Laughter is good for you,Welcome to the unit,Brainstorming,1. Do you like laughing? Do you think laughter is good for us? 2. Usually what kind of things can make you laugh?,interesting and amusing TV programmes,comedians,crosstalk,funny pictures / books,circus,Lead-in,1. When you are in low spirits, what will you do to stop unpleasant feeling? listening to music or watching films seeing friends surfing the Internet do some reading watching a comedy,2. Can you name some comedians? Who is your favorite comedian? Why?,Lets learn more about the comedians. Read through the article and try to answer the questions on top of page 2.,返回目录,1. What is the article about? 2. After starting as a stand-up comedian, what did Billy Crystal go on to do later in life? 3. What is laughter good for?,Stand-up comedy.,He went on to act in films.,Our health.,Pre-reading,Structure of the article,Comedians rely on visual humour maybe be inspired by objects,Types of stand-up,Comedians tell jokes about the way people behave or about daily life,一,二,Comedians may trip over chairs, walk into doors, and fall down on stage,Comedians act or speak like a well-know person,三,四,Can you create similar situations to perform the four types of stand-up comedy? Have a try!,1. What does Billy Crystal always keep when he hosts the Academy Awards? Why?,A toothbrush. He thinks itll bring him good luck.,A famous comedian,Questions:,Because he is very quick thinking and is often able to come up with new jokes about the people and things around him.,2. Who were Bob Hope and George Burns? 3. What is one reason Billy Grystal has become so famous?,They are famous comedians.,Fill in the blanks with proper words: Doctors have discovered that people who laugh a lot live _ after researching what _ stand-up and other forms of comedy have on us.,longer,effect,Laughter is good for your health!,When we laugh, our _ sends chemicals around the body which are good for us. _ keeps the body healthy, as the saying goes, Laughter is the best _.,Laughing,medicine,brain,Further comprehension:,1. A stand-up comedian _ while performing. A. enjoys laughing B. enjoys making fun of himself C. usually takes advantage of the audience D. has prepared a lot of jokes in advance,2. Billy Crystal started his career _. A. as a television actor B. as a film actor C. as a stand-up comedian D. as a host,3. At the 2004 Academy Awards, a very old actor _ at first. A. was asked to make a silent speech B. turn off the microphone on purpose C. made the audience laugh D. couldnt make himself heard,4. We can infer from the 5th paragraph comedians are expected to _. A. enjoy a very long life B. work till the end of life C. have no plans to stop work D. perform stand-up,Fill in blanks.,funny and entertaining,stand in line, line up,think out,correct or right for the situation, suitable, proper,cried out loud, either laughing or crying,make somebody laugh or smile,(1) comedians,(6) previous,(2) got his start,(7) affection,(3) variety,(8) perform,(4) stage,(5) performance,Part E Complete an article,返回目录,Discussion,1. Are comedians born gifted? What are good comedians required to do? 2. Besides laughter, what are other factors that can help people live longer?,A good comedian has to do: having enough courage to perform in front of the audience practising a lot to perfect their routine being able to know exactly what they would like to see,watching as many comedies as they can to learn about more techniques making full preparations before going on stage,Other factors can help people live longer: having a balanced diet exercising regularly having a good mood being optimistic,返回目录,Homework,1. Discussion: Do you think to be a good comedian is very challenging? Why or why not? 2. Story-making: Make up a funny story after class.,Crystal was a natural entertainer and had no fears about dancing on stage with top jazz stars.,A brief introduction of Billy Crystal,Crystal studied film and television direction under Martin Scorsese at New York University. After graduation and marriage, Crystal did substitute teaching while he tried his comedy act at various clubs throughout New York.,In the seventies the Crystal family moved to Los Angeles. Crystal did some stand-up at the Comedy Store and was noticed by Norman Lear. This was the turning point, Crystal started making guest appearances on TV and eventually landed his role in “Soap”.,In the eighties Crystal moved his family back to New York. There he appeared on cable TV, did guest spots and made-for-TV movies. Back on the stand-up circuit, Crystal became famous for his Fernando Lamas and Sammy Davis, Jr. impersonations.,He and his impersonations joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 1984. He spent only one year with the show, but was the most popular member of the cast and he earned an Emmy nomination for Best Individual Performance.,His ambition now is to have a one-man show on Broadway. He has the