Let's learn about...
British humour characteristics
The Queen is in command...
Start
A beginner's guide to British humour
British humor can feel like a whole new language. But fear not, here you have a beginner’s guide to understanding (and using!) it.
1. Laugh at yourself
The key to understanding British humor is knowing not to take yourself too seriously. Our default humor is to highlight our own flaws: “I’m so bad at cooking- I could burn water.” 2. Wait, were they joking? Sarcasm can be hard to spot in a new language and a new culture, and in Britain the usual clues of hyperbole (exaggeration). Sarcasm is used so often in day-to-day life: “I absolutely love it when my train is delayed.” “I really like how loud you play your music.”
+ info
Next
A beginner's guide to British humour
3. Don’t take what we say seriously Brits are famous for being very, very polite, but you can joke with a friend by means of a tongue-in-cheek comment: “How have you never seen Frozen?! What’s wrong with you?!”, “I can’t be friends with someone who doesn’t drink tea!” 4. Brits find humor in almost everything Brits use humor to lighten even the most unfortunate, miserable moments. There are few subjects we don’t joke about. It’s not used to shock and offend but rather because Brits turn to laughter as a form of medicine when life knocks them: “I tripped and fell over in front of everyone but at least I didn’t get dirty!”
Next
A beginner's guide to British humour
Next
Could you tell...
1. How many vowels are there in the four titles?
2. How many vowels in the pink highlighted sentences?
Next
3. please,Answer the following questions:
1. What's the key to understanding British Humour? 2. Can you define the term flaws? 3. Give an example of hyperbole. 4. What's a tongue-in-cheek comment? 5. According to the text, would the Brit be capable of joking at a funeral?
Next
4. EXTRA TASK (win extra points)
Compare the 2 first slides of this presentation: A beginner's guide to British Humour with the following article: Why Americans don't laugh at British jokes? Mention 4 similarities and 4 sentences with further information about BRITISH HUMOUR
Next
article here
HOW BRITISH HUMOUR HAS CHANGED (OR HASN'T) SINCE the 1960s
BRITISH HUMOUR ON
TV
Next
Although there are new varieties of TV shows in the UK, the ones from the 1960s continue being very present in UK houses. Let's see some of the most influencers TV shows:
Dad’s Army (1968-77): unlikely characters all serving for the Home Guard and is seen by today’s standards as rather boring. When it first aired in 1968, however, the BBC were terrified of insulting veterans of the Second World War.
Contrary to those fears, it quickly became a hit with WWII survivors. The complete ineptness of the entire battalion resonated with those who may have also served with the Home Guard.
Monty Python’s Flying Circus (1969-74). The style of humour used in the show was completely new, but managed to gain a large following due to its intellectual and satirical take on the peculiarities of British life. They acted out absurd situations to make something that was unlike anything that was on British television.The Pythons made “Life of Brian" (1979): the film depicts the life of a young Jewish man named Brian, who was born on the same day and literally next door to Jesus Christ and is subsequently mistaken for the Messiah.
Next
The ‘90s brought about a different kind of comedy series, namely Absolutely Fabulous (1992-2012). Ab Fab features Edina Monsoon, a heavy-drinking, drug-abusing Public Relations agent who spends her time failing to lose weight and chasing bizarre fashions in a desperate attempt to stay young and "hip". Edina is joined by magazine fashion director Patsy Stone, whose drug abuse, alcohol consumption and desperate promiscuity far eclipse Edina's. Edina has got a daughter who takes her of such an immature mother. The show boasted five series and a film in 2016.
The theme linking all of these classic British is not taking ourselves too seriously. Dark and sarcastic humour is a hallmark of Britishness, which often doesn’t translate well and may seem downright strange to foreigners. Through 50 years of British telly, not much has changed, but there’s not been a decline in quality, either. You can still watch some of these series in Netflix! Give some of them a try!
Moving to the 2000s: The Office (2001-03) Top Gear (2002) Little Britain (2003-06) Peep Show (2003-15) all focus on laughing about British stereotypes, and shows such as Outnumbered (2007-14) and The Inbetweeners (2008-10) highlight the struggles of family life and teenage awkwardness. At the time, Outnumbered proved to be a classic go-to for substitute teachers who didn’t have any lessons planned.
Next
5. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
1.
Why was Dad's Army so popular when it was released?
Authors
2.
When was "The life of Brian" made?
3.
Did Monty Python use an old British humour style?
4.
What's Edine's job?
"The Office", "Peep Show" & "Little Britain", what do these series have in common?
5.
6.
Have you watched any of these series? Do any of them ring a bell to you?
AUTHORS
Maria Navarro
Elisenda Bargalló- Vlepka's Bubble
Webography
webographY
https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/language/beginners-guide-to-understanding-british-humor/
https://epigram.org.uk/2019/04/10/british-tv-comedy/
https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/magazine/life-around-world/humour-around-world
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zfhpmfr
https://blog.abaenglish.com/humour-in-english-british-or-american/
https://ndsmcobserver.com/2020/02/monty-python-comedy/
Understanding British Humour
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Transcript
Let's learn about...
British humour characteristics
The Queen is in command...
Start
A beginner's guide to British humour
British humor can feel like a whole new language. But fear not, here you have a beginner’s guide to understanding (and using!) it.
1. Laugh at yourself The key to understanding British humor is knowing not to take yourself too seriously. Our default humor is to highlight our own flaws: “I’m so bad at cooking- I could burn water.” 2. Wait, were they joking? Sarcasm can be hard to spot in a new language and a new culture, and in Britain the usual clues of hyperbole (exaggeration). Sarcasm is used so often in day-to-day life: “I absolutely love it when my train is delayed.” “I really like how loud you play your music.”
+ info
Next
A beginner's guide to British humour
3. Don’t take what we say seriously Brits are famous for being very, very polite, but you can joke with a friend by means of a tongue-in-cheek comment: “How have you never seen Frozen?! What’s wrong with you?!”, “I can’t be friends with someone who doesn’t drink tea!” 4. Brits find humor in almost everything Brits use humor to lighten even the most unfortunate, miserable moments. There are few subjects we don’t joke about. It’s not used to shock and offend but rather because Brits turn to laughter as a form of medicine when life knocks them: “I tripped and fell over in front of everyone but at least I didn’t get dirty!”
Next
A beginner's guide to British humour
Next
Could you tell...
1. How many vowels are there in the four titles?
2. How many vowels in the pink highlighted sentences?
Next
3. please,Answer the following questions:
1. What's the key to understanding British Humour? 2. Can you define the term flaws? 3. Give an example of hyperbole. 4. What's a tongue-in-cheek comment? 5. According to the text, would the Brit be capable of joking at a funeral?
Next
4. EXTRA TASK (win extra points)
Compare the 2 first slides of this presentation: A beginner's guide to British Humour with the following article: Why Americans don't laugh at British jokes? Mention 4 similarities and 4 sentences with further information about BRITISH HUMOUR
Next
article here
HOW BRITISH HUMOUR HAS CHANGED (OR HASN'T) SINCE the 1960s
BRITISH HUMOUR ON
TV
Next
Although there are new varieties of TV shows in the UK, the ones from the 1960s continue being very present in UK houses. Let's see some of the most influencers TV shows:
Dad’s Army (1968-77): unlikely characters all serving for the Home Guard and is seen by today’s standards as rather boring. When it first aired in 1968, however, the BBC were terrified of insulting veterans of the Second World War. Contrary to those fears, it quickly became a hit with WWII survivors. The complete ineptness of the entire battalion resonated with those who may have also served with the Home Guard.
Monty Python’s Flying Circus (1969-74). The style of humour used in the show was completely new, but managed to gain a large following due to its intellectual and satirical take on the peculiarities of British life. They acted out absurd situations to make something that was unlike anything that was on British television.The Pythons made “Life of Brian" (1979): the film depicts the life of a young Jewish man named Brian, who was born on the same day and literally next door to Jesus Christ and is subsequently mistaken for the Messiah.
Next
The ‘90s brought about a different kind of comedy series, namely Absolutely Fabulous (1992-2012). Ab Fab features Edina Monsoon, a heavy-drinking, drug-abusing Public Relations agent who spends her time failing to lose weight and chasing bizarre fashions in a desperate attempt to stay young and "hip". Edina is joined by magazine fashion director Patsy Stone, whose drug abuse, alcohol consumption and desperate promiscuity far eclipse Edina's. Edina has got a daughter who takes her of such an immature mother. The show boasted five series and a film in 2016.
The theme linking all of these classic British is not taking ourselves too seriously. Dark and sarcastic humour is a hallmark of Britishness, which often doesn’t translate well and may seem downright strange to foreigners. Through 50 years of British telly, not much has changed, but there’s not been a decline in quality, either. You can still watch some of these series in Netflix! Give some of them a try!
Moving to the 2000s: The Office (2001-03) Top Gear (2002) Little Britain (2003-06) Peep Show (2003-15) all focus on laughing about British stereotypes, and shows such as Outnumbered (2007-14) and The Inbetweeners (2008-10) highlight the struggles of family life and teenage awkwardness. At the time, Outnumbered proved to be a classic go-to for substitute teachers who didn’t have any lessons planned.
Next
5. ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
1.
Why was Dad's Army so popular when it was released?
Authors
2.
When was "The life of Brian" made?
3.
Did Monty Python use an old British humour style?
4.
What's Edine's job?
"The Office", "Peep Show" & "Little Britain", what do these series have in common?
5.
6.
Have you watched any of these series? Do any of them ring a bell to you?
AUTHORS
Maria Navarro
Elisenda Bargalló- Vlepka's Bubble
Webography
webographY
https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/language/beginners-guide-to-understanding-british-humor/
https://epigram.org.uk/2019/04/10/british-tv-comedy/
https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/magazine/life-around-world/humour-around-world
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zfhpmfr
https://blog.abaenglish.com/humour-in-english-british-or-american/
https://ndsmcobserver.com/2020/02/monty-python-comedy/