COMIC BOOKS CREATE A LOVE OF READING

With their intense visuals and focus on plot and characters, comic books are often enjoyed more by readers than other forms of literary media. In recent years, comic books have increased their appeal from just a niche market to becoming a force in popular culture.

TEACHING WITH COMICS AND GRAPHIC NOVELS

From the Department of State’s Office of English Language Programs’ American English collection, the “Panels and Perspectives” online teaching resourcte kit includes insights, strategies, and practical applications for making comics in the classroom to improve both language skills and critical thinking abilities. You’ll find lesson plans and activities using – and making – comics that students will enjoy. Click here to find comics related materials for English language learning.

American English: Panels & Perspectives Creating EFL Comics

For Further Reading and Viewing

from Share America:

• There is a new American superhero
• Kaboom! Comic books address hard issues
• Japanese manga comic tells story of Uyghur oppression

TED Talk: Comics Belong in the Classroom
Year: 2016
Duration: 11 minutes
Comic books and graphic novels belong in every teacher’s toolkit says educator Gene Luen Yang.

TED Talk: Changing perceptions by drawing
Year: 2020
Duration: 11 minutes
As a child, Shawn Martinbrough rarely saw people of color depicted positively in the comic books he loved. After landing a job at Marvel Comics, he vowed to change that.

*Post will need to procure this film. The Office of American Spaces does not endorse all movies as they may not be appropriate for all audiences. Coordinators should screen the films ahead of showing them. Here’s a link with more information on showing movies at American Spaces.