Teaching vocabulary using comic strips to EFL learners

Abstract

This classroom-based research (CBR) explores vocabulary teaching and the use of visual aids in the form of comic strips by a group of secondary school students in Chile. This mixed method study includes qualitative and quantitative methods: teaching journals, focus groups, and a survey; the last two methods aim to collect students' feelings and opinions towards using comic strips to learn new vocabulary. The results highlight the potential of comic strips to facilitate vocabulary teaching, the importance of image representativeness, and the necessary components in the speech bubble text to simplify learning the target concept. Finally, this study shows evidence of the potential of comic strips to encourage students' willingness to learn the meaning of a new word, increasing students' motivation and interest.