The Oxford English Dictionary defines humor as “that quality of action, speech, or writing which excites amusement; oddity, jocularity, facetiousness, comicality, fun.” Humor has been used as a literary device by many writers. Humor is also a priceless teaching tool in the ESL (English as a Second Language) classroom. According to Sylwester,1 students tend to list humor as one of the essential qualities of a good teacher.
Joseph Gatt (quoted in Chee 2006) beautifully explains humor thus: “It is the ‘breathing-out of the soul.’ When during the lesson the pupils only listen to the teacher, who may be teaching in the same tone, then it is as if they only breathe in and have no opportunity to breathe out. They need humor, which the teacher can find in very different places. Therefore the teacher must bring in humor during his lessons and this humor should result from the vitality and momentum of the lesson.”
Humor is actually a multifaceted subject. In the course of time, cultures develop and alter by different influences. As a result, language changes and people modify their styles of wit. Humor is indebted to social and cultural contexts. It is not always easy to determine which ingredient makes one laugh. Different learners appreciate different types of humor. |
