Job Discussion Forums

[chryanvii]

I have been searching the internet endlessly looking for clips that are just as good as the Steve Martin/Pink Panther "Hamburger" video, but have cross across absolutely empty.

Some students have asked me to help them find some good clips that might be funny which they can use in the class for acting out. Awhile ago I showed them the "hamburger" pronunciation clip, and then of course the student asked me to help her find more.

I can't seem to find things that are appealing to chinese people...I only know what I like...which is definitely not the same taste.

I have sifted through just about every Simpsons clips on youtube, as well as Family Guy and some Looney Tunes, and have come up on nothing.

Can you believe it? 6 hours of endless searching and NOTHING. I am so frustrated...Frankly speaking, the internet is just too big for me to be able to find things on my own...and you have to be able to filter out all the junk that you find along the way...which appears to be endless in nature.

I was wondering if you might be able to help me pinpoint some funny 2-3 minute clips where the English speaking is not too quick, that have worked with your students. Please only good stuff!

Simpsons clips...anything. Youtube does not seem to have much of this stuff anymore because of all the copyright issues...they only seem to have little useless 4 second -10 second blurbs, which are just no good. But...maybe if you could pinpoint me to the appropriate episodes, I could just find the torrents to download.

They already know about Mr. Bean and all that stuff. I am hoping to give them some new different things.

Thanks a bunch!

[dean_a_jones]

In my experience, the reason it is difficult is that you need to get the feel for the class, the topic, the language and what is 'enjoyable'. What makes sense to you often makes little sense to them. Even for university students, often things that seem way too childish, easy and obvious work really well. Jokes and situations that are not too culturally dependent are better, which is why they can enjoy something like Mr. Bean--it has plenty of cultural reference points, but relies on physical humour. Something like The Simpsons or Family Guy, on the other hand, is making culturally specific jokes all the time.

The problem is that 'clips' are not really easy to find online, as the ones the we love the most tend to be referential--to culture, to earlier episodes etc. Try downloading or buying some of the programmes you liked (as an early teen if teaching at university, for example) and looking for good clips that don't rely so heavily on this kind of referencing. It takes a bit of time, but you might find more useful material. And always keep an eye out for something that might work when watching something yourself.

[Miles Smiles]

Google Youtube> short films.

I used "Validation" for an advanced speaking class of university English majors.

Another good one is "Signs." there's no conversation, but it is a good conversation starter for almost all college/university levels.