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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 funny expressions related to laughter.

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

3. What is your favorite comedy TV show or 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 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-off 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 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 comedy, a funny TV show about a set group of characters

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Robin Williams Famous People

Reading 1. R  obin Williams was an American comedian who starred in sitcoms, films, 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. R  obin 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 different voices. While taking a drama class in high school, Robin Williams learned that 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. O  ne of the first comedic roles Robin Williams played was “Mork from Ork” in the sitcom Mork & Mindy (1978–1982). This was a spin-off 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. R  obin Williams also had a successful film career. He starred in several award-winning films, 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 films. 5. R  obin 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 director 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 okay. He also performed stand-up routines for military troops. 6. D  espite the joy and laughter Robin Williams brought to his friends and fans, he suffered 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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Robin Williams Famous People

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 film 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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Robin Williams Famous People

Vocabulary Review A. Choose the Correct Word Complete the sentences with a word from the vocabulary on page 1. 1. I need to

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

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

at the party.

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

.

5. H  e 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. M  y 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 film c) a stand-up show

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

4. T  he 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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Robin Williams Famous People

Laugh Yourself Silly

Discuss

Guess the Meaning

1. D  oes it surprise you that such a funny person could suffer from severe depression?

Work with a partner. Look at the following phrases containing the word “laugh.” What do you think they mean? Come up with a definition for each word. • • • •

laugh track laugh your head off laughing stock burst out laughing

• • • •

have the last laugh no laughing matter laughed out of court laugh off

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

2. D  oes comedy help lift your spirits when you are feeling down? 3. How important are voice actors in animated films? 4. R  obin Williams once told an interviewer that Americans tend to “mythologize” the dead. What do you think he meant by that? Do you agree?

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

1. O  ne student (Student A) will volunteer to go first. 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. O  n 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 field... 3. Y  our teacher will collect the Characters, Actions, and Settings in three separate containers.

2. S  tudent B (or Students B and C) will choose slips from the other two containers (Actions and Settings). 3. T  he 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. T  he rest of the class will try to figure 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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Robin Williams Famous People

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: c omedy, actor, American,

and expressions related to laughter. This lesson includes

comedian, funny, laugh, famous,

comprehension, discussion questions, and an improv activity.

suicide, Robin Williams, film, 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 laugh your head off: to laugh really hard (also to laugh your butt off)

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 mentioned (true)

2.

Not mentioned (true)

3.

False – Robin Williams’ friend Christopher Reeve was

being ridiculed by another person

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

False – T he voice of the genie in Disney’s True

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

Discuss

B. ASK AND ANSWER 1.

be no laughing matter: to be a serious matter,

laugh off: to not get upset or mad about something

Aladdin was played by Robin Williams. 5.

Individual answers.

We learned that Robin Williams was a shy

Improv

child who amused himself by making up voices. 2. “Mork” was an alien from a planet called “Ork.”

Optional. Use this activity if your students are comfortable

3.

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

4.

T he 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.

6. c

T he 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 find these words in the lesson and see if they know the alternate spellings.

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

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