Sense of Humor

[DejaVu]

What's the hardest thing about microwaving a puppy?

My c*ck.

(you probably shouldn't use that one in class. or ever.)

I really don't understand this at all.

He enjoys nuking small mammals so much that it causes him to be sexually aroused.

[WorkingTitle3484]

Although I wouldn't tell kids about dying puppies, I have cracked some jokes to a group/class that flew way over their heads.

I think, it's important to consider that these kids are learning English, and they'll (sometimes) listen to every word you say and interpret the literal meaning.  So, as a whole, I feel sarcasm's out...unless in the rare case you have a student who has spent the majority of their life in a different Western country.

The other day, I walked into my MS class, and saw a few kids feverishly writing Chinese characters.  I told them, "No homework because Teacher thinks it's delicious.  I eat homework every day." and it got a couple of chuckles, but also some blank stares.

So overall, sense of humor may be a hit or miss situation, but I'd refrain from jokes I use with my friends.

[#basedcowboyshirt]

The other day, I walked into my MS class, and saw a few kids feverishly writing Chinese characters.  I told them, "No homework because Teacher thinks it's delicious.  I eat homework every day." and it got a couple of chuckles, but also some blank stares.

That one got a blank stare from me. I don't get it.

[taeyang]

The other day, I walked into my MS class, and saw a few kids feverishly writing Chinese characters.  I told them, "No homework because Teacher thinks it's delicious.  I eat homework every day." and it got a couple of chuckles, but also some blank stares.

That one got a blank stare from me. I don't get it.

me too.... what does that mean?

[aemann]

The other day, I walked into my MS class, and saw a few kids feverishly writing Chinese characters.  I told them, "No homework because Teacher thinks it's delicious.  I eat homework every day." and it got a couple of chuckles, but also some blank stares.

That one got a blank stare from me. I don't get it.

me too.... what does that mean?

Don't do your homework in class. The teacher thinks homework is delicious.

[rbirchtree]

I was teaching a Christmas lesson with my co-teacher today and we listen to a Christmas song and I said, "That song is stuck in my head." She looked at me and said, "That sometimes happens to everybody.". Perfect English, perfectly philosophical...she has a great sense of humor.

Another time, I remarked,"I don't know if our tolerance of our students is getting higher, or if our students are getting worst." She said,"Both."

[hilarity ensues]

I think it depends on their age as well… there's not a lot of dark humor in Korea, and sarcasm isn't really going to go over well with younger kids. Some of the older ones get it, though. They mostly just respond to your energy level, I think.

I got some really subdued laughter when I was doing a Hallowe'en lesson and all the markers had dried up… I faked horror and said 'THEY'RE DEAD!!!!'. It wasn't such a big laugh though. 

[madison79]

One thing to remember is that as a teacher you are held to the highest standard.  I would keep your jokes tame and PG for the most part.  Koreans tend to be very easy to trick or gullible. 

I've done some pretty good ones: 

Student:  U have girlfriend?
Me:          No..... fake crying.
Students:  ha ha

Write your name in Red on the board.  Pretend to die since that's what students think.  Come back as a zombie. 

[cassie]

Humor is tough in Korea because of the language barrier and the cultural barrier. For example, I have 1 co-teacher who is becoming just as sarcastic as I am so we joke back and forth everyday. With the other co-teacher, I have to keep it 100% literal as she tends to get offended if I am even sarcastic about the weather (rainy day - "what a beautiful day today!") . It depends on the person, really. You have to gauge their English ability and their personality.

My students love jokes and sarcasm, but it has to be to their level. My students are usually just as sarcastic as I am in class so we have a good time:

Me: Why do you think she is scared?
Student: She saw (insert person's name)'s face! It was terrible!

For jokes, I recommend checking out this thread: http://waygook.org/index.php/topic,6936.msg50606.html#msg50606
They are Konglish jokes, so they're easier for the kids to understand and they absolutely love them.
After me telling them lame jokes all the time, I've had to teach them the word "cheesy." Now they say to me, "Teacher, you are cheesy today." or "Awwww teacher, cheesy!

Today's Konglish joke for low-level kids: What do you call a 5 year old onion?  Answer: O-nyun
Students: "Teacher! OH MY GOD!"  They cracked up. :)

[sophie12290]

The older the students, the easier it is to teach merely because of the ability to be funny.

Adults tend to get jokes more often.  You also don't need to act like an entertainer to get laughs from adults (making respect and humour uncorrelated).

Of course, adults are more likely to get offended if they don't understand the joke...

[sambalina]

I make simple jokes with my middle school kids. I think they actually understand me more than my co! Sometimes, they make jokes themselves... I'm always so happy when they do!
My fave:

We were doing a gap fill on superlatives and comparatives. I'd made a story and they had to decided whether a superlative or comparative went in the gap, and then they could choose any one they wanted to complete the story. It went something like : Jack was the ______ boy at his school. He lived in the ______ house in the area....

Well, my small after school class decided that poor Jake was the 'smelliest' boy at his school, but got stuck on what kind of house he lived in. I'd have been happy with 'biggest', 'smallest', 'nicest', etc. but they were stumped. Trying to prompt them, I said "Come on, what kind of house does smelly Jack live in?". One kid goes "out!". I was like, "What?".... and then I got it. He was cracking up, and then I was too, and then so was everyone else. Smelly Jack lives in an outhouse. Not quite the answer I was looking for, but a good moment all the same :)

[Squire]

I use daft threats of violence with my middle school kids. If someone isn't working or messing about I've sometimes mimed shooting them in the back of the head when they weren't looking. I mostly just clown the kids who aren't working. If they're passing notes I'll take the note and pretend to read it out but make up embarrassing stuff instead of what's actually written. I suppose what I do is a sort of bullying, but that's good to build character