Youtube Exercise » English Grammar Homework

B2-C1

You Are Totally FLUENT in English If You Can Understand These

Brian Wiles

91K views 5 months ago

Warm-up Questions

What do you think it means to be “totally fluent” in everyday English?
What kinds of English are usually the hardest to understand: jokes, news, or casual conversation? Why?
When you hear the word “understand,” do you think about vocabulary, pronunciation, or hidden meanings?

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Start With: Word Definition

Order: Alphabetical Random

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You Are Totally FLUENT in English If You Can Understand These

The fluency test + Jokes 1–3 (ruler, ceiling, elevator) (00:00 – 01:56)

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1. What is the “test” in the video?

Repeating 10 tongue twisters
Explaining English grammar rules
Understanding 10 jokes with double meanings

2. In joke #1, why is the king a “great ruler”?

He lived for 12 years
He owned a 12-inch measuring ruler
He ruled a nation wisely and fairly

3. In joke #3, what is the second meaning of “take steps”?

To dance in an elevator
To follow instructions carefully
To walk up the stairs instead of using an elevator

You Are Totally FLUENT in English If You Can Understand These

Jokes 4–6 (ground beef, dam/damn, remarkable) (01:56 – 03:40)

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1. Why is “ground beef” a double meaning in joke #4?

It can mean beef that is ground up, or a legless cow that stays on the ground
It can mean beef from the ground, or beef that is cooked
It can mean a cow that is angry, or a cow that is tired

2. In joke #5, what does “dam” refer to besides the expletive “damn”?

A wall inside a house
A barrier that stops water in a river or lake
A kind of fish

3. In joke #6, how is “remarkable” interpreted for the joke?

As ‘very old-fashioned’
As ‘able to be marked again’ (re + markable)
As ‘hard to erase’

You Are Totally FLUENT in English If You Can Understand These

Jokes 7–10 + wrap-up (clean, stand corrected, Shih Tzu, plateaus) (03:40 – 06:32)

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1. In joke #7, what is the second meaning of “clean”?

Made of soap
Not dirty
No longer addicted (to quit a drug addiction)

2. In joke #8, what does “I stand corrected” usually mean?

I am standing up straight now
I admit I was wrong
I need new shoes

3. In joke #10, what real English saying is the joke based on?

Imitation is the highest form of flattery
Actions speak louder than words
Time is money

You Are Totally FLUENT in English If You Can Understand These

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1. What is a “double meaning” in the context of this video?

A word that is always negative
A sentence with two different interpretations
A grammar mistake that changes meaning

2. Which skill does this joke test mainly measure?

Pronouncing every sound like a native speaker
Understanding puns and figurative language
Spelling long words perfectly

3. Why does the speaker say the jokes will get “trickier”?

Because the wordplay becomes less obvious and more idiomatic
Because the vocabulary becomes more academic
Because the jokes become longer stories

Discussion Questions

Discuss the ideas from this video

You Are Totally FLUENT in English If You Can Understand These

Which joke was easiest for you to understand, and why?
Do jokes and puns translate well into your language? Give an example or explain why not.
In your opinion, is understanding wordplay necessary for being “fluent” in everyday English? Why or why not?
What strategies can help you understand puns (for example: thinking of another meaning, checking collocations, or imagining the literal situation)?