The Language of Laughter

Educator: Stephanie Factor, ENL/ELA Teacher

Cultural Partner: Patty Posthauer, Certified Laughter Yoga Leader and Assistant Professor of Communication Studies 

School: Bellport High School 

Grades: 11-12

District: South Country Central School District

District NYSED link: https://data.nysed.gov/profile.php?instid=800000037464

Summary‍

This project incorporated Laughter Yoga for English as a New Language (ENL) high school juniors and seniors at Bellport H.S.  Because Laughter Yoga relies on physical action rather than language-heavy jokes or puns, it is highly accessible for students with developed or developing English proficiency. Through our laughter sessions, students were able to reduce academic stress while building social connections.

Rationale: This group is a mix of students.  Some who were born in the United States and grew up speaking one language at home (mostly Spanish) and one language at school which makes it a struggle for them to be able to write deeply and with strong details and also to read and comprehend complex texts. This is why they are still considered English Language Learners. The rest of the students were born in another country and have moved to the United States in middle school or high school. They have accents, but still struggle a bit with all language modalities (speaking, listening, writing and reading), however since they have worked their way up to the advanced level, they are strong students who are hardworking and determined to succeed.   Both groups of students are lovely. They are motivated, friendly and open to learning in different ways.

What learning goals/standards did this meet?

Arts: 

Anchor Standard 10 - Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art.

CCCR: 

Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

CR-S: 

Welcoming and Affirming Environment - Make an effort to build strong relationships across groups, talking to and getting to know a variety of peers and their perspectives.

Engaging in Professional Learning & Support - Challenge yourself to learn about people, cultures, languages, orientations, abilities, and socioeconomic backgrounds different from your own.

Outcomes

Students’ learning has expanded as a result of this project because now they…

KNOW… Laughter releases the feel-good hormones and reduces stress

UNDERSTAND… Intentional physical actions (the laughter) can shift their mental state and lessen everyday worries for a while. Laughing creates a shared vulnerability and playfulness, which essentially builds trust in a diverse setting.

ARE ABLE TO… express joy through brief laughter breaks. Manage stress, social awkwardness, and high-stress testing periods through shared laughter experiences.