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Learning English Through Comics

Comics are easy to read and certainly one of the most entertaining reading materials there is. It is just like watching a show but in print. This is why it is a favourite for many, especially for kids. Anyhow, you learn grammar, enlarge vocabulary and then can write a flawless essay which will help to get high mark at kindergarten, school, college. Who knows maybe in future some will become a professional writer and create new fantastic comics. Now, it won’t come to a shock that comics has been used countless of times as an effective form of teaching. It can be used to teach a whole range of subjects and topics. And, of course, comics can be used to learn English.

Comic stories are a good way to deliver messages. This is because pictures with words are incredibly appealing. This keeps most readers full attention on the material. And the way pages are planned out to build anticipation keeps people flipping through.

The use of drawings helps the readers to easily understand the idea and the story. It helps craft the image in the minds of the readers. And with that, it helps the readers to learn something faster. It also aids in retaining the idea in their minds. This is why it is so effective.

Comics in English are a sure way to aid learners of the language. Besides the fact that the pictures will help in reading comprehension, it will surely keep readers entertained. This is a good way to start, especially for kids. Those wanting to learn or improve their English should give comics a try. The following are a couple of comics to learn English.

For advanced English learners, Maus is a good read. This is a historical graphic novel. The story is about one of the most sensitive topics in history, the Holocaust. The events in the novel are true to life. It showed how a victim’s life was during and after that awfully trying time. Another way is to watch movie to improve learning of the same story. For sure you will remember it better and find out something new. It’s recommend to write a review on the movie after watching.

The author, Art Spiegelman, creatively used mice to depict the victims and cats as the Nazis in his book.The story centres on his father’s experience and how it changed all of their lives. Readers can learn the difference of the flow of family conversations from a friend’s or a stranger’s. And since this is written as a comic, it will be an easy story to follow.

For intermediate English learners, there is the comic Peanuts. This is a well-known and iconic comic that went on for almost 50 years. The story is about a driven young boy, Charlie Brown, and his friends. This is also the origin of the cartoon icon, Snoopy. It deals with various family-friendly topics. It is great for simple and basic reading practices.

One more good read for intermediate English learners is Shen Comix. This webcomic is humorous and motivational. It carries different topics about life. The author gives his readers the feeling of being included.

Shen sparks conversations with his followers and readers. This comic has an active community that are very responsive. Learners can immerse themselves with the said community and get some practice in using what they have learned. It is a good experience to have.

Another well-known and humorous comic is Garfield. It is one of the American icons.It is one of the best comedy comic books. It centres the lives of the lazy cat, Garfield, his owner, Jon, And the dog, Odie. The comic follows their funny everyday adventures.

The comic strips can be found in numerous newspaper publications. Many have called it a syndicated comic because of it. That made it very famous. They are written casually along with informal English. The audience can read simple and basic conversations.

Calvin and Hobbes is another comedy. Started in the 1980s, it talks about the everyday adventures of a boy named Calvin and his imaginary friend, Hobbes. The English language learners can read about casual vocabulary. Along with the everyday American culture.

The comedy and fantasy comic, Bone: Out from Boneville, is a great read for beginners and intermediate English learners alike. This is about the “Bone” cousins’ adventures after being lost in a forest. Readers can find a unique story. It is very easy to understand.

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid is one of the best reads for beginners. This is a series of comic stories. Many schools use this for basic reading practices. It is about the life of a boy named Greg Heffley who always gets bullied. This is a comic that is almost a book since there are lots of text as opposed to the normal comic.

Lastly, there is the Spider-Man comics. Spider-Man is a well-known superhero. This comic is for advanced readers. This is an action story. It follows the adventures of Peter Parker who lives a double life as the famous young superhero.

This comic story is a science fiction. This is why it uses some technical jargons. Readers can observe the vocabulary used in schools across the United States. People can read Spider-Man comics online for free.

These comic stories and books are great for people wanting to learn the language. Readers can have the chance to see how a conversation pans out. They can learn the different vocabulary used in the comics. And they are usually the everyday words they can easily use.

Learning English through cartoons is a great way to teach children. This is why a short comic story with pictures will definitely capture the attention of young minds. It is almost the same. We can come into the conclusion that comic books are not just for entertainment. They can be used for learning many things, especially the English language.

About the author

Tom Smith

Please note that articles by this author may be in collaboration with other companies.