becoming famous.

How was The Monkees formed and became a real band?

The Monkees in 1968 (left to right): Micky Dolenz, Peter Tork, Mike Nesmith & Davy Jones

beginning of the band It began as a TV show.

style of the performance They played jokes on each other as well as played music.

first music and jokes Most of them were based loosely on the band called "The Beatles".

development of the band They became more serious about their work and started to play their own instruments and write their own songs like a real band. They produced their own records and started touring and playing their own music.

changes of the band The band broke up in about 1970, but reunited in the mid-1980s. They produced a new record in 1996, which was a celebration of their time as a real band.

4. Reading and understanding difficult sentences

As you have read the text times, you can surely tell which sentences are difficult to understand. Now put your questions concerning the difficult points to me.

IV. Closing down

Closing down by doing exercises

To end the lesson you are to do the comprehending exercises No. 1, 2, 3 and 4.

Closing down by having a discussion

Do you think the TV organizers were right to call "The Monkees" a band when they did not sing or write their own songs? Why?

For reference: I don't think the TV organizers were right to call "The Monkees" a band when they did not sing or write their own songs because singing and writing its own songs was the basis of a band.

Do you agree that the jokes were more important than the music for this band? Give a reason.

For reference: Yes. I think it is the jokes that really attract more fans.

No. I think the purpose of forming a band is getting people to enjoy the spirit of music. It's more important than playing jokes just to make people laugh.

Closing down by retelling the form of the band The Monkees.

I shall write some key words and expressions on the board. You are to retell the form of the band according to these words.

For reference: begin as a TV show, the TV organizers, look for, put an advertisement in a newspaper, use actors for the other members of the band, pretend to sing