Graphic+Novels+and+ELL+students

Jackie Bittle “A” Project

Essential Question: How can teachers use graphic novels to help English Language Learners?

Reflection:

As a class, we discussed graphic novels in our classrooms. We even read //Persepolis// to help us see how graphic novels help with our understanding and interest. The textbook that accompanied this classic was Monnin’s //Teaching Graphic Novels//. Chapter 6 of her textbook deals with suggestions for teaching graphic novels to English Language Learners. As Monnin states, “When we learn another language, we often, if not always, use images to assist us” (123). So why would we not take advantage of this knowledge and teach our students graphic novels to help them understand the context of the story?

Figure 6.1 in her book, Monnin creates a table of stages language learning moves through. To help students in these stages, Monnin has suggested graphic novels that can be used to help students easily develop into new stages and understand the new stages easier with pictures and words. She also outlines activities and resources to use to help students grasp concepts and images related to the text boxes. She also has a breakdown of activities that will be helpful depending on where the student is in their learning. For example, she has activities to help students who are just beginning to learn the English language and she has activities for students who are close to being fluent in the English language. The whole spectrum is vital because our students will vary in their level of learning.

Research:

Graphic novels can help our students in many ways. English Language learners struggle with context of stories because the language can be difficult for them to understand. So how can we use graphic novels to help students who are just starting with the English language?

Mike Smith on a discussion through English Companion.ning.com has a discussion post on “What do people want know about teaching the graphic novel?” On the post are multiple resources and graphic novels to use that help teach English Language Learners. Two harder graphic novels that were suggested were //Blankets// by Craig Thompson and //Incognito// by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. In fact, when I looked up Ed Brubaker’s graphic novel I found he had multiple out that sounded very interesting. I would strongly encourage his books for young adult readers interested in criminal books.

English language learners might have more interest in graphic novels like //Persepolis// and //Maus,// which are two graphic novels about other countries struggling during war. A great resource for teachers other than Katie Monnin’s, //Teaching Graphic Novels//, is //Going Graphic// by Stephen Cary. Graphic novels that would be great to use are //Arrival// by Tan, Jason’s //SHHH//, and Erik Drooker’s //Flood//. //Flood// can have some explicit material so should be read to see if it feels appropriate with your students maturity level. Another teaching resource book is //Boosting Literacy with Graphic Novels// by David Booth and Kathleen Gould Lundy. They provide great activities to use with graphic novels and students struggling with the English language.

Conclusion:

So let’s review our question: how can teachers use graphic novels to help English Language Learners? English Language Learners move at different paces and grasp the English language at different levels. Using graphic novels in the classroom helps to keep students at the same pace. It allows students who struggle with visual perception see pictures. It helps English Language Learners make inferences of text when they can see pictures. It creates a connection of pictures and words. Students are also media happy. They like technology. They spend more time on the computer, watching television, and playing video games than reading a book. The visuals in graphic novels are more likely to keep students interested in reading due to the pictures than the average 300-page novel.

Work Cited and References: Discussions on Englishcompanion.ning.com. *Great reference for any topic. USE IT*

Monnin, Katie. //Teaching Graphic Novels//. Florida: Maupin House Publishing, 2010. Print.

National Council of Teachers of English. Illinois, National Council of Teachers of English, 2011. Online.