The origin of comics, a medium used to express ideas via images and pictures, can be traced back to the cave period when humans communicated ideas and thoughts using paintings and pictures. In spite of the many famous comics such as Asterix, Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, and Tintin, and the Indian comics like Amar Chitra Katha, Akbar and Birbal, Tenali Raman, Nagaraj, Chacha Choudhuri, and so on, which were read and enjoyed by many, it was a taboo for students to even read them, let alone use them, in classes. It was only towards the end of the twentieth century that comics gained acceptance within the academic circle as an authentic material that could be used to teach students, as they exposed them to real-life situations, the social and political scenario of the time, and the language that people use in their daily conversations. This paper discusses how comics, as an ELT resource, can be a great asset. They can help instill reading skills in students as they are not heavy reading and are fun to read. Visuals along with dialogue can be used to improve learners’ vocabulary, creativity, and innovation. |
