Hibiscus Teach · Comedy · Lesson 2
Learn English with South Park: Lesson 2
Big plans. Tiny effort. Two very questionable decisions.
Race through Casa Bonita with Cartman, then discover his unusual idea of working from home. Watch two short scenes, check what happened and try a little speaking of your own.
Created by Denis M., British English teacher.
Start speaking · 20 seconds
You have one minute in your favourite restaurant. What do you do first? Speak aloud for 20 seconds. With a tutor or partner, ask: ‘Why that first?’
Your goal: Explain a ridiculous decision and suggest what someone should do instead.
How to use this lesson
Watch each clip, then try its activities.
Press play. Each player is set to the selected section. Replay as often as you like, then open its quiz and speaking activity.
South Park contains rude language and adult humour. These activities use selected short sections; the full source videos include additional material.
Casa Bonita in a hurry
How much fun can you fit into one minute?
Cartman has tricked his friend Butters so he can visit Casa Bonita, a restaurant with shows and attractions. His friends have just discovered the trick. The police are coming, but Cartman still wants his perfect day out.
First watch: does Cartman regret his decision? You can follow much of the joke through the pictures.
Casa Bonita, season 7, episode 11 · AACMBirdzilla23. On YouTube, stop at 1:47.
Try the Casa Bonita in a hurry quiz · 3 questions
1–2 minGrammar in a minuteB2 · A retrospective criticism of one’s own judgement
“I should have known better”
Clip 1, quotation excerpt
Should have known criticises earlier judgement. Should know would instead assess the appropriate state now; must have known would infer actual earlier knowledge.
Keep talking · Casa Bonita in a hurry
Choose one prompt and speak for 30–45 seconds. Alone, record a voice note or say it twice with one extra detail.
- You have one minute in a theme park. Describe your ridiculous plan in order.
- You are Cartman’s friend. Tell him why his plan is a terrible idea.
- Invent something enjoyable that definitely would not be worth a week of punishment.
First, I’d… Then, I’d… / It isn’t worth it because… / He should… instead.
Need an idea? See one example
First, I’d run to the smallest ride. Then I’d buy an enormous ice cream. I’d probably spend the whole minute choosing a flavour and miss everything else.
Tutor or partner: ask ‘What would you leave out if you only had 30 seconds?’ Alone, answer that as your second attempt.
Ice cream from home?
A very unusual way to help your colleagues.
Butters and Cartman work at an ice cream shop. It is busy, but Cartman has not returned from his break. Butters is about to discover his colleague’s new plan.
First watch: what makes Cartman’s plan impossible for this job? Replay the short conversation to catch the warning.
DikinBaus Hot Dogs, season 26, episode 5 · Yours Daily. On YouTube, stop at 0:29.
Try the Ice cream from home? quiz · 3 questions
1–2 minGrammar in a minuteB2 · Or warning of a consequence if the instruction is ignored
“you need to come here right now or we're both going to get fired”
Clip 2, quotation excerpt
Or introduces the warned consequence of not coming now. If you don’t come can make the implicit condition explicit; it must not turn coming into the cause of dismissal.
Keep talking · Ice cream from home?
Choose one prompt and speak for 30–45 seconds. Alone, play both roles or record a short voice message.
- You are Butters. Leave Cartman a polite but firm message asking him to return.
- Invent an absurd work-from-home plan for a hairdresser, waiter or bus driver.
- Cartman has a lazy plan for Tuesday. Invent a ridiculous name and rule for Wednesday.
Could you please…? / We need you to… because… / If you don’t…, we might…
Need an idea? See one example
Hi, Eric. Could you please come back now? I’m serving everyone on my own. We need you here because customers are waiting. Your sofa cannot serve ice cream.
Tutor or partner: reply with one silly excuse. Alone, invent the excuse yourself, then respond firmly.
Finish with confidence
Quick mastery check · 3 questions
One last thing to say · 30 seconds
Which decision was more ridiculous? Explain why and suggest a better choice. Use worth it, should or could you please.
Alone, give one reason and one suggestion. With a tutor, ask: ‘Would your advice work on Cartman?’
1–2 minGrammar masteryB2 · An earlier report of a future intention
“Eric says he's going to work from home.”
Clip 2, quotation excerpt
Had said can place a report before a later past point. Was going to keeps the intended work future relative to that earlier report; it does not establish that the work happened.