My Favourite Comedian Reading 2 Review p Do

My Favourite Comedian Reading (2)

Review p Do you like Mr. Bean’s performance in the restaurant? p What do you think are the features of his performance? p What impressed you the most?

Review The character constantly gets into awkward and absurd situations, and his humor is always made clear through a series of simple and funny acts that rely purely on body language, which is universal.

Critical Thinking p Do you think people like it just for fun? p Is there any underlying meaning behind this TV series?

Critical Thinking Apart from fun, people like it because it portrays(描绘) ordinary people’s life vividly, especially the awkward moments, often with good intentions but bad results. This is true to people’s life as no one is perfect. The meaning behind it might be that life is still good despite the imperfections.

Critical Thinking It is not a simply funny TV show. This TV series reveals(揭示) the hypocrisy(虚伪) of poor people. Mr. Bean is poor but he still goes to a fancy restaurant. He can only afford one dish. Even when he doesn’t like the dish, he pretends to be a rich man and enjoys the dish.

Think and Discuss p What do you think makes Rowan Atkinson successful as a comedian? p Can you provide evidence to support your opinion?

Think and Discuss He is successful as a comedian because his good education background, great efforts to overcome his stutter, and talent in acting make him successful in playing the role.

Think and Discuss Evidence 1: (Para. 3) He has a successful academic career. He was awarded a scholarship at the age of 13, attained the highest marks in his year at Newcastle University, and obtained his master’s degree at Oxford.

Think and Discuss Evidence 2: He makes great effort to overcome his stutter. (Para. 4) When he was young, he began to speak very carefully in order to make his speech clearer.

Think and Discuss Evidence 3: (Para. 5) He had already shown a talent for acting as early as primary school. In 1976, when he was playing around and pulling a face in the mirror, he discovered his face.

Understanding the Title contemporary = modern It is because of his efforts and talents that the producer for BBC Television says he is a rare genius and believed he would be more famous than Charlie Chaplin.

Focus on Language Objectives: At the end of the lesson, you will be able to 1. understand the meanings of key words and expressions; 2. use the key words and expressions in new contexts.

Focus on Language p Mr. Bean is an internationally recognised comedy character. . . (L 1) comedy comedian tragedy tragedian tragically comic / comically tragicomedy: a (type of) play or story which is both sad and amusing 悲喜剧, 又悲又喜的事情 WORD FAMILY

Focus on Language p He has a reputation for constantly encountering awkward situations. . . (L 2) p People know or remember Mr. Bean for he always meets embarrassing situations.

Focus on Language p He has a reputation for constantly encountering awkward situations. . . (L 2) p reputation: the opinion that people have about someone or something because of what has happened in the past e. g. The hotel has a good reputation for its food. She has the reputation of being a good doctor. He earned / gained a reputation as an entertaining speaker.

Focus on Language p He has a reputation for constantly encountering awkward situations. . . (L 2) e. g. The English language is constantly changing. (all the time, or very often) They encountered serious problems / difficulties in the first week. (to experience something, especially problems) A laugh can help people over an awkward situation. (It makes you feel embarrassed so that you are not sure what to do or say. )

Focus on Language p … a series of simple and funny acts that rely purely on body language that is universal. (L 5) p rely on = depend on = count on e. g. Many people now rely on the Internet for news. WORD FAMILY: rely v. reliable adj. (unreliable) reliability n. (unreliability) reliance n.

Focus on Language p … a series of simple and funny acts that rely purely on body language that is universal. (L 5) p universal: existing everywhere or involving everyone e. g. Food is a subject of almost universal interest. 食物是一个几乎人人都感兴趣的话题。 The desire to look attractive is universal. 想要看起来有吸引力的愿望是普遍的。

Focus on Language p. . . he looks surprised as if he did not know it was there. (L 10) p We use as if followed by a clause to compare a real situation with an imaginary situation. e. g. He talked to them as if they were children. You treat them as if they were your parents. Anne shrugged, as if she didn’t know. He burst into laughter as if he’d said something funny.

Focus on Language p. . . he makes an attempt to eat it, but … (L 22) p to try to do something, especially something difficult e. g. He attempted to escape through a window. He attempted a joke, but no one laughed. She made a few half-hearted(不认真的; 无兴趣的) attempts to join in their conversation.

Focus on Language rely on attempt awkward universal encounter as if She passed her driving test at the first attempt. Such problems are a universal feature of old age. Every day of our lives we encounter some stresses of one kind or another. There was an awkward moment when she didn’t know whether to shake his hand or kiss his cheek. 5. Many working women rely on relatives to help take care of their children. 1. 2. 3. 4.

Focus on Language ADVERBS: Please find the adverbs in the following sentences and try to observe how they are used and their function.

Focus on Language 1. He has a reputation for constantly encountering awkward situations. 2. … a series of simple and funny acts that rely purely on body language … 3. He opens it to find a birthday card and very happily puts it on the table … 4. When he looks at the menu, an astonished look quickly appears on his face. 5. … he finds the taste truly awful. 6. Later, he studied at Newcastle University where he … 7. … one rarely meets someone with such genius, and …

Focus on Language 1. He has a reputation for constantly encountering awkward situations. (very often) 2. … a series of simple and funny acts that rely purely on body language … (only) 3. He opens it to find a birthday card and very happily puts it on the table … 4. When he looks at the menu, an astonished look quickly appears on his face.

Focus on Language 5. … he finds the taste truly awful. (really) 6. Later, he studied at Newcastle University where he … 7. … one rarely meets someone with such genius, and … (not often, not frequently)

Focus on Language ADVERBS: To add more information about place, time, manner, cause or degree to a verb, an adjective, a phrase or another adverb

Focus on Language p Exercise 9 on P 17: Put the adverbs into the categories in the Word Builder. Categories of Adverbs of Time later Adverbs of Manner quickly, happily Adverbs of Degree purely, truly Adverbs of Frequency constantly, rarely

Focus on Language p Exercise 9 on P 17: Complete the sentences with the adverbs. 1. We don’t like snow so we rarely go skiing. 2. She’s very worried so she constantly asks where her mother is. 3. That painting is truly beautiful! Amazing! 4. When Helen got her new ballet shoes, she smiled, put them on and danced around happily.

Focus on Language p Exercise 9 on P 17: Complete the sentences with the adverbs. 5. I could tell, purely by the look on his face, that he was disappointed. 6. The rain was pouring down so we 7. She later quickly ran inside. wrote warmly of his delightful words and behaviour.

Focus on Language Exercise 6 on P 80: Combine words (1 -6) with words (a-f) to make collocations. 1. highly 2. painfully 3. deeply 4. bitterly 5. dangerously 6. hopelessly a. cold b. sorry c. confused d. ill e. intelligent f. shy

Focus on Language Exercise 6 on P 80: use the collocations to complete the sentences. 1. Ding Yang is a highly intelligent pupil and he will do well at university. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. It was snowing and painfully cold , so we all wore our warmest coats. I have some bad news. Professor James is dangerously ill in hospital. Lin Xi is hopelessly shy and does not talk to strangers at all. Mr. Ma explained it to us but I’m afraid we’re still deeply confused. I was bitterly sorry to hear about the sudden death of Mr. Zhao.

Homework 1. Describe one of your favorite scene in a comedy. Make it more vivid by adding proper adverbs. 2. Write about how you are inspired by Rowan Atkinson’s story (his life story, his successful career etc. ).

Thank you!