Humor in Second-Language Learning
There is a popular perception that learning a language is somewhat tedious for human beings. It could be easier for artificial intelligences, such as Data in Star Trek, which are typically portrayed in science fiction as having superior cognitive skills, but no sense of humor. However, the use of humor can, among other effects, significantly improve second-language learning for students.
In general, humor is likely to motivate the student to study with more fun (and as a result to learn more efficiently). Moreover, because humor frequently rests on cultural concepts such as social environment, taboos, stereotypes and so on, studying humor can lead to a deeper understanding of the target language. Finally, practice in the humorous forms of the target culture might allow a student to actively use humor in the same way a native speaker would, which increases the chances of genuine communication.