1. COMICS
INTRODUCTION
Comics is a visual medium used to express ideas through images, often
combined with text or visual information. Comics frequently take the form of
juxtaposed sequences of panels of images. Often textual devices such as speech
balloons, captions and sound effects (“Onomatopoeia”) indicate d ialogue, narration
or other information. Elements such as size and arrangement of panels control
narrative pacing. Cartooning and similar forms of illustration are the most common
image – making means in comics; fumetti is a form which uses photographic
images. Common forms of comics include comics strips, editorial and gag cartoons
and comic books. Since the late 20th century, bound volumes such as graphic
novels, comics albums have become increasingly common and online web comics
have proliferated.
Importance of Comics in Education
Comics is an asset in education because of its motivating power. Comics can
serve as an intermediate step to difficult discipline and concepts. Comics can lead
students towards the discipline of reading, especially those who don’t enjoy
reading or have a fear of failure. Comic books are found useful in remedial reading
instruction. Many teachers discovered comic strips to be particularly useful in
special classes or for slow learning pupils in regular classes.
In addition to reading and writing, comics based project can develop
drawing, computer and research skills. Many of the skills used in comics creation
can be applied to film making, illustration and web designing. By incorporating
popular culture into the curriculum, teachers can bridge the separation many
students feel between their lives in and out of school. Teachers can introduce
popular culture into their classrooms easily and effectively through comics.

2. Comics in English Language Education
Living in a strange country, surrounded by sounds of incomprehensible
language is nerve-wracking for anyone. In order to adjust, one is required to
master the language of the new environment, which can be a daunting task. One
wish for both students and teachers of English as a second language learning, a less
threatening and frightening. To achieve that, comic books or graphic novels can be
a practical addition to your English second language lesson plans, for everything
from basic instruction to vocabulary development to cultural knowledge.
Comics and cartoons have been used due to their interesting visual images,
which can attract students to learn. Basically comics and cartoons can be used to
enable students to have the 21st century skills because they embrace variety of
learning activities. They not only add humor to topic but also illustrate the idea in a
memorable way. They are interactive and interesting for the students. Comics
encourage students observational, analytical and higher thinking.
CONCLUSION
Comics can be effective learning media for the students in gaining the 21st
century skills. Comics can lead the students to enjoy their learning and freely
explore their creative and analytical thinking. They could relate the materials learnt
and the phenomena in their surroundings. As a result, the students can be more
active an responsive. In other words, there have been some improvements in the
students communicative and thinking skills. Thus, it is highly advisable to use
comics as one of the alternative media in English teaching to develop the 21st
century learners.

3. REFERENCE
1. Barker.L.Interactive Teaching Techniques (2009) (online)
2. Giunta.J, using cartoons as a Teaching Tool for online learning (online)
(2010)