…Literary Sleuth Casts Doubt on the Authorship of an Iconic Christmas Poem, by David D. Kirkpatrick, New York Times

ESL Voices Lesson Plan for this post With Answer Key.

Santa photo: Daily Mercury

Clement Clarke Moore  has always been credited with writing the well known poem, The Night Before Christmas, until his authorship was challenged by English professor Don Foster.  The problem was that the person who allegedly wrote the poem, Henry Livingston Jr. has never come forward to claim the piece as his own. This article sheds a little light on the mystery.

“Every Christmas for more than 150 years, children have hung their stockings by the chimney with care and learned to thank Clement Clarke Moore for the tradition. Moore, a wealthy Manhattan biblical scholar, went down in history as the man who in 1823 created the American image of Santa Claus as author of the ”Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas.” Better known as ”The Night Before Christmas,” it became one of the most widely read poems in the world.

But did Moore really write it? In a new study of the poem’s early history, Don Foster, an English professor at Vassar College and a scholar of authorial attribution, accuses Moore of committing literary fraud. He marshals a battery of circumstantial evidence to conclude that the poem’s spirit and style are starkly at odds with the body of Moore’s other writings.

In a new book, ”Author Unknown,” (Henry Holt & Company) Mr. Foster argues that ”A Visit From St. Nicholas,” first published anonymously in a Troy, N.Y., newspaper in 1823, closely matches the views and verse of Henry Livingston Jr., a gentleman-poet of Dutch descent. Livingston, who lived in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., died before Moore was ever named as the poem’s author… To make his case Mr. Foster has compiled a litany of stylistic quirks common to Livingston’s known works, the texts that influenced them and ”A Visit.’.. The original author of the poem also sprinkled extraneous exclamation points through Santa’s reindeer roll call, another Livingston habit. It is vintage Livingston…Clement Clarke Moore II, a descendant of the famous poet, said he was not concerned about the challenge. ”It is the poem itself that is important, not the authorship,” he said.”

To get the full story read this intriguing article in its entirety.

San Francisco Ballet- The Nutcracker-photo: Erik Tomasson

A bauble on a Christmas tree By Kris De Curtis-Wikicommons

FROM ESL VOICES: HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

ESL Voices Lesson Plan for this post

Note: Students will need to access the entire article to complete the activities.

Level: Intermediate -Advanced

Language Skills: reading, writing , speaking and listening.

Time: approximately 2 hours.
Materials: article excerpt, vocabulary, questions for comprehension and discussion,.

Objectives: Students will review the arguments for and against the authorship of the poem The Night Before Christmas and discuss their conclusions.  They will  also create similar poems, and drawings for this holiday.  Students will practice reading, speaking, writing and listening skills.
Procedure:

I. Pre-Reading Tasks

A. Prediction:

Have students read the title of the post, and analyze the photo(s) to see if they can predict what  information the article will discuss.

B. Stimulate background knowledge:

1. Have learners brainstorm to build a list of all of the words they can  think of connected to the terms: Christmas, santa claus, poem.

Example K-W-L chart from Instructional Strategies Online

Tags: Christmas, poem, Santa

Could Hillary Clinton be Obama’s ace in the hole? By LZ Granderson, CNN
ESL Voices Lesson Plan for this post With Answer Key.

President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton-photo: The Telegraph

There is much speculation about who’s  going to run in the 2012 Presidential election for the Republican ticket, and there’s conjectures about who will be the running mates  for the Democrats.   CNN reporter  LZ Granserson  gives his very candid opinion about the possibility of President Obama and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton paired as running mates for 2012. Excerpt:

“Here is what the election next year is about: the fence-sitters, the independent voters. At this point, there is not much President Barack Obama can say that will win over conservatives, and given the current GOP field, he doesn’t have to worry too much about losing liberals. But what can he say to convince the middle to give him four more years?

Vice President Hillary Clinton?… I can’t think of a ticket that would generate more wattage than Obama-Clinton ’12. Would the move be characterized by critics as an obvious ploy to attract women?  Well, yeah. And to a degree they’ll be right: After all, this is politics. But the critics would have to tread lightly, because Clinton would likely be at least as accomplished, and probably more so, than any other person on either ballot…Obama selecting Clinton as his running mate in 2008, after a sometimes biting primary season, would have rung hollow.

President Obama & Secretary Clinton.

Now, after she’s spent four years working with him as secretary of state, an executive partnership would be accepted as authentic…Clinton brings gravitas few people possess. If those who rallied around her presidential bid were to rally behind her for the vice-presidential nod, it’s hard to imagine who in the Republican field could match what she would bring. Part of the reason that Obama is vulnerable is not simply that the economy is struggling and Republicans are fired up to defeat him. It’s because his base does not appear to be fired up for him to win…Putting her name on the ticket as vice president would give Obama something… — buzz.

Energy. Excitement… there is no denying that the electricity Obama generated during the 2007-08 campaign is simply not there this time. Some of his supporters are disappointed with the compromises he’s made since taking office. Others are frustrated he hasn’t done more to help their specific community or interest group… Back in 2008, political strategists on both sides of the aisle could offer a litany of reasons why Obama defeated McCain — from the Republican candidate being framed as an extension of George W. Bush, to Obama’s charisma and an electorate excited by the opportunity to rewrite history. But a year from now, there won’t be as many variables explaining why Obama won re-election. In fact, the rationale could likely summed up in one word: Hillary. Obama’s one-time foe is now his ace in the hole.”

Read this article in its entirety to enjoy the author’s full opinion!

ESL Voices Lesson Plan for this post

Level: Intermediate -Advanced

Language Skills: reading, writing , speaking and listening. Vocabulary and grammar activities included.

Time: approximately 2 hours.

Materials:article excerpt, vocabulary, questions for comprehension and discussion, video with questions.

Objectives: Students will review and discuss the reasons for President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to join as running mates in the 2012 Presidential election. They will debate the pros and cons of this issue. Students will practice reading, speaking, writing and listening skills. There are also grammar and vocabulary tasks.

I. Pre-Reading Tasks

A. Prediction:

Directions: Read the title of the post, and analyze the photo(s) to see if  you can predict what  information the article will discuss. Then,  make a list of ideas,  words,  and phrases that might be in the article.

B. Stimulate Background Knowledge:

1. Brainstorm: Directions: With your group members, brainstorm to build a list of the words  and ideas connected to the following terms:   

register, vote, campaign, Democrat Party, Republican Party, Electoral college, primary.

2. Pre-reading Discussion Questions:

Directions: Discuss the following questions regarding Presidential Elections in your countries.

1. In the United States, voting is viewed as a right, and as a responsibility for all Americans. Is the same true in your country?
2. In your country, are women allowed to run for the office of President or Vice President?
3. Are all nationalities given the opportunity to campaign for the Presidency?
4. Describe the voting process in your country.
5. Is everyone allowed to vote including women?
6. At what age can a person vote?
7. Do people use slogans, posters and other paraphernalia  (see photos) to win votes?

3. Graphic Organizers: Use a KWL chart to help organize your information.

K-W-L Chart-Michigan State University-Reading Comprehension

Visit ESL Voices Graphic Organizers

II. While Reading Tasks

A. Vocabulary

1.  Word Inference: Directions: You are to infer the meanings of the words in bold (from the article) and use a dictionary or thesaurus for assistance.

1. Here is what the election next year is about: the fence-sitters, the independent voters.
2. At this point, there is not much President Barack Obama can say that will win over conservatives…
3. given the current GOP field, he doesn’t have to worry too much about losing liberals.
4. But what can he say to convince the middle to give him four more years?
5. I can’t think of a ticket that would generate more wattage than Obama-Clinton ’12.
6. Would the move be characterized by critics as an obvious ploy to attract women?
7. But the critics would have to tread lightly, because Clinton would likely be at least as accomplished, than any other person on either ballot...
8. …an executive partnership would be accepted as authentic…Clinton brings gravitas few people possess.
9. If those who rallied around her…
10. Part of the reason that Obama is vulnerable…
11. Some of his supporters are disappointed with the compromises he’s made…
12. Back in 2008, political strategists on both sides of the aisle…
13. …from the Republican candidate being framed as an extension of George W. Bush, to Obama’s charisma and an electorate excited

B. Questions for Comprehension: True / False

Directions: If an idea is true, write (T) if  it is false, write (F), and  provide the correct answer from the article.

1. The article suggests that President Obama campaign with Vice President Hillary Clinton in the 2012 elections.
2. At this point, there is not much President Barack Obama can say that will win over conservatives.
3. The critics would say this joining of Obama and Clinton wasn’t a ploy to attract the female voters.
4. Obama should have selected Hillary Clinton as his running mate in 2008.
5. Now, after she’s spent four years working with him as secretary of state, an executive partnership would be accepted as authentic.
6. Very few candidates from the Republican Party could match Clinton’s expertise.
7. President Obama’s base is giving him total support.
8. By putting Clinton’s  name on the ticket as Vice President, people would get excited about Obama again.

C. Grammar Focus

Directions: Identify the verbs in the following paragraph, then use the words to write a short paragraph  concerning politics.

“…Now, after she’s spent four years working with him as secretary of state, an executive partnership would be accepted as authentic…Clinton brings gravitas few people possess. If those who rallied around her presidential bid were to rally behind her for the vice-presidential nod, it’s hard to imagine who in the Republican field could match what she would bring. Part of the reason that Obama is vulnerable is not simply that the economy is struggling and Republicans are fired up to defeat him. It’s because his base does not appear to be fired up for him to win…Putting her name on the ticket as vice president would give Obama something… — buzz.”

III. Post Reading Tasks

A. Reading Comprehension Check

1. WH-question format-

Directions: Use the  WH-question format to discuss or to write down the main points from the article.

WH-How Questions

Who or What is the article about?

Where does the action/event take place?

When does the action/event take place?

Why did the action/event occur?

How did the action/event occur?

2. Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. Discuss the pros and cons of President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as running mates.
2. In your opinion, would it make sense for Hillary Clinton to run on the ticket with Obama in 2012, or should the current Vice President Joe Biden continue to remain with Obama?   Discuss why or why not.
3. At the end of the article, the author states, “ Obama’s one-time foe is now his “ace in the hole.”   In your own words discuss what this means.

3. Writing Activity Directions: Choose one of the following topics and write an essay.

• If President Obama and Secretary Clinton actually run in the 2012 campaign, what would be some of the issues they should address?
• In your country, has there been a leader who has made a positive change for your people? Discuss what the change was, and how it helped.

IV. Listening Activity

Video clip: Could Hillary Clinton be Obama’s Ace in the Hole?

Writer LZ Granderson Discusses Obama-Clinton ticket-CNN

Columnist  writer LZ Granderson, comments about the advantages of Obama and Clinton  running for office in the 2012 Presidential campaign.

A. Pre-listening Tasks

1. Listening for New Vocabulary

Here is a list of terms from the video to help you better understand the discussion. Find out the meanings  of the following words with  your group before listening: incumbent, beneficial, invigorate, economy, supplant, formidable, competent, primary.

B. While Listening Tasks

1.  Listening Comprehension (fill-ins-listening-for specific information)

Tags: 2012 Presidential Election, President Barak Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton

The Art of Listening By  Henning Mankell, The New York Times

ESL Voices Lesson Plan for this post with Answer Key.

In this age of video chat, iphones,  and Skype, people have dozens of methods to talk to each other. Henning Mankell  claims that people (especially in the Western world) simple “chatter” without real communication. Do people actually “listen” to each other?

Henning Manskell-Photos Mankell Website

Excerpt:

“I came to Africa with one purpose: I wanted to see the world outside the perspective of European egocentricity. I could have chosen Asia or South America. I ended up in Africa because the plane ticket there was cheapest…For nearly 25 years I’ve lived off and on in Mozambique. … I’m approaching old age. But my motive for living this straddled existence, with one foot in African sand and the other in European snow, in the melancholy region of Norrland in Sweden where I grew up, has to do with wanting to see clearly, to understand.

The Art of Listening-NYT photo Joe Villion

The simplest way to explain what I’ve learned from my life in Africa is through a parable about why human beings have two ears but only one tongue. Why is this? Probably so that we have to listen twice as much as we speak. In Africa listening is a guiding principle. It’s a principle that’s been lost in the constant chatter of the Western world, where no one seems to have the time or even the desire to listen to anyone else. From my own experience, I’ve noticed how much faster I have to answer a question during a TV interview than I did 10, maybe even 5, years ago. It’s as if we have completely lost the ability to listen.

We talk and talk, and we end up frightened by silence, the refuge of those who are at a loss for an answer… Everywhere, people on the African continent write and tell stories. Soon, African literature seems likely to burst onto the world scene — much as South American literature did some years ago when Gabriel García Márquez and others led a tumultuous and highly emotional revolt against ingrained truth… Yet everybody knows that there is truth in what I’m saying: Western literature is normally linear; it proceeds from beginning to end without major digressions in space or time… Here, instead of linear narrative, there is unrestrained and exuberant storytelling that skips back and forth in time and blends together past and present. Someone who may have died long ago can intervene without any fuss in a conversation between two people who are very much alive…The nomads who still inhabit the Kalahari Desert are said to tell one another stories on their daylong wanderings… Often they have more than one story going at the same time. Sometimes they have three or four stories running in parallel.

Asha Baba at The J. Paul Getty Museum

But before they return to the spot where they will spend the night, they manage either to intertwine the stories or split them apart for good, giving each its own ending…A number of years ago…I heard the two men talking about a third old man who had recently died.  One of them said, “I was visiting him at his home. He started to tell me an amazing story about something that had happened to him when he was young. But it was a long story. Night came, and we decided that I should come back the next day to hear the rest. But when I arrived, he was dead. The man fell silent. I decided not to leave that bench until I heard how the other man would respond to what he’d heard. I had an instinctive feeling that it would prove to be important. Finally he, too, spoke.“That’s not a good way to die — before you’ve told the end of your story.

It struck me as I listened to those two men that a truer nomination for our species than Homo sapiens might be Homo narrans, the storytelling person. What differentiates us from animals is the fact that we can listen to other people’s dreams, fears, joys, sorrows, desires and defeats — and they in turn can listen to ours. Many people make the mistake of confusing information with knowledge. They are not the same thing. Knowledge involves the interpretation of information. Knowledge involves listening.

So if I am right that we are storytelling creatures, and as long as we permit ourselves to be quiet for a while now and then, the eternal narrative will continue…Who knows? Maybe someone is out there, willing to listen.” read more…

ESL Voices Lesson Plan for this post

Level: Intermediate -Advanced

Language Skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Vocabulary and grammar activities included.

Time: approximately 2 hours.

Materials: article excerpt, vocabulary, questions for comprehension and discussion, video  with questions.

Objectives: Students will practice reading, speaking, writing and listening skills. Students will examine and discuss the arguments presented by Henning Mankell on the art of “listening” in African culture and literature.

I. Pre-Reading Tasks

Prediction

Analyze headings and  photos

Directions: Have students read the title of the post, article, and analyze the photos  to see if  they can predict what  information the article will discuss.  Then have them  make a list of ideas,  words and phrases that might be in the article based on this information.

 Stimulate Background Knowledge

 Pre-reading Discussion Questions

Directions: Have students discuss the following questions regarding “listening” in their countries.

1. Do you think that it is important to listen carefully, during conversation? Why?
2. In your culture, when people converse, do they always listen to each other?
3. Do people talk quickly and simultaneously, or slowly and clearly, one speaker at a time?

II. While Reading Tasks

 Vocabulary

Word Inference

Directions: Students are to infer the meanings of the words in bold (taken from the article)  and use a dictionary or thesaurus for assistance.

1. I wanted to see the world outside the perspective of European egocentricity.
2. But my motive for living this straddled existence… in the melancholy region…
3. what I’ve learned from my life in Africa is through a parable about why human beings have two ears but only one tongue.
4. In Africa listening is a guiding principle.
5. It’s a principle that’s been lost in the constant chatter of the Western world…
6. …when Gabriel García Márquez…led a tumultuous and highly emotional revolt against ingrained truth…
7. Western literature is normally linear; it proceeds from beginning to end without major digressions…
8. Here, instead of linear narrative, there is unrestrained and exuberant storytelling…
9. Someone who may have died long ago can intervene without any fuss in a conversation…
10. Sometimes they have three or four stories running in parallel.

Word Recognition 

Directions: Have students choose the word that is correct, then reread the paragraph to check their responses.

1. I came to Africa with one porpoise/ purpose: I wanted to see the world outside the perspective of European egocentricity.
2. But my motive for living this straddled existence/existential with one foot in African sand and the other in European snow, in the melancholy region..
3. The simplest way to explain what I’ve learned from my life in Africa is through a parable/portable about why human beings have two ears but only one tongue.
4. Probable/Probably so that we have to listen twice as much as we speak.
5. It’s a principle/principal that’s been lost in the constant chatter of the Western world…
6. I’ve noticed how much faster/fast I have to answer a question during a TV interview…
7. We talk and talk, and we end up frightened by silence/silent…
8. Everywhere, people on the African content/continent write and tell stories.
9. Yet everybody knows that there is truth/true in what I’m saying: Western literature is normally linear;

Questions for Reading Comprehension

Directions:  Students are to answer the following questions based on the article.

1. Why didn’t Henning Mankell go to Asia or South america?
2. How long did he remain in africa?
3.  Where in Africa  did he live most of the time?
4. According to the parable, why do human beings have two ears but only one tongue?
5. When answering questions today, what difference does the author notice?
6. What ability have we lost?
7. According to Mankell, people talk, and talk, during conversations, then become frighten of what?
8. What is the name of the writer from South America he mentions?
9. Why does the author describe Western literature as linear?
10. How is African literature different from Western literature?
11. The author gives an example of how African literature can blend past and present together. What is it?
12. When, and to whom do the Kalahari nomads tell their stories?

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. Haskell refers to wanting to “see the world outside the perspective of European egocentricity.”  How do you interpret his thought?
2. The author states, “Many people make the mistake of confusing information with knowledge. They are not the same thing. Knowledge involves the interpretation of information. Knowledge involves listening.”  Do you agree with his view? Explain why or why not, and provide examples to prove your point.
3. Another statement he makes, “From my own experience, I’ve noticed how much faster I have to answer a question during a TV interview than I did 10, maybe even 5, years ago. It’s as if we have completely lost the ability to listen.”  Do you agree with his feelings? Explain why or why not. Can you offer reasons for this change in our society?
4. When  Mankell discusses the parable, why human beings have two ears and only one tongue, it almost seems humorous. Do you find it humorous, truthful, or both? Provide reasons for your responses.

Grammar Focus

Identifying Parts of Speech: Nouns

Directions: Students are to Identify the Nouns in the following paragraph, then use the words to write a short paragraph about Listening.

“In Africa listening is a guiding principle. It’s a principle that’s been lost in the constant chatter of the Western world, where no one seems to have the time or even the desire to listen to anyone else. From my own experience, I’ve noticed how much faster I have to answer a question during a TV interview than I did 10, maybe even 5, years ago. It’s as if we have completely lost the ability to listen.”

III. Post Reading Tasks

Reading Comprehension Check

WH-question format

Directions: Students use the WH-question format to discuss or to write the main points from the article.

 Writing Activity

Directions: have students choose one of the following and write an essay. 

1. The Nomads  of the Kalahari Desert
2. Mozambique, Africa
3. Gabriel García Márquez

Review ESL Voices Modes of Essay Writing.

IV. Listening Activity

 Video Clip: Henning Mankell - Henning Mankell and Henry Ascher discuss the similarities between  the Apartheid situation in South Africa, and   the Israel/Palestinian conflict. 

Pre-listening Tasks

Listening for New Terms

Directions: Before viewing the video clip,  you and your group members will need to understand who the following people are, and the meanings of the terms used in the video. Use your computers quickly to find out this information.

TERMS: Henning Mankell,  Henry Ascher, Desmond Tutu, Apartheid, The Israeli–Palestinian conflict. 

While Listening Tasks

Questions for Listening Comprehension

Directions: Review the statements with students before the watching the video. Students are to listen for the answers.

1. In the beginning Henry Ascher explains that Israel is being pressured…What is Mankell’s  immediate response to this?
2. What other situation does Mankell compare the Israeli/Palestinian conflict to?
3. Where did this other conflict take place?
4. What year did this occur?
5. At one point Mankell states, “ I didn’t think  that I would see it fall.” Explain what he means by this.
6. According to Mankell, how many years later was it gone?
7. Why does Mankell think that  Desmond Tutu’s signing the petition to show solidarity with the Palestinian people was so important?
8. Mankell states that Apartheid ended without what two occurrences?

Post-Listening Tasks

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1.  What are your thoughts about the Apartheid?
2. What about the conflict between Israel and Palestine?
3. Mankell believes that the conflict between Israel and Palestine can be resolved like the Apartheid situation in South Africa. Do you agree with this? Discuss why or why not, and provide examples to explain your viewpoint.

ANSWER KEY: We “Hear” but do We “Listen”?

Related Video Clip

Noted African Story Teller Asha Baba at The J. Paul Getty Museum

 “One of the most authentic story tellers of our time. Baba inspires, uplifts and always captivate the audience.. children as well as adults! A unique experience for the entire family to enjoy.” 

Tags: Henning Mankell

The Science of Humor, by Hugh Pickens, Slashdot, and
World’s Funniest Joke, by Dr. Richard Wiseman, CNN

ESL Voices Lesson Plan for this post With Answer Key.

Comedian/Actor Steve Martin in "The Jerk" photo: Wikipedia

“Comedy is the art of making people laugh without making them puke.” Steve Martin

Steve Martin is a “wild and crazy guy”.  He’s also a gifted comedian, with a wonderful sense of humor. Almost everyone has a sense of humor, although what is “funny” varies from culture to culture. Teachers of ESL  are familiar with the challenge of trying to explain an American joke to students from different countries, and vice versa. Even when the joke is told in the language of the L2 learner, something appears to get lost in the translation. The following two article excerpts reveal some intriguing information concerning humor and various cultures.

#1- The Science of Humor by Hugh Pickens, Slashdot

“The sense of humor is a ubiquitous human trait, yet rare or non-existent in the rest of the animal kingdom. But why do humans have a sense of humor in the first place? Cognitive scientist (and former programmer) Matthew Hurley says humor (or mirth, in research-speak) is intimately linked to thinking and is a critical task in human cognition because a sense of humor keeps our brains alert for the gaps between our quick-fire assumptions and reality.  We think the pleasure of humor, the emotion of mirth, is the brain’s reward for discovering its mistaken inferences, says Hurley, co-author of Inside Jokes: Using Humor to Reverse-Engineer the Mind… For example, read the gag that’s been voted the funniest joke in the world by American men. So why is this joke funny? Because it is misleading, containing a small, faulty assumption that opens the door to a costly mistake…”

#2- Official! World’s funniest joke, Revealed by Dr. Richard Wiseman, CNN

“The world’s funniest joke has been revealed after a year-long search by scientists.

In an experiment conducted in Britain, people around the world were invited to judge jokes on an Internet site as well as contribute their own.

The LaughLab research, carried out by psychologist Dr. Richard Wiseman, from the University of Hertfordshire, attracted more than 40,000 jokes and almost two million ratings.

And here it is…

Two hunters are out in the woods when one of them collapses. He doesn’t seem to be breathing and his eyes are glazed. The other guy takes out his phone and calls the emergency services.

He gasps: “My friend is dead! What can I do?” The operator says: “Calm down, I can help. First, let’s make sure he’s dead.” There is a silence, then a gunshot is heard. Back on the phone, the guy says: “OK, now what?”

“Wiseman said the joke worked across many different countries and appealed to men and women and young and old alike…As well as identifying the joke which appealed most to people around the world, the experiment revealed wide humour differences between nations….Humour is vital to communication and the more we understand about how people’s culture and background affect their sense of humour, the more we will be able to communicate effectively. Also, we find jokes funny for lots of different reasons. They sometimes make us feel superior to others, reduce the emotional impact of anxiety-provoking situations or surprise us because of some kind of incongruity. The hunters joke contained all three elements…”

Read both articles, you’ll find them enlightening and “humorous”.

ESL Voices Lesson Plan for this post

Level: Intermediate -Advanced

Language Skills: Reading, writing, speaking and listening. Vocabulary and grammar activities are included.

Time: Approximately 2 hours.

Materials: Student handouts (from this lesson) access to news article, and video.

Objective: Students will read the article with a focus on improving reading comprehension and learning new vocabulary. At the end of the lesson students will express their personal views on the topic of comedy through discussions, and writing.

Pre-reading Questions

B. Questions for Comprehension

Directions: If an idea is true, write (T) if it is false, write (F), and  provide the correct answer from the article.

The Science of Humor

1. It’s hard to find people with a sense of humor.
2. Animals are nearly always humorous.
3. A sense of humor  keeps our brains alert…
4. According to Dr. Hurley the funniest joke in the world is funny because it is intentionally misleading, containing a small, faulty assumption that opens the door to a costly mistake…

World’s funniest joke, Revealed

1. The world’s funniest joke has been revealed after a 3-year-long search by scientists.
2. In an experiment conducted in the U.S., people around the world were invited to judge jokes on an Internet site as well as contribute their own.
3. “Wiseman said the joke worked across many different countries and appealed to men and women and young and old alike…
4. This experiment identified the  most appealing joke, and revealed the differences in the way people told the joke.
5. Humour is vital to communication because the more we understand what makes people laugh, the more jokes we can tell them.
6. We find jokes funny for lots of different reasons..The hunters joke contained all three elements…

C. Grammar Focus

Directions: Identify all of the Adjectives in the following paragraph from The Science of Humor

by Hugh Pickens, then use each word in a sentence pertaining to “humor”.

“The sense of humor is a ubiquitous human trait, yet rare or non-existent in the rest of the animal kingdom. But why do humans have a sense of humor in the first place? Cognitive scientist (and former programmer) Matthew Hurley says humor (or mirth, in research-speak) is intimately linked to thinking and is a critical task in human cognition because a sense of humor keeps our brains alert for the gaps between our quick-fire assumptions and reality.”

III. Post Reading Tasks

A. Reading Comprehension Check

1. Complete the KWL chart (information that you have learned)

2. Directions: use the  WH-question format to discuss or to write the main points from the article.

3. Reread the joke from World’s Funniest Joke, Revealed and describe what makes it funny to some people.

B. Writing

Directions: In your groups, read the following jokes and choose the ones that make you laugh. Be prepared to explain why you thought the joke was humorous.  With your members, create several jokes using one of the formats shown (no more than 3-4 lines long) share your jokes with the class.

1. Do you know what really amazes me about you?

No.What?

Oops.Sorry. I was thinking about someone else!

by The Clar (South Korea)

2. The doctor to the patient: ‘You are very sick’

The patient to the doctor: ‘Can I get a second opinion?’

The doctor again: ‘Yes, you are very ugly too…

by:Adriana Luchetti

3. Patient: Doctor, I think that I’ve been bitten by a vampire.

Doctor: Drink this glass of water.

Patient: Will it make me better?

Doctor: No, I but I’ll be able to see if your neck leaks.

by: Rizwana Lahore (Pakistan)

4. Bank Teller: How do you like the money?

English Student: I like it very much.

by Safnil(Bengkulu University Indonesia)

5. Little Johnny: Teacher, can I go to the bathroom?

Teacher: Little Johnny, MAY I go to the bathroom?

Little Johnny: But I asked first! by: Elise Owen,(China)

6. Patient: Doctor! You’ve got to help me! Nobody ever listens to me. No one ever pays any attention to what I have to say.

Doctor: Next please!

by Marco Morales,(Mexico)

7. A: Hey, man! Please call me a taxi.

B: Yes, sir. You are a taxi.

Submitted by Cláudia Almeida

IV. Listening Activity

Dr. Know: Laughter. Howstuffworks

Video clip: Is Laughter the Best Medicine? from Howstuffworks

A. Pre-listening Tasks

1. Listening for New Vocabulary

Sources and Related Articles

The Internet TESL Journal Jokes in English for the ESL/EFL Classroom,

GOCOMICS A good site for recent and older comic strips, there’s even one in Spanish.

readwritethink Comic Creator,  excellent site offers an easy to follow hands-on guide for creating comics.

The Memory Gym How Laughter Affects Your Brain

WebMD Give Your Body a Boost — With Laughter The physical health benefits of humor and laughter.

written By R. Morgan Griffin, and Reviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD

Tags: CNN, Cultures, Humor, Jokes, Slashdot