Objectifs globaux : Look for multiple meanings to the same word/phrase.
Objectifs linguistiques : Puns, wordplay
Objectifs travaillés : Understand short stories, tell short jokes
Resources :
Audio: Little joker 1
Audio: Little joker 2
Audio: Little joker 3
Audio: Little joker 4
Audio: Joke 1
Audio: Joke 2
Audio: Joke 3
Audio: Joke 4
Audio: Joke 5
Contents
The pundementals
Match the halves of these short puns. You may need a dictionary.
- I got fired from the calendar factory,
- What’s the best thing about Switzerland?
- I tried to make a belt out of watches.
- I was a vegetarian when I was younger.
- RIP boiling water.
- Thanks for translating the word “beaucoup” to me.
- No matter how kind you are,
- Who designed King Arthur’s round table?
- A man went to the hospital with eight plastic horses in his stomach.
- This girl thought she recognized me from vegetarian club,
- You will be mist.
- German children are kinder.
- but I’ve never met herbivore.
- His condition is stable.
- It was a waist of time.
- It was a big missed steak.
- Well, the flag is a big plus.
- It means a lot.
- just for taking a day off.
- Sir Cumference.
Which of these puns work in French?
A little joker
Look at the image and guess the situation.
- What’s happening?
- Who are the two characters?
- Where are they?
Listen to the audio and see if you were right.
Copy the paragraph and fill in the missing information. (use a pencil to do so)
This story is about the ………. of a big company who has a ………. with his computer. He ………. to call James Tyler, his employee, for ……….. James would ………. what to do.
This story is about the manager of a big company who has a problem with his computer. He decides to call James Tyler, his employee, for help. James would know what to do.
Listen to the third audio.
- What is happening at the girls house?
- Who else is there?
- Recap the story so far. (« a man calls a house looking for his employee… »)
- What do you think is really happening at the house?
Listen to the final audio.
- What is really happening at the girls house?
Perform your joke
Split into five groups and work on telling your own joke
- Listen to your joke multiple times and write down the story.
- Practice performing your joke.
- Perform your joke in front of the class.
- The rest of the class: decide which type of humour is being used.
Group 1: At the supermarket
Group 2: On a camping trip
Group 3: Anger vs. exasperation
Group 4: Burglars in the shed
Group 5: Monkey
Evaluation
Answer questions about this lesson.