You Know You’re Fluent When You Can Use humour in English, But How to Get There?

I tend to use humour to lighten the mood either in certain tense situations or to make people feel more at ease. I’m good at it ( I think … that’s what my mum always told me 😅)

However when I have this natural instinct to do it in another language I don’t always get the desired effect. 😞

It’s fine in French now because I’ve lived in France a long time, know the culture and taboos very well, and my kids are all French so … lots of practice.

But when I’m in Brazil it’s different. How many times have I joked about something only to have, at best , a polite smile or, at worst, blank eyes or silence as a result.

It’s a bit embarrassing for everyone to be honest 😳

The truth is I still have this specific British humour (not Benny Hill …. It’s more subtle than that 🙄) and it’s lost in translation.

Anyway, I’m working on it and still keep trying ! Why ?

💡Well, there’s a moment in language learning that nobody really talks about.

It’s not when you pass an exam.
It’s not when you can hold a long conversation.
It’s not even when you stop translating in your head.

It’s when you make a joke in English…
and people actually laugh.🤣

Not politely.
Not because they’re being kind.

But because you were genuinely funny.

That’s when something has truly shifted.

Why Humour Is the Real Test of Fluency 💯

Humour is demanding.

To be funny in another language, you need much more than vocabulary and grammar. You need:

• Automatic access to words

• Precise timing

• Control of tone

• Cultural awareness

• Confidence

• Emotional nuance

✅ You can speak accurately without these things.

❌ But you can’t be funny without them.

Humour requires speed and subtlety at the same time. It requires you to react without overthinking. It requires you to play with language rather than simply produce it.

And that only happens when the language feels natural.

Why It Feels So Hard 😓

In your native language, humour is effortless.

You interrupt playfully.
You exaggerate.
You tease.
You use irony without thinking.

You don’t analyse your sentence structure before speaking. You just react.

In a second language, however, your brain is still busy checking grammar, searching for vocabulary, monitoring pronunciation, as well as managing social pressure 🤯

By the time you think of something witty, the conversation has already moved on.

So you stay serious.

You contribute ideas.
You explain clearly.
You participate.

But something playful is missing.

And for many people, humour is part of their identity. When it disappears, they don’t just feel less fluent, they feel less themselves.🥸

The Psychological Shift 🧠

Being able to joke in English marks an important transition.

You’re no longer simply constructing sentences.

You’re manipulating the language.

You’re comfortable enough to take risks.
You’re quick enough to react.
You’re confident enough to accept imperfection.

That’s a different level of fluency.

It’s not about sounding native. It’s about being relaxed enough in the language to play

How to Get There ✨

You don’t become funny in English by trying to “be funny.”

You build towards it gradually.

1️⃣Strengthen Your Reaction Speed⏱️

Start with short, natural reactions that native speakers use all the time:

• “Oh brilliant.”

• “Well that’s awkward.”

• “Nice one.”

• “You’re joking.”

• “Oh, don’t start.”

These small, playful phrases create rhythm and spontaneity. They help you respond without overthinking.

Humour often begins with quick reactions, not complex jokes.

2️⃣Observe Cultural Patterns

Humour is deeply cultural.

Some cultures use understatement.
Some prefer exaggeration.
Some rely on irony.
Some use playful teasing.

If you’re learning English, notice how people joke:

• When do they use sarcasm?

• How do they signal irony?

• What topics are safe?

• How do they laugh at themselves?

Humour isn’t just linguistic. It’s social.

The more you understand the patterns, the more confident you’ll feel experimenting.

3️⃣ Start with Light Playfulness

You don’t need clever wordplay immediately.

Begin with:

• Gentle exaggeration

• Mild self-deprecation

• layful tone

• Small ironic comments

For example:

• “Well, that went well.” (when something clearly didn’t 😉)

• “That’s not ideal.”

• “Perfect timing.”

These are subtle, but powerful. And they’re much easier than inventing original jokes.

4️⃣ Accept the Quiet Phase

There is usually a long period where you are competent but not funny.

That doesn’t mean you’re stuck.

Humour is often one of the last elements of language to return.

It comes after:

• Automatic vocabulary

• Stable grammar

• Reduced anxiety

• Faster processing

When those are in place, playfulness becomes possible.

✨A Different Definition of Fluency

Fluency isn’t speaking fast.
It isn’t having perfect pronunciation.
It isn’t passing a test.

Fluency is when you can be yourself.😀

For many people, that moment arrives when they make someone laugh in their second language… and it feels natural.

It’s a small moment.
But it’s powerful.💪

Because that’s when you realise:

You’re not just speaking English anymore.

You ’re living in it.

👉 If you’d like help reaching that stage where English feels natural, expressive and truly yours, I can help.

I’m Liz Aldam, an English teacher with more than twenty years of experience, and I work with learners who want more than correct English. They want confident, real communication.

📲 Click the WhatsApp icon below and contact me 😊