Comic Strips for Language Learning

Comic Strips for Language Learning

           

            Comics in academia—we’ve come a long way in defining what is considered ‘educational.’ With 21^st century learning, students can engage in activities which were once viewed as leisure, but can now be incorporated in academics. Today I made my first digital comic strip using an online tool called Strip Generator. There are several other tools to create comic strips, dialogues and stories, such as Dvolver and one I personal like Storybird, however, Strip Generator is an easy start for beginners.

            The comic strip I made is entitled “At the Doctor’s Office.” This semester, I’m not teaching Medical English, but this comic strip could be used to introduce new vocabulary words (by teachers) or show the proper use of new words in context (by students). In this comic strip, the target vocabulary words are: symptoms, temperature, blood pressure, fever, prescription, medication, and follow-up.  

Performance Indicators My Students Could Demonstrate by Creating Their Own Comic Strips:

Performance Indicator- ESL.C.9-12.1.1.7: Students present information clearly in a variety of oral and written forms for different audiences and purposes related to all academic content areas.

Performance Indicator-ESL.C.9-12.1.1.12: Students convey information and ideas through spoken and written language, using conventions and features of American English appropriate to audience and purpose.

Performance Indicator-ESL.C.9-12.4.1.9: Students use appropriate vocabulary, expressions, language, routines, and interaction styles for various audiences and formal and informal social or school situations, noticing how intention is communicated in different ways through language in various contexts.

How Will I Assess My Students?

            Depending on what the purpose of the assignment is, I would assess my students accordingly. For example, if my writing students were making a comic strip to create a narrative, then I would assess whether they follow the structure of narrative writing that I have taught them, using time-order signals, and whether or not there is unity in the storyline. On the other hand, if my oral skills (or any) students were using this tool to create a comic in order to use their new vocabulary in context, I would assess whether or not each vocabulary term is used accurately and if the dialogues are meaningful.

The Bottom Line

For a quick, simple, and easy storyboard project, I’d say Strip Generator is the tool to use. However, for more elaborated projects, Storybird is a better tool.