Beginner
Task 1: Share Your Thoughts
After watching the video, tell your partner or a small group:
● What is one funny part of the video?
● Does your family have a funny story about the holidays or food?
● Do you like Christmas trees? Why or why not?
Task 2: Describe the Comedian
Imagine you are telling a friend about the comedian in the video. Describe him using simple words and phrases.
● What does he talk about? (e.g., family, food, holidays)
● What is his personality like? (e.g., funny, energetic)
● What does he like to eat?
Task 3: Role-Play a Simple Conversation
With a partner, role-play a short conversation. One person asks for a favor, and the other person says no in a polite way, giving a simple reason.
● Person A: “Can we go to the park now?”
● Person B: “I can’t go now. I am tired.”
Intermediate
Task 1: Discuss the Comedian’s Story
In a small group, discuss the comedian’s story about getting a Christmas tree.
● Why did his wife want to go the day after Thanksgiving?
● Why did he not want to go? What excuse did he use?
● What does this story tell you about his relationship with his wife?
Task 2: Compare and Contrast
The comedian talks about his family’s Thanksgiving meal. Compare and contrast the food he describes.
● What is the difference between the Persian and Indian food and the turkey?
● Why does he say the turkey is “bad”?
● What foods from your culture do you think are better than turkey?
Task 3: Tell a Personal Anecdote
Think about a funny family story you have related to holidays, food, or a trip. Tell this story to a partner or a small group. Use descriptive language to make your story interesting.
Advanced
Task 1: Analyze the Humor
In a small group, analyze the different types of humor the comedian uses in the video. Provide specific examples.
● How does he use exaggeration? (e.g., “4,000 years of cuisine”)
● How does he use self-deprecation? (e.g., “how bad of a Muslim I am”)
● How does he use cultural stereotypes and subvert them? (e.g., the Swedish Indian named Jeffrey)
Task 2: Interpret and Explain
The comedian says, “I will use my religion to my advantage when I need to.” Discuss with a partner what he means by this.
● How does he use his religion to his advantage in the story?
● Is he truly “not religious” or is he just joking? What is the deeper point he’s making about religion and culture?
● Why do you think he calls his grandmother “very wise, like Yoda”?
Task 3: Debate a Statement
The comedian’s opening line is about how parents today spend more time with their kids. Have a debate in your group on the following topic:
● Topic: “Are modern parents more tired than previous generations because they spend more time with their children?”
● One side argues “Yes,” citing the comedian’s point and other potential reasons.
● The other side argues “No,” providing a counter-argument.
Beginner
Task 1: Listen and Identify
Listen to the video and identify the three types of food the comedian mentions at his Thanksgiving dinner. Write down your answers.
Task 2: Answer Simple Questions
Listen to the video and answer the following questions with a short phrase or single word.
- Where is the comedian’s wife from?
- What religion is the comedian?
- What does the comedian’s grandmother say will help him win at blackjack?
Task 3: Follow the Comedian’s Story
Listen to the video and put the events of the Christmas tree story in the correct order.
- The comedian’s wife wants a Christmas tree.
- The comedian says he’s hungover and has a lot of rice in his belly.
- They go to a place called Yucaipa.
- The comedian uses his religion as an excuse.
Intermediate
Task 1: Listen for Main Ideas
Listen to the video and summarize the main idea of each of the following sections.
- Section 1 (0:00 – 1:00): The comedian’s main point about why parents are so tired.
- Section 2 (1:00 – 2:00): The comedian’s grandmother’s unusual religious advice.
- Section 3 (2:00 – 3:00): The story of his family’s Thanksgiving meal.
Task 2: Listen for Specific Details
Listen to the video and answer the questions with complete sentences.
- What is the name of the man from Sweden?
- Why does the comedian say he isn’t very religious?
- Why does his wife want to get the Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving?
- What happens every year when they start decorating the Christmas tree?
Task 3: Sentence Completion
Listen to the video and complete the sentences with the missing information.
- My parents didn’t __________________ with us.
- My wife is from the south, she’s from __________________.
- I have Persian food, Indian food. I have __________________ and __________________.
- The only way I could be a worse Muslim if I was putting __________________ on the tree.
Advanced
Task 1: Listen for Implicit Information
Listen to the video and answer the following questions. You will need to make inferences based on what you hear.
- What does the comedian’s grandmother’s advice about gambling imply about her understanding of religion?
- How does the comedian’s joke about the Christmas tree and his religion reflect a common cultural tension?
- Why does the comedian bring up the “Mexicans and Cubans” in the audience after talking about Thanksgiving food? What is the purpose of this interaction?
Task 2: Note-Taking and Analysis
Listen to the video and take notes on the comedian’s use of exaggeration and self-deprecation. Afterward, write a short paragraph explaining how these two comedic techniques work together to create humor. Provide specific examples from the video.
Task 3: Analyze Tone and Purpose
Listen to the video and answer the following questions.
- What is the comedian’s tone throughout the performance? How does his tone change when he is impersonating his wife or grandmother?
- What is the main purpose of this comedy routine? Is it just to make people laugh, or is he also making a point about family, culture, and religion?
- How does the comedian use pauses, changes in vocal tone, and audience interaction to enhance his storytelling? Provide at least two examples.
Beginner
Task 1: Matching
Read the sentences about the comedian. Match the first part of the sentence with the correct second part.
- The comedian’s wife is from
- He was born in
- His grandmother was
- His wife wanted to get a
- They have Persian and Indian
Sentences: a. Christmas tree. b. food at Thanksgiving. c. India. d. Iran. e. superstitious.
Task 2: True or False
Read the following sentences. Write “T” if the sentence is true or “F” if it is false, based on the video.
- The comedian’s parents spent a lot of time with him.
- The comedian is Christian.
- The comedian’s grandmother told him gambling is a sin if you lose.
- The place where they get the Christmas tree is a two-hour drive.
- Every year, the comedian’s wife decorates the tree alone.
Task 3: Find the Food
Read the transcript and find all the foods and drinks mentioned by the comedian. List them below.
Intermediate
Task 1: Read for Specific Details
Read the video and answer the following questions with details from the text.
- What is the name of the “Swedish Indian” the comedian talks to?
- What does the comedian’s grandmother say you should do before playing blackjack?
- What is the comedian’s main complaint about turkey?
- What does the comedian say he drinks in honor of his “Mexican brothers and sisters”?
- What happens every year that causes the wife to stop decorating the Christmas tree?
Task 2: Identify and Explain Humor
Read the transcript and find two examples of humor. For each example, explain what makes it funny.
- Example 1:
- Explanation:
- Example 2:
- Explanation:
Task 3: Story Order
Read the transcript and put the events of the Christmas tree story in the correct chronological order.
- The wife says the kids and car are ready to go.
- The comedian uses his religion as an excuse.
- The wife suggests a two-hour drive to Yucaipa.
- The comedian says he has a lot of rice in his belly.
Advanced
Task 1: Analyze Character and Relationships
Read the video and write a short analysis of the relationship between the comedian and his wife. How does he use humor to portray their differences in culture and personality? Use specific examples from the text to support your analysis.
Task 2: Critical Reading and Interpretation
Read the video and write a short response to the following questions.
- How does the comedian use the joke about his grandmother to comment on the nature of religion versus superstition?
- What is the intended effect of the comedian’s jokes about his own religious devotion? What deeper point is he making about cultural identity?
- Why does the comedian say that turkey is “the only food they stuff other food inside”? What is the comedic purpose of this hyperbole?
Task 3: Vocabulary in Context
Read the video and explain the meaning of the following words as they are used in the text.
- recovering (Paragraph 1)
- superstitious (Paragraph 2)
- cuisine (Paragraph 3)
- hung over (Paragraph 4)
- ornaments (Paragraph 5)
Beginner
Task 1: Fill in the Blanks
Read the following sentences about the comedian’s life and fill in the blanks using words from the video.
- The comedian’s wife is from __________________.
- The comedian was born in __________________.
- His grandmother was __________________, not religious.
- His wife wanted to get a __________________ after Thanksgiving.
- He says turkey is bad because it is __________________.
Task 2: Write a Short Description
Write a short paragraph (2-3 sentences) about what the comedian’s Thanksgiving dinner is like. Mention the different foods and what he thinks about the turkey.
Task 3: Write a Short Letter
Imagine you are the comedian’s wife. Write a short letter (2-3 sentences) to a friend. Describe the comedian’s excuse for not wanting to get the Christmas tree.
Intermediate
Task 1: Summarize a Section
Choose one of the two main stories from the video and write a short paragraph (4-5 sentences) summarizing it. Use your own words as much as possible.
- Option A: The story of the comedian’s grandmother and her religious advice.
- Option B: The story of the Christmas tree and the trip to Yucaipa.
Task 2: Write a Journal Entry
Imagine you are the comedian’s grandmother. Write a journal entry explaining your philosophy on religion and superstition. Explain why you told your grandson that gambling is only a sin if you lose.
Task 3: Write a Product Review
Write a product review for a “Dry Meat” brand. Use the comedian’s complaints about turkey to make a funny, critical review. Suggest what other products or additions (like gravy or cranberry sauce) are needed.
Advanced
Task 1: Write a Persuasive Essay
Write a short essay (2-3 paragraphs) analyzing the comedian’s point of view on modern parenting. Argue whether his claim that parents today are more tired because they spend more time with their children is valid or not. Use specific examples from the video to support your argument.
Task 2: Write a Short Story
Write a short story from the perspective of the glass Christmas ornament. Describe the yearly tradition, the moment you are broken, and how you feel about your role in the comedian’s solo decorating ritual.
Task 3: Analyze and Respond
The comedian’s routine explores the tension between cultural identity and religious identity. Write an analysis of how he uses humor to navigate these two aspects of his life. Then, respond to his joke about “how bad of a Muslim I am” by discussing whether a person can be “bad” at their religion if they still hold on to some of its cultural traditions.
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