英语论文范例-The Application of Humor in Senior English Teac
英语论文范例-The Application of Humor in Senior English Teaching
In the precious part, we have analyzed the function of humor in senior English teaching. It can increase motivation, reduce anxiety and create harmonious relationship between teachers and students, but how to apply humor to senior English teaching? In this part, the author explains specifically the application of humor in senior English teaching from the perspective of teaching material, teaching method and classroom language.
2.1 Choosing Humorous Teaching Materials
After we understand humor and its function in English class, we should incorporate humor into our lessons. As we know, teaching material is the basic element of teaching and the carrier of specific knowledge, it is the object of study. Therefore, the choosing of teaching materials affects a lot the effect of teaching.
Humorous materials related to the textbook are an indispensable part of our lessons. Humor helps to gain students’ attention and keep their interest in the material presented. Humorous material can add variety to the class, provide a change of pace, and reduce the tension that many learners feel during the learning process. Also, many researchers claim that humor facilitates learning through its impact on attention and memory. Studies show that participants who were exposed to a series of lectures containing course-specific humor demonstrated increased retention of the same material with the infusion of humor. Furthermore, it is physically impossible to laugh and snore at the same time. Take one case for example, when we talk about the importance of learning a second language in class, the following examples can be adopted:
There was a cat, glaring like a tiger eyeing its prey, outside the hole of the mice. The mice were too scared to slip out. One day, on hearing the barking of dog, a mouse, out of curiosity, rushed out to see what was going on. Instantly, that cat caught the mouse. Unwillingly, to submit to its view, the mouse questioned, “How could it be you when I heard the dog barking”, caressing the mouse in its paws, the cat replied softly, “Dude, how can you survive nowadays without acquiring two languages.” (Net 1.)
After hearing this humorous story, the students burst into laugher and the discussion of the importance of second language learning was heated due to the participation of many students who are elated by the humor.
2.1.1 Using Jokes to Provoke Interest in the Topic
Humor can be used as a pre-reading activity to warm up a class in the topic under discussion. Take Senior English for China Book 6.Unit 9 A Red Light for Scofflaws which is about minor crimes in the United States for example. Nowadays there is an amazing variety of scofflaws. Infractions include double-parking, running red lights, drunk driving, speeding, and freeway violence. To prepare students for this topic the teacher can use two different jokes: “why were you speeding?” asked the traffic cop. “Well, officer,” came the reply, “my brakes are bad and I wanted to get home before I had an accident”.( Wang＆Wang 2006)
The motorist provides a funny and paradoxical excuse for his excessive speed. It is ridiculous that he was so aware of the potential for an accident, at the same time, he was so unaware of how dangerous it is to drive a car whose brakes are not in proper order. By the using of jokes, the students will remember clearly the survey information that on many interstate highways, 83% of the drivers exceed the federal speed limit.
A father was driving home with his young son. Suddenly the boy asked, “What is the meaning of the word ‘drunk’, Dad?” His father replied, “Look, there are two policemen standing over there. If I look at them and I see four policemen, then I am drunk.” The boy said, “But, Dad, there is only one policeman there!” ( Wang＆Wang 2006)
The father saw two policemen where only one existed. The father is drunk by his own definition. However, he seems to be unaware that he is, in fact, drunk. This increases our concern for the safety of his son and the would-be victims of the father’s drunken driving. The father’s irresponsible behavior in the joke help to explain why drunk driving in America kills over 17,000 people annually and injuries over 250,000.
There are a vast number of Chinese students who believe the United States is a paradise in which everything is perfect. These jokes, though short and simple, enable the students to adapt a more balanced viewpoint toward the American culture, which in return helps the students to understand language points involving cultural issues. English humor can play an important role in helping comprehension and understanding when the normal explanation and description fails or is incomplete.
2.1.2 Choosing Humorous Topic for Discussion
When the teachers explain to the students the concept of gender association in English. They can introduce the joke “Gender-based language”.