Graphic Novels in English Foreign Language Teaching

Master's Thesis from the year 2017 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 1,5, University of Siegen, language: English, abstract: In this thesis, the author scrutinizes the advantages of using graphic novels in teaching English as a foreign language, and tries to answer the following research question: 'In how far does reading and working with graphic novels improve the linguistic and cultural competence of German students in English as a foreign language (EFL)?'

This thesis consists of two parts: a theoretical part that will acquaint the reader with the notion of visual literacy, some basics on comic style theory, the development of intercultural communicative competence, and second language acquisition. In the second part, the author looks at two research projects dealing with the integration of graphic novels in ELT at a German grammar school.

The first project is conducted in an eighth grade and investigates students' linguistic development through reading graphic novels and both students' and the teacher's appreciation of graphic novels. The second research project is conducted in an eleventh-grade and investigates students' development of intercultural communicative competence and both the students' and teacher's enthusiasm towards using graphic novels in language teaching. At the end, the author will answer the research question in the form of a conclusion.