Humour in the classroom:
Humour in the classroom:

forms and functions among Iranian EFL teachers

Summary/Abstract: The present study was conducted with the purpose of investigating the use of humour by EFLteachers in a private language institute in the context of Iran. In so doing, the study made anattempt to identify the forms of humour EFL teachers opt to use more frequently in relation tothe students’ teaching in the classroom through observing their classroom teachings. Moreover,an interview was held with the EFL teachers to seek their perceptions with regard to thefunctions humorous language can serve in the process of language teaching and learning andtheir suggestions as to the implementation of humour in the classroom. The findings of the studydemonstrate that Iranian EFL teachers show the inclination to use jokes, physical humour andriddles more frequently than other forms of humour. Moreover, the results of the interviewreveal that EFL teachers assign some more commonly functions to the humorous language inthe classroom such as creating a cheerful and friendly atmosphere, acting as a relaxing,comforting, and tension reducing device, increasing student interest and enjoyment, increasinglearners’ concentration and motivation, and finally improving the quality of learning. Finally,the suggestions for appropriate use of humour and implications of the study are discussed in theresult and conclusion sections, respectively.

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