Read the joke given below. Work in pairs and take turns to tell the joke. Remember: Narrator's voice – your own voice (speak in a matter-of-fact manner); Man's voice – change to louder voice (speak with respect); God's voice – deep voice (speak in a pleasant tone)
This speaking exercise focuses on voice modulation and dramatic reading. Students practice changing their voice to suit different characters in a joke.
When narrating the joke, students should use appropriate voice modulation: the narrator speaks in a neutral, matter-of-fact tone; the man's voice should be louder and respectful when addressing God; God's voice should be deep and pleasant.
The joke's humour comes from the wordplay on 'wait a minute'—God asks the man to wait for a minute, but since a million years equals a minute for God, the man would be waiting for a very long time. The joke itself plays on the concept of time being different for God, creating the humorous twist.
Explanation
This speaking exercise focuses on voice modulation and dramatic reading. Students practice changing their voice to suit different characters in a joke. The joke itself plays on the concept of time being different for God—when God says 'Wait a minute,' it means millions of years for humans, creating the humorous twist.
Solution Steps
This is a speaking exercise focusing on voice modulation and dramatic reading
The narrator should speak in a neutral, matter-of-fact tone
The man's voice should be louder and respectful when addressing God
God's voice should be deep and pleasant
The humor comes from wordplay about time being different for God—when God says 'Wait a minute,' it means millions of years for humans