Lecturers’ Perceptions of the benefits of Using Humour in Classroom

Abstract

Of all topics concerning classroom instruction, the use of humour has received the least attention. While some lecturers believe that using humour creates a fun and lively classroom, others may experience different situations which hamper them from using it. Hence, this paper aims to look at the lecturers’ perception of the benefits of using humour as a teaching strategy and the relationship between socio-psychological and educational benefits which students gain from humour. This study was carried out in a Malaysian public university which regards English as a medium of instruction. 60 respondents participated in this study. The findings showed lecturers considered humour as socio-psychologically and educationally beneficial for students and there was a correlation between socio-psychological and educational benefits of using humour in the classroom.