Search

The present paper deals with the perception of Iranian EFL teachers and learners in using humor in language classrooms. To this end, 10 English classes with a population of 70 female and male students and 5 male and female teachers in English language institutes in Esfahan were observed during spring and summer 2019. Using an ethnographic approach, the data were collected through observation and interview. The results showed that both teachers and learners had a positive attitude towards the use of L2 humor in the classroom. Language learners reasoned that having a sense of humor is one of the important qualities a language teacher should possess. The teachers and language learners acknowledged the positive effects of humor such as reducing the distance between teachers and learners, lowering learners' anxiety, boosting learners' retention of the lesson, as well as increasing their concentration and motivation. Moreover, language learners showed a preference for the use L2 humor, course-related humor, and L1 norm-oriented types of humor in their classroom.

Background: Helicobacter pylori has been classified as the class I carcinogenic agent by world health organization. Colonization of the human stomach with H. pylori is a risk factor for gastroduodenal diseases. The secreted vacA toxin is an important H. pylori virulence factor that causes multiple alterations in gastric epithelial cells and T cells. Several families of vacA alleles have been described, and H. pylori strains containing certain vacA types (s1 and m1) are associated with an increased risk of gastric disease, compared to strains containing other vacA types (s2 and m2). We examined the association between H. pylori vacA s alleles and gastroduodenal diseases in Iran. Methods: A total of 149 H. pylori strains were obtained from patients with gastritis, peptic ulcer, and gastric cancer referring to endoscopy units of several cities in Iran. Biopsy culture and DNA extraction were performed and the frequency of vacA s alleles was investigated by using PCR amplification. Linear regression and binary logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between vacA (vacuolating cytotoxin A) s alleles and gastroduodenal diseases. Results: There was no significant association between the frequency of vacA s alleles and gastroduodenal diseases (gastritis or peptic ulcer disease and gastric adenocarcinoma (P> 0.05)). Conclusion: It is proposed that the H. pylori vacA s1 genotype could not be considered as an important determinant of gastroduodenal diseases in Iranian population and probably if s1 allele is associated with other virulence alleles of this gene, it will cause diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]