Note: This list is an adapted version of Gina Macdonald and Elizabeth Sarkodie-Mensah's advice on how librarians should use humor when working with ESL students (p. 429).

1. Use jokes that have broad human appeal
ESL students will not understand jokes that rely on local values or knowledge. Examples of more broad types of humor include exaggeration, jokes that build on universal qualities of human nature, repetition, jokes based on incongruities, or jokes that focus on intonation or body language.

Example: Emily Ware, a writing tutor that works with ESL students, recalls working with a student who was writing about a bullfight. He wrote that the "bull was wearing laces" when what he meant to say was that the bull was wearing lace. Mrs. Ware pointed out that "laces" is a word that refers to shoelaces. She told him that when she read that sentence, she imagined a huge bull covered with shoelaces (personal interview 12/10/97). This image is humorous because it is incongruous with what one would expect. Because laughing at incongruities is common in all cultures, this type of humor would be appreciated by almost anyone.

2. Avoid puns

ESL students may not have enough knowledge of the language to understand puns or plays on words.

Example: An ESL student presents you with her paper about the President Clinton's approach to preventing global warming. If you try to joke by saying "Well, you've certainly chosen a hot topic," she may not understand the humor in your statement. She may not realize that "hot" can also mean "controversial" in American slang.

3.Use jokes that relate to ESL students' experiences

ESL students are likely to understand and appreciate humor that relates to language learning or the shock of moving to a new culture.

Example: Mrs. Ware tells humorous stories about her experiences with "culture shock" to students who are frustrated by the difficulties of moving to a new culture. After she moved from Indiana to Tennessee, she had difficulties understanding the Tennessee accent and dialect. She likes to tell the story of how she didn't realize that a receptionist at a doctor's office was calling out her name. She could not even recognize her own name when it was pronounced by someone with a Tennessee accent. (personal interview 12/10/97).

4. Use analogies

The graphic nature of analogies makes them easy for ESL students to understand.

Example: When trying to explain the concept of using thesis statements, Mrs. Ware uses the analogy that a paper without a thesis statement is like a car without a steering wheel.

These tips may be altered slightly and applied to tutorials when tutors work with anyone from a background different from their own.

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