The Effects of Reading Puny and Clever Jokes on The Multiple Intelligence of TEFL Students

Abstract

This study examines the impact of reading 54 Puny and Clever Jokes on the multiple intelligences of 35 freshman EFL (English as a Foreign Language) students at Shiraz University. Employing a quantitative approach with a survey research design, the study utilized Gardner's (1983) multiple intelligences questionnaire consisting of 80 Likert-scale items. The data analysis utilized SPSS version 29 and included descriptive statistics, independent sample T-tests, as well as the Kruskal-Wallis test. Results revealed that prior to intervention, interpersonal intelligence was the most prominent among students, followed by bodily-kinesthetic and intrapersonal intelligences, while natural and musical intelligences were the least. Post-intervention, significant increases were observed in interpersonal, verbal-linguistic, and intrapersonal intelligence. The study highlights humor's potential as a pedagogical tool for enhancing certain types of intelligence in EFL contexts. However, findings are constrained by the small, homogeneous sample size, suggesting the need for future studies with more diverse participants.