This week I explored 4 Surprising Ways Comics and Graphic Novels Can Benefit English Language Learners. The connections to the ESL 509 course content were incredible. ELLs face a myriad of challenges when developing their new language skills. It can be tricky enough trying to learn vocabulary and grammar. It becomes quite complicated when you add in cultural context, expression, and figurative language. Language learners have a difficult time understanding literacy concepts such as metaphors, idioms, emphasis, inflection, and inferences. The visual support of comics and graphic novels helps students develop their reading skills through fun and interesting ways. This effective learning tool provides incredible visual information that helps increase comprehension.
One example used in the article is the graphic novel, Maus. I read this for one of my undergrad course on genocide. It is an amazing piece of literature and is formatted in such a way to help the reader understand the tragedy of the Holocaust. I have read many books on the Holocaust as a history major; however, no book has ever moved me so much and helped me truly comprehend the devastation. The visual nature of the book makes it more accessible and brings the reader to a different level than plain text does. Therefore, I can completely understand how comics and graphic novels can help ELLs get to a new realm of learning.
Four Ways
1. Explains figurative language
· Can help decode idioms, metaphors, and other figures of speech
2. Explores complex, age-appropriate interests
· Plotlines and characters can help teach complex concepts
3. Demonstrates punctuation and emphasis
· Punctuation and bolded text can help readers figure out how the dialogue should be read
4. Denotes unfamiliar cultural norms
· Facial expressions, gestures, and body language can help the reader make inferences about the characters interactions
· Connect to their own lives and interactions
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