Lighten up your classroom's mood

[richardo]

Does anyone ever tell jokes in the classroom? Whilst my jokes are one sided and tend to be upsetting to women or certain ethnic groups, I still think they would be good in the classroom.

You not only need to teach English, but also western humor and our ways of thinking. Here are some of my favorite jokes:

1. How many men does it take to open a beer?
   None. It should be opened when she brings it.
2. Why is a Laundromat a really bad place to pickup a woman?
   Because a woman who can't even afford a washingi machine will probably never be able to support you.
3. Why do women have smaller feet than men?
   It's one of these "evolutionary things" that allows them to stand closer to the kitchen sink.
4. How do you know when a woman is about to say something smart?
   When she starts a sentence with "A man once told me ... "
5. How do you fix a woman's watch?
   You don't. There is a clock on the oven.
6. Why do men fart more than women?
   Because women can't shut up long enough to build up the required pressure.
7. If your dog is barking at the back door and your wife is yelling at the front door, who do you let in first?
   The dog, of course. He'll shut up once you let him in.
8. What's worse than a Male Chauvinist Pig?
   A woman who won't do what she's told.
9. I married a Miss Right. I just didn't know her first name was Always.
10. Scientist have discovered a food that diminishes a woman's sex drive by 90%. It's called a Wedding Cake.
11. Why do men die before their wives?
    They want to.
12. Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think they are sexy.
13. In the beginning, God created the earth and rested. Then God created Man and rested. Then God created Woman. Since then, neither God nor Man has rested.

[LeahSimms]

I can see why women find these jokes offensive. But after living with my grandfather, I've gotten used to these types of jokes. But that doesn't mean I like them. Maybe you should find some different types of humor- especially if it offends some of the people you're teaching.

[Tutor]

We had very funny instance when such joke targetted on opposite sex just took a wild turn.

But frankly the experience is many times you find students telling jokes about non-english speakers trying to learn english (words and pronunciation) and how fun is created out of that.

[reviewer]

If I were a student in the classroom, these jokes would not make me feel "lightened up" at all! I am not easily offended, but they all target women (none target men) and they are rather sexist.

[richardo]

They would offend you? Really? They are only jokes and no harm is intended. But you may be right. Maybe it's a good idea to throw in a few jokes taking the mickey out of men too.

I've used the above jokes in some of my classes. Students do laugh, but now I wonder is it because of politeness only.