Provides examples of humorous errors in written exams made by university students of French and Canadian culture. (AM)

Discusses the use of humor in the language classroom, and provides some sample activities in Italian. (AM)

This issue of the Yazigi Institute's bimonthly newsletter is devoted to a discussion of the importance of humor in the teaching and learning of a foreign language. It begins with several quotations from well-known linguists, humorists and teachers about the need for humor in the language class. Several examples of humor in the textbooks of the…

Discusses the use of puns, riddles and jokes in building vocabulary, beginning reading, and fostering discussion. Examples are presented and further source materials are suggested. (EJS)

Discusses American journalism--specifically the syndicated columns. To show their usefulness for English teaching, Art Buchwald's "Unqualifications" is described and the text interpreted. It is suggested that for humorous aspects and language deviations be stressed; for Grades 11-13 irony, American technology and education. (Text is in…

This (London) group teaches English by presenting short humorous skits, in which a language problem is unobtrusively presented. Afterwards the audience repeats the pattern(s), which a member of the group pronounces for them. At the end of each unit, a rousing song is sung, with all joining in the refrain. (IFS/WGA)

Cartoons can be a stimulating and motivational force in the language classroom and, used effectively, can become an indispensible tool in the acquisition of language and culture. (Author/DB)

Humor can be a very effective tool to make students remember what they should know about the traditions and beliefs, manners and institutions of a culture. The teacher himself should outwardly be the embodiment of the culture which is taught. For example, when a teacher of French walks into the classroom the first day he should introduce himself…

Suggests the use of jokes in the English as a second language class to promote oral fluency, awareness of sociolinguistic rules, and understanding of certain values in American culture. (CFM)

This mini-text is a set of classroom ready Latin readings, a selection of Martial's epigrams complete with Latin-English vocabularies and reading notes. The readings concern the Roman holiday Saturnalia, at which time the Romans exchanged gifts and favors. The first epigram, Xenia (gifts), gives the reason for the following epigrams, which are…

This mini-text is a series of Martial's epigrams on the slave. The epigrams deal with: slave torture, tenderness to a slave, the slave as a curiosity, flogging, the slave as property, a selling point, the slave as a person, sex and the slave, and slaves as gifts. The epigrams come with complete Latin-English vocabularies and reading notes. The…

Taking the epigrams of Martial and some of the reading notes from the Loeb Classical Library, this document presents classroom-ready readings on foods, including a menu excerpted from Martial and a series of two- to four-line epigrams on a variety of foods:peppers, beans, flour, beets, lettuce, turnips, leeks, cheese, sausage, eggs, bread,…