humorous things on TV, it is quite common for
them to laugh at their own errors as this is a way of reflecting on and getting
over them.
(while + two different answers + reasons)
2. What things do children often laugh about?
(while + two different answers + reasons)
3. Do you think parents laugh more easily than grandparents?
Probably not because I think older may be under less stress and pressure
than middle-aged parents, who are usually working and may not have time to see
the funnier side of life.
(short answer + reason + explanation)
4. Do you think children laugh more easily than adults?
(short answer + reason + explanation)
5. Can humour in a presentation help people to understand more?
Most definitely because it an get people’s attention and make them feel
more comfortable, so that they are probably more inclined to absorb the
information being put across to them
(short answer + reason + 2nd reason + explanation)
6. Can humour in the classroom help children to learn?
(short answer + reason + 2nd reason + explanation)
People and humour
1. Do you think that laughter is good for people’s health?
(short answer + reason + explanation)
2. Why are some people particularly good at telling jokes?
(apart from + one reason + 2nd reason)
3. Do you think a sense of humour is what makes a relationship successful?
(while + two different answers + reasons)