LESSON OVERVIEW

In this lesson students talk about jokes and humour. They discuss different types of jokes, listen to a podcast, share their thoughts about humour and even try to make some jokes themselves. 

This is a Speaking Class worksheet. It includes a variety of tasks that let your students practise their speaking skills. This lesson format does not focus on grammar or vocabulary. Learn more about it here.

WARM-UP & LISTENING

The lesson starts with students identifying the difference between pranks, dad jokes and pun and matching them with some examples. After that, students share if they find such jokes and humour funny and talk about what makes them laugh. Then, students listen to a humorous podcast story and discuss it by completing the sentences. They say whether they find the story funny and the comedian’s actions appropriate. There is also a discussion activity that focuses more on pranks. Students talk about pulling pranks on others, their own experience, and using pranks as a marketing opportunity. After that, students move on to a short reading activity. 

READING & MORE DISCUSSION

In this part of the lesson students continue talking about jokes and humour and read a short text about April Fool’s Day pranks by Google. Teachers might decide to explore this topic more and share videos about specific examples of the pranks. There is also a short discussion devoted to this topic. Then, students look at the opinions about jokes and humour (e.g. Dark comedy is never appropriate. vs Given the right context, dark humour has its comic value.) and decide which they agree with. Finally, students get a chance to create their own jokes. They look at the beginnings of jokes and think of a punchline. After that, teachers might ask them what they think is more important: the joke itself or its delivery. If teachers feel like it, they can wrap up the lesson with a Don’t laugh challenge in which students read jokes to each other and try to make the other students laugh.