Exploring the theme of humour

Cartoon of an Angry Housewife Doing Spring Cleaning - Royalty Free Clipart Image

Using cartoons and comic strips

Submitted by clare lavery on 1 June, 2011 - 08:24

Introduction

Cartoons and comic strips can be used from beginner level to advanced level for a variety of language and discussion activities.

Cartoons are powerful teaching tools and can

· Tell a complex story in a few images

· Provide comment and provoke thought on events and issues in the news

· Give an example of vocabulary related to current trends and fads

· Provide easily identifiable characters to form the basis for sketches

· Show culture in action with the ways that men or women are behaving and are expected to behave

· Comment on and illustrate a whole range of issues like racism, teenage relationships, sexism, ageism, family relationships.

Word of warning: The language used can sometimes be too colloquial and referential for lower levels to cope with. Choose your cartoons and comic strips with care.

Activities for exploiting cartoons

Exploring the theme of humour

Take one cartoon which depicts absurd situations. This can be a Gary Larsen cartoon or one of those greeting cards using a black and white photo and a funny sentence which gives a strange twist.
Ask students to work in groups and get students to discuss:

· What does the cartoon mean?

· Why is it funny?

· What techniques are used to make it funny?

Their own sense of humour and national tastes in humour

Use a cartoon to introduce the idea of humour and culture. Take a selection of cartoons and ask groups to decide what each one means and if they think they are funny. Vote on the funniest cartoon. Ask the students to discuss:

· What types of method are used to make us laugh?

· Do people laugh at ordinary situations in their country?

· Are political figures made fun of?

· Do they use satire or slap stick humour?

· What are the most popular types of humour on TV?

This can be developed in to a lesson on jokes and the types of joke that they find funny.

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