Speaker
Description
This presentation introduces a manga-based Project-Based Learning approach designed to enhance English writing skills, learner motivation, and autonomy through contributing to the internationalization of the local community. In a semester-long course, non-English majors create informative English manga to promote local businesses. Manga allows practice of colloquial and academic English, sociolinguistic awareness, and ethical compliance in publication. The author demonstrates activities and discusses how creating manga for real-life purposes fosters practical language competence.
References
Kinsui, S. (2003). Virtual Nihongo Yakuwarigo no Nazo [Virtual Japanese: Enigmas of Role Language]. Tokyo: Iwanami Shoten.
Mayer, R. (2009). Multimedia Learning. Cambridge University Press
Special scheduling requests
Basically, any time is OK. However, I need to be at Nagoya Station by Sunday, 6:30 pm to go back home.
Keywords
Project-Based Learning
Manga
EFL writing
Motivation
Abstract
Maintaining learner motivation after entrance exams is a major challenge for college-level EFL instruction in Japan. Although students successfully earn course credits, many fail to internalize what they have learned or to use English beyond exam-oriented contexts. Classroom surveys conducted by the author indicate that a lack of intrinsic motivation negatively affects learning outcomes, particularly in productive skills.
This presentation introduces a manga-based Project-Based Learning (PBL) approach designed to foster learner autonomy and motivation while developing English writing skills. The approach was implemented in a semester-long English course for non-English majors. The project positions English as a tool for authentic communication and social contribution by engaging students in linguistic analysis of manga and in creating English-language manga that introduces local shops and restaurants to foreign residents and visitors.
Manga functions as a motivating and multimodal medium, illustrating principles of multimedia learning discussed by Mayor (2009), and integrates conversational English, formal narrative texts transferable to academic writing, and visual information. Through manga creation, students develop sociolinguistic awareness via “role language” associated with character identity (Kinsui, 2003) and practice both casual and academic English. Group-based tasks require students to integrate grammatical accuracy, information organization, context-appropriate language choice, and ethical considerations such as copyright compliance and responsible image use.
This presentation will demonstrate selected manga-based activities and how they are implemented in a time-limited course for non-English majors. The author will suggest that linking language learning using motivating materials to socially meaningful tasks can enhance learner motivation, autonomy, and practical English competence.
Short summary
This presentation introduces a manga-based Project-Based Learning approach designed to enhance English writing skills, learner motivation, and autonomy through contributing to the internationalization of the local community. In a semester-long course, non-English majors create informative English manga to promote local businesses. Manga allows practice of colloquial and academic English, sociolinguistic awareness, and ethical compliance in publication. The author demonstrates activities and discusses how creating manga for real-life purposes fosters practical language competence.
| Scheduling preference | Special request (enter below) |
|---|---|
| Title | Manga-based PBL: Developing English Competence, Motivation, and Autonomy |