Robin Williams

Famous People

Robin Williams In this lesson, you will read a short biography about the famous American comedian, Robin Williams . You will practice some new vocabulary and learn f unny expressions related to laughter l aughter..

Pre-Reading A. Warm-Up Questions 1. What makes you laugh laugh??

3. What is your favorite comedy TV show or movie? movie?

“You’re only given a little spark of madness. You mustn’t lose it.”

4. What do you know about Robin Williams?

—Robin Williams

2. Who is the funniest funniest person in your life?

B. Vocabulary Preview Match the words on the left with the correct meanings on the right.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

sitcom impersonation stand-up show in stitches prestigious spin-o ad-lib gig lift spirits pay a visit substance abuse depression

a) b) c) d) e) f) g) h) i) j) k) l)

the overuse of drugs and/or alcohol feeling pain in one’s stomach after laughing very hard to make people happy, to cheer people up a one-man comedy performance before a live audience a strong feeling of sadness, loneliness, or hopelessness to go and see someone or something (often unexpectedly) the use of one’s voice and gestures gest ures to pretend to be someone else exclusive, only available to the most talented, intelligent or wealthy to make up the script as you go a byproduct (such as a related TV show) of something bigger a job (sometimes short-term) often related to one’s talent short for situation for situation comedy , a funny TV show about a set group of characters

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Robin Williams Famous People

Reading 1.

Robin Williams was an American comedian who starred in sitcoms, lms, and live stand-up shows. His jokes, impersonations, and characters always left his audience in stitches. For many years, Robin Williams was considered “the funniest man alive.”

2. Robin Williams was born in Chicago, Illinois on July 21, 1951. He was a shy boy who spent much of his childhood in his basement. To entertain himself, he made up dierent voices. While taking a drama class in high school, Robin Williams learned t hat he could make people laugh. In 1973, he was accepted into a prestigious arts program at the Juilliard School in New York. His roommate was Christopher Reeve, later known as “Superman.” 3. One of the rst comedic roles Robin Williams played was “Mork from Ork” in the sitcom Mork & Mindy (1978–1982). This was a spin-of from the hit TV series Happy Days. Mork was an alien who arrived on Earth in an egg. The TV audience fell in love with his character. Much of his best work was unscripted. Throughout the 70s and 80s Williams developed his art as a stand-up comedian. 4. Robin Williams also had a successful lm c areer. He starred in several award-winning lms, including Good Morning Vietnam (1987), Dead Poets Society (1989), and Good Will Hunting (1997). From Peter Pan to Popeye, Williams brought a comedic element to every role he played. He was also one of the best voice actors in the industry. His ad-libbed performance as the Genie in Disney’s Aladdin (1992) inspired many actors to lend their voices to animated lms. 5. Robin Williams was a kid at heart. He loved video games and named his daughter after Princess Zelda. He also owned over 50 bicycles. Outside of his regular acting gigs, he took the time to lift people’s spirits. He cheered up Steven Spielberg while the direc tor was working on depressing scenes in Schindler’s List . He also paid a surprise visit to Christopher Reeve after the actor’s horse-riding accident. Williams used humor to convince his buddy that things would be oka y. He also performed stand-up routines for military troops. 6. Despite the joy and laughter Robin Williams brought to his friends and fans, he suered greatly from substance abuse and depression. Robin Williams committed suicide in his home on August 11, 2014, at the age of 63. He once told an interviewer that he hoped his work on Earth would earn him front-row seats to an Elvis/Mozart concert when and if he got to heaven.

Copyright 2014, Red River Press Inc. For use by members of ESL-library.com in accordance with membership terms.

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Comprehension A. True or False? Read the statements below. If the statement is true, write T beside the sentence. If it is false, write F and correct the information. Write an N beside a statement that wasn’t mentioned. 1. In his graduating year at high school, Robin Williams was voted funniest person. 2. Robin Williams was friends with cyclist Lance Armstrong. 3. Robin WIlliams is best known for his role in the hit lm Superman. 4. The voice of the prince in Disney’s Aladdin was played by Robin Williams. 5. Robin Williams often performed stand-up comedy routines for the military.

B. Ask and Answer Practice asking and answering the following questions with your partner. Then write the answers in complete sentences. 1.

What did you learn about Robin Williams’s childhood from the reading?

2. What type of character was “Mork”?

3. Which animated role did Robin Williams ad-lib?

4. Why does the reading mention the military?

5. How does the reading end?


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Vocabulary Review A. Choose the Correct Word Complete the sentences with a word from the vocabular y on page 1. 1.

I need to

to my grandmother. I haven’t seen her in months.

2. My uncle plays golf at a golf club. Only members are allowed to play that course. 3. The dancing baby had us in He had some really funny moves.

at the part y.

4. I watch comedies when I’m feeling depressed. Comedies

.

5. He wrote a speech, but he didn’t stick to it. He the whole thing.

B. Choose the Closest Meaning Choose the word(s) with the closest meaning to the underlined words in the following sentences. 1. My band has a gig at the local tavern on Friday. a) friend b) concert c) meeting

3. My brother does a good impersonation of the president. a) job b) imitation c) joke

5. Let’s grab some popcorn and watch a sitcom. a) funny TV show b) award-winning lm c) a stand-up show

2. Listening to music always lifts my spirits. a) depresses me b) cheers me up c) makes me laugh

4. The comedian from Pakistan does the best stand-up routines. a) impersonation b) improv c) live comedy

6. The alcoholic went to a special clinic to get over his substance abuse. a) emotions b) drug user c) alcoholism


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Laugh Yourself Silly

Discuss

Guess the Meaning

1.

Work with a par tner. Look at the following phrases containing the word “laugh.” What do you think they mean? Come up with a denition for each word.

2. Does comedy help lift your spirits when you are feeling down?

• • • •

laugh track laugh your head o laughing stock burst out laughing

• • • •

have the last laugh no laughing matter laughed out of court laugh o

Does it surprise you that such a funny person could suer from severe depression?

3. How important are voice actors in animated lms? 4. Robin Williams once told an interviewer that Americans tend to “mythologize” the dead. What do you think he meant by that? Do you agree?

Listen to your teacher give you the real denitions. Were you correct? Were you close? Share your silly guesses with your classmates.

Improv The word “improv” is short for “improvisation.” When comedians improvise, they don’t follow a script. Work together to create some prompts for improv skits, then improvise. Try to use English only! CREATE PROMPTS

IMPROVISE!

1. Tear a blank piece of paper into three strips. Write one of the following categories on each strip: Character, Actions, or Settings.

1. One student (Student A) will volunteer to go rst. Student A will pick a piece of paper from the Character container. If there are two characters on the slip, the student will choose one partner (Student B). If there are three characters, the student will choose two students (Students B and C) to come up to the front for the improv.

2. On the back of each strip, write a prompt for your classmates. Strip 1: Characters Write two or three characters. Example: a doctor, a nurse, and a clown Strip 2: Actions Write one action word. Example: swimming, skateboarding, watching TV... Strip 3: Settings Write one setting. Example: Hawaii, a school, a football eld... 3. Your teacher will collect the Characters, Actions, and Settings in three separate containers.

2. Student B (or Students B and C) will choose slips from the other two containers (Actions and Settings). 3. The students will then begin acting out a scene based on their three prompts. This is “improv,” which means there is NO time to prepare a skit. 4. The rest of the class will try to gure out who the characters are, what they are doing, and where they are doing it. Classmates can raise their hands to take a guess.


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Answer Key LESSON DESCRIPTION:

LEVEL: Intermediate – High-Intermediate

Students read a short biography about the world-famous

TIME:

1.5 – 2 hours

American comedian, Robin Williams. They learn new vocabulary

TAGS:

comedy, actor, American,

and expressions related to laughter. This lesson includes

comedian, funny, laugh, famous,

comprehension, discussion questions, and an improv activ ity.

suicide, Robin Williams, lm, TV

Pre-Reading

B. CHOOSE THE CLOSEST MEANING

A. WARM-UP QUESTIONS

1. b

Individual responses.

Laugh Yourself Silly

B. VOCABULARY PREVIEW

Share the real meanings and enjoy a laugh at your students’ guesses.

2. b

3. b

4. c

5. a

1. l

3. d

5. h

7. i

9. c

11. a

laugh track: the recorded laughter that plays

2. g

4. b

6. j

8. k

10. f

12. e

automatically after something funny on a TV show

6. c

laugh your head of: to laugh really hard (also to laugh your butt o )

Comprehension

laughing stock: the person who everyone laughs at burst out laughing: to suddenly start laughing

A. TRUE OR FALSE?

have the last laugh: to succeed after 1.

Not mentione d (true)

2.

Not mentione d (true)

3.

False – Robin Williams’ friend Christopher Reeve was

being ridiculed by another person

best-known for his role in the hit lm Superman. 4.

to not be something that people should joke about laughed out of court: to not be taken serious ly by a judge or jury

False – The voice of the genie in Disney’s

laugh of: to not get upset or mad about something

Aladdin was played by Robin Williams. 5.

be no laughing matter: to be a serious matter,

True

Discuss B. ASK AND ANSWER Individual answers. 1.

We learne d that Robin Williams was a shy child who amused himself by making up voices.

2.

Improv

“Mork” was an alien from a planet called “Ork.”

3.

Robin Williams ad-libbed his role as the Genie in Disney’s Aladdin.

Optional. Use this activity i f your students are comfortable

4.

The reading mentions the military because Robin Williams

getting up in front of the class. You will need blank paper

often performed stand-up acts to cheer up American troops.

and three containers.

5.

The reading ends with a joke from Robin Williams about his hopes for life after death.

SPELLING NOTE: This lesson shows the American spelling of the words Practice,

Vocabulary Review

Favorite, and Humor . Most other English-speaking countries spell

these words this way: Practise (when used as a verb; Practice

A. CHOOSE THE CORRECT WORD 1.

pay a visit

3.

in stitches

2.

prestigious

4.

lift my spirits

when used as a noun), Favourite, and Humour. Make it a 5.

ad-libbed

challenge for your students to nd these words in the lesson and see if they know the alternate spellings.


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Robin Williams

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