This document provides instructions and materials for the 5th week of English studies. It includes a reading passage recommending the British comedy TV series "Monty Python Flying Circus" from the 1970s. The passage describes the absurd and surreal humor in sketches like the "Italian Lesson" and "Hell's Grannies". It notes that watching a few sketches can help see things from different perspectives and find humor even when feeling down. The document provides links to example sketches and questions about the details. Students are assigned to write their own review of a book, movie or TV series they enjoyed.
4. The Monty Python Flying Circus
Today I would like to recommend you one of the most surreal
comedy series ever made in history: The Monty Python Flying
Circus. This is a sketch comedy series, and you probably won’t
know about this series, because it is a very old one, from the
beginnings of the television age in the early 70s. Opinions about
this series are quite diverse. Some people think that it is too
stupid, disrespectful and insane, without any sense of reality. But
other people think that it is really creative, satiric and original,
and this kind of humour was never made before.
The things I liked most about this comedy series are the absurd
situations. You never guess what it is going to happen in the next
sketch. In fact, you never know when the show finishes, because
after the ending credits there are always two or three more
sketches. Sketches like the Italian lesson, Hell’s grannies, the
Philosophy Soccer match, or the Olympics Games for idiots make
me smile and cheer me up when they are coming into my mind.
All in all, I find this series extremely hilarious and really
astonishing. I love to watch two or three sketches (I don’t need
more) when I feel down or a bit depressed. Then I realise that
everything in reality can be seen from different points of view,
and find the funny side of things. As they said in one of their
most famous movies, The life of Brian, you must “always look on
the bright side of life”.
7. Las abuelitas del infierno
hell’s grannies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=56&v=ZBcb-dvGhEM&feature=emb_logo
Senile
delinquents
bringing
chaos to
the towns
of Britain!!
8. Why does the fifty hundred metres race never start?
_______________________________________
What is happening in the swimming pool?
_______________________________________
Where are all the students coming from in the Italian lesson?
_______________________________________
Why is the German man leaving the classroom?
_______________________________________
Which “three vicious gangs” is the sketch talking about?
_______________________________________
How old is the man that has been kidnapped by babies?
_______________________________________
What is one of the main targets of the Hell’s grannies?
______________________________________
ABOUT THE VIDEOS…
9. When does Angel use to watch the Monty python
sketches?
_______________________________________
Which adjectives was Angel using for this series?
_____________________________________
What is your personal opinion about this comedy
sketch series? (30 words)
_From my personal point of view, I find the series…
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
__________________________________________
ABOUT THE READING...
10. Writing (page 73, student’s book)
Exercise 1.
Take the reading
as a good example for
your writing.
11. Writing a review (p. 73, student’s book)
• Write a review of a book/movie/series which
you enjoyed.
- Don’t forget to write the title, the author, what is the
setting and main characters..
- What did like most about it?
- Has it a good plot or remarkable scenes?
- What do you think of it overall?
You have an example on your book (The Boy in the Striped
Pyjamas) or you can use also my review about the Monty
Phytons.
150-200 words (or more, if you feel inspired)
12. Structure and vocabulary for writing
I would like to recommend… (me gustaría recomendarte)
It is set in… (se ubica en)
The main characters are… (los protagonistas principales son…)
The story centres on…
All in all... En resumen, en conclusión
I would change… yo cambiaría…
Use three or four paragraphs for your composition. You may start
them with…
1. I would like to recommend…
2. It is set…
3. The things I like most…
4. All in all…
13. Enjoy the
week
My friends!!
And this week we have
no cows to say goodbye…
but pantomime
horses!!
Have fun and stay at home.
I miss you…
