Humor Creates an Optimistic Environment in Learning Process

Dickinson quotes that,

Classrooms which welcomes laughter brings learning to life. (1)

This quote proves that a sense of humor can create a remarkable change in students’ learning process. Learning to use humor as a lens in teaching method can increase confidence in the students’ internal ability to involve themselves in the classroom activity. The optimistic energy that comes from humor enables them to embrace difficulties in understanding with flexibility. Some experimental researches indicate that humor might actually provide effective teaching for the teachers and become expertise in various skills. This can be applied to the students in the learning process too. Hence this paper depicts the teachers’ role in imparting humor through appropriate guidelines and reviews the impact of humor on learning outcomes in the classroom.

The foremost reason for using humor in the classroom is to improve students’ learning practice. The creative development and expression of humor in the classroom deals with "how" to teach, and not "what" to teach. Using humor can have many positive effects in this regard for the following reasons.

1. To create more positive learning environment by breaking down barriers in

   communication between the professor and the students.

2. To retain subject matter, especially if the humor reinforces the class material.

3. To give students a reason to attend the class.

4. To increase comprehension and cognitive retention in the classroom.

5. To improve students’ attitudes towards the subject and the instructor.

Humor in the language classroom can be classified into four major categories like, Textual Examples, Pictorial Examples, Action/Games Examples, and Contests Verbal Examples. The Textual examples are in the form of a jokes and stories which trend the students to enjoy humor books that were easier to read and they are more interested in humor based in characters' actions than language The Pictorial examples are in other words Cartoons and Comics use either on their own or with text helps to create valuable stimulus in the classroom. The Action/ Games examples are in the form of Video, Roleplay and imitation which helps the students to involve with interest. Contests Verbal Examples are Puns, Word games, and the Acronyms.

Tom Davis says that,

The job of the teacher is to get students laughing, and when their mouths are open, to give them something on which to chew. " (2)

Hence the above quote points out that it is the teachers’ responsibility to engage the students with interesting facts by adding humor in the classroom. With this in mind the teacher has to practice the following points:

1. Don't try too hard. This means the teachers should not force the students, remembering that the class is made up of individuals with different tastes.

2. Do what fits the personality. It reveals the fact that the teacher should approach the students according to their level.

3. Don't use private humour. It means that not making fun of any particular group, nationality, etc., if it is used for affective reasons, used carefully, never demeaning or sarcastic.

4. Make humour as in an integral part because it works best as a natural on-going part of classroom learning.

5. Be careful not to over use it. If it is it could loose its value and effect.

This kind of experiments provide by the teachers kindle the laughter or humor which helps to cure illness and provide effective healing among the students. It also relieves pain, reduces stress, and improves the immune system response. It maximizes the Brain power of the students and enhances their creativity which leads to facilitate the communication skills. It is noteworthy that the same approach induced by the teachers supports the students to indentify their own changing process in learning practice.

Activity -1 Riddles

The teachers motivate the students by riddles as follows:

1. What has nothing but a head and a tail?

Ans: Coin

2. What two words contain thousands of letters?

Ans :Post Box

3. What is the longest word in the English language?

Ans :Smiles

4. Why is the letter R absolutely necessary to friendship?

Ans :Fiend

Conclusion:

Thence, Humour can contribute a great deal to the second language classroom. It enables to create an effective or positive environment, and it is a source of enjoyment for the teacher and the students.. Humorous situations allow the students to express themselves without fear of ridicule and criticism. Anxiety and stress is reduced and the students are encouraged to take more risks in using their second language. Thus, Humour, along with encouragement and praise is the useful tool used by the language teachers to make their classrooms more inviting and conducive in learning process.

References:

[1]Dickinson, D., "Humor and the Multiple Intelligence", New Horizons for Learning, Seattle.
[2]A quote by Tom Davis, in Elaine Lundberg & Cheryl Miller Thurston (1997): "If They're Laughing ...", Cottonwood Press, Inc., Retrieved on the World Wide Web: "Guidelines for Using Humor in the Classroom".