Using Humour in the Classroom to Create Positive Teaching-Learning Environment

The primary objective of the present paper is to discuss and analyse the use of humour in today‟s classrooms. This paper also attempts to gain a more comprehensive understanding of how humour can be employed in teaching-learning process thus contributing to learning. We all know that teaching is a very important and serious work, but teachers do not have to be serious to be effective teachers. In simple words, they are not supposed to be humourless. Humour, like beauty, is in the eye / ears of the beholder. It is funny if our students feel/perceive/ so. Alfred E. Smith rightly said that “If you can make people laugh, you can make them think, and make them like and believe you” It is humour that can develop a good rapport between teachers and students, which is also one of the important characteristics of good teachers. Students not only learn a great deal from humorous teachers, but they also enjoy the process of learning. Humour in the classroom is especially helpful in the present environment of cut throat competition, where both the students and the teachers are under pressure and stress. Apart from this, some other unprecedented challenges for learners and teachers are also to be taken care of. Keeping all these challenges in mind, it would be beneficial for everyone, if humour is a part of the teaching-learning process. Present author believes that use of humour would bring a sense of pleasure and create a common, positive emotional experience that the students would share with each other and the teacher. A teaching-learning environment would be created where there is acceptance, unconditional positive regards, teachers are receptive and learners are active. Humour in various forms like healthy jokes, funny cartoons, funny stories, funny videos, funny pictures, funny stories, or funny experiences related to topic would bring positive results in the creation of conducive and positive teaching-learning environment.