Language skills in university classrooms with traditional tools: comics and jigsaw

Abstract

The comic, often perceived as a form of superficial entertainment for young people, has been used in classrooms, especially in primary education, to facilitate reading comprehension. However, its use declines in higher educational levels. Despite this trend, comics have significant pedagogical potential, particularly in foreign language teaching at the university level.

Thanks to its combination of text and image, the comic allows for effective work on key language learning skills: comprehension and expression, both written and oral. Its visual language aids understanding and promotes creativity in expression. Additionally, comics pair well with active pedagogical techniques such as the jigsaw method, which fosters collaborative work. This combination offers an effective methodology to engage students in the learning process dynamically. An action-research study conducted in university language labs has shown that using comics is highly beneficial and adaptable to various educational contexts, offering a wide range of themes and methodologies that motivate students to actively participate in their linguistic development.