During my first 7 months of teaching I noticed that my students often spent their free time online looking at comics. It was not uncommon for me, if I came into my classroom during break time, to find a laughing group surrounding one of the computers.
I am always looking for new ways to motivate my students in English conversation class. I have recently started dedicating a short amount of class time to teaching them slang. I have covered the terms cool and sweet, as well as the phrases crazy about and freaking out.
After mid-term exams the students were tired and in need of time to relax. I designed an assignment which would allow them to creatively practice using these words and phrases: In groups of 3 Design a comic strip using the four slang vocabulary words you learned this semester. Be creative.
I turned on my new favourite grooveshark.com playlist, thanks Allieren, and put them to work.
My students didn't shy away from any of the big issues. They managed to
- discuss the marginalization of transgender individuals
- address the political tensions between Japan and Korea
- highlight rejection, unfaithfulness, and suicide
- create awareness about the dangers of vampires
- comment on the popular Korean hit Gangnam Style.
For your viewing pleasure, some of my favourite comic strips:
She-Man
Dokdo is Korea's Island
The Younger Woman
Rejection and Suicide
Beware of Vampires
Oppa Gangnam Style
And, last -- but not least-- a cartoon that I thought was very interesting... appropriately titled:
Crazy Boys
