ERIC Number: EJ808018
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2004
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1300-5340
EISSN: N/A
Humor: What Can It Do for Tertiary Students?
Celik, Mehmet
Hacettepe University Journal of Education, v27 p59-66 2004
Given the important role of the affective variables in the process of learning, this paper examines ways of overcoming negative effects (i.e. anxiety, boredom) of the contextual factors. Exemplifying the uses of humor through context-specific, purpose-driven jokes, it maintains that humor can be utilized to produce a resourceful, encouraging and creative lesson at upper-intermediate and advanced levels at tertiary institutions. Among other benefits noted are smiling, laughter, non-threatening atmosphere, and self-confidence. Attempts of creating a compassionate environment in the classroom find their roots in Humanistic Teaching, Affective Filter hypothesis and Suggestopedia. Using the self-reported views of tertiary students, gathered through a questionnaire, the study reveals the attitudes of learners towards humor, discusses the benefits of humor, and seeks significant differences between and among learners in terms of sex and year level. The paper concludes that humor forms a vital component in lesson planning. (Contains 3 tables.)
Descriptors: Humor, Learning Processes, Suggestopedia, English (Second Language), College Students, Student Motivation, Teaching Methods, Postsecondary Education, Classroom Environment, Humanistic Education, Affective Behavior, Questionnaires, Gender Differences, Age Differences, Anxiety, Preservice Teacher Education, Student Teacher Attitudes, Language Teachers, Foreign Countries
Hacettepe University. Faculty of Education, Beytepe, Ankara 06800, Turkey. Tel: +90-312-2978583; Fax: +90-312-2992083; e-mail: efdergi@hacettepe.edu.tr; Web site: http://www.efdergi.hacettepe.edu.tr
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Turkey
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A