Unit 1  Laughter is good for you

t: can you tell something about the chinese crosstalk?
s: it is a traditional chinese art. two or more actors/actresses stand on the stage, using funny words to entertain the audience.
t: if you want to learn the crosstalk, what kind of qualities do you need to have?
s: having a sense of humor, being quick-minded and able to cooperate well with his or her partners.
t: how can you find out more information according to the poster?
s: by calling 5555-1234 for course schedule and fees.
picture 4
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t: what is this poster about?
s: it is a comedy about life in the circus.
t: what can we see in a circus?
s: in a circus, we can see acrobats(鋼絲), riders, clowns and performing animals.
t: do you think the life in a circus is interesting?
step 3: discussion
after we talked about the four posters, which of the above do you think will be the funniest?
who is your favorite comedian? why do you like him or her?
why do people like funny things?
divide the students into different groups to discuss. encourage them to use english while talking. then collect their answers.
sample answers
1 i think “under the big top” might be the funniest. in a circus, you can see acrobats, riders, clowns and performing animals. when i was young, whenever i had a chance to watch circus performances, i had a really good laugh. i often wondered hoe clowns could wear such funny expressions and make such exaggerated movements. i was curious about their life and attitudes towards life. also, trained performing animals are very amusing and can bring me a lot of happiness.
2 my favorite comedian is song dandan. she is very talented, versatile and dedicated. as a comedian, she has her own special way of presenting vivid characters on the stage. she can sing, dance, do crosstalk, etc. once in an interview, she explained her understanding towards her career. according to her, it’s more than making people laugh. it’s about conveying dip meanings of life while entertaining people. i was deeply touched by this.          .                   
3 it is human nature that people like funny things. we need to have something to laugh about, to release our emotions. according to psychologist, people who are often in a bad mood are likely to develop deadly diseases such as cancer. a hearty laugh can cheer people up and help them get rid of negative feelings.
step 4: homework
1. read the article in part a on page 104 and the one in part b on page 105 in workbook.
2. prepare the reading part.