Comic Strips for Language
Learning
Comics
in academia—we’ve come a long way in defining what is considered ‘educational.’
With 21st 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.
