This paper describes how comic books are used as instructional materials in an intensive English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) course and discusses the rationale for using them. The students in the course have low-intermediate English language skills with limited discourse and interactive competence. Comic books are used because they are authentic,…

Teachers of academic English cannot teach content directly, prepare students for all academic tasks, eradicate error, or teach the full range of academic vocabulary. However, they can teach task and genre awareness, encourage use of all skills and higher-order thinking, require exploitation of resources, and encourage self-evaluation. (11…