It is not easy for you to become entertaining and interesting using humor in a foreign language. The only people who can crack jokes properly are the native speakers. You find that people who learn foreign languages become excellent with time but may not enjoy comedy in that language. A good example is an American who learnt Japanese but could not laugh with the natives when watching a popular comedy. The comedian said, ‘‘Do you understand? You do not understand!’’ all the natives laughed and the American could not see any humor in that. It was the way the comedian asked that made Japanese people laugh. This shows that mastering a foreign language is possible but getting to understand the jokes and humor may take too long and most people do not get to that level.

In an American office in New York, there was young Japanese who was new in the country. She met with an employee who was keen in knowing foreigners. He took their photographs and asked their names. This is how he met a young employee from Japan who said her name was Trish but he found it funny and asked if she meant Trash. The foreigner did not find any relation between the two names and could not understand any humor in the word trash. It was until later when the young man told her the trash meant garbage and she understood it.

Using wit and humor, you can impress foreigners and make them remember something you said. A girl named Sue Crucy went for a trip in Japan. It was her first time to visit the country; she took time to memorize greetings in Japanese. In her greetings she said her name was Sue Crucy but they could call her Sue Crazy. This made many people laugh and they remembered her name correctly. They enjoyed her company and she became very popular within the short time that she stayed in Japan. Her wit was amazing and made her unforgettable.

Jokes comic remarks change even amongst people who speak the same language. You find that people of different generation can not share jokes comfortably. A mother who is over eighty years would never understand the jokes of her young son. But she can joke and laugh with other people who are of the same age with her. A young person will not find their jokes funny and these shows that jokes and humor are part of culture. This makes it hard for foreigners to understand and enjoy comedy and humor in a new language.