Íris lilja ragnarsdóttir 2011 visualizing shakespeare engaging teenage second language learners in...

Íris Lilja Ragnarsdóttir 2011

Visualizing Shakespeare

Engaging Teenage Second Language Learners in the Bard


Overview

• A few disclaimers!• What is manga?• What is Manga Shakespeare?• A brief course description• Why use Manga Shakespeare?

(Theoretical framework)


A few disclaimers!

• I am not a Shakespeare expert• I am not a manga expert• I am not an expert on adaptation

• I am, however, interested in knowing more about all of the above


What is manga?

• Origin of the word dates back to 18th century

• Today, denotes Japanese style comics


What is manga?

• What are comics?• According to expert Scott McCloud comics

tend to be mistaken for… “crude, poorly-drawn, semiliterate,

cheap, disposable kiddie fare”

• Let’s look at his definition…


What is Manga?

• Manga’s popularity steadily increasing• In Japan, began to thrive after WWII• Outside Japan, began to blossom in 1980s• Today, integral part of mainstream

popular culture, with Europe following Japan as the largest consumer


What is Manga Shakespeare?

• Published by…• Began in 2007• UK Young Publisher of the Year 2008• 14 adaptations of plays already• Additional educational resources• Supported by British Council• http://www.mangashakespeare

.com/index.html

http://www.mangashakespeare.com/index.html



http://www.selfmadehero.com/


What is Manga Shakespeare?

• Testimonials…“Watch out! Self Made Hero’s Manga Shakespeare books are seriously good. Students are reading them for pleasure!”

Anne Walker, School Librarian, Leeds

“It’s great to see Shakespeare become cool again, by taking these timeless dramas and placing them in fresh, relevant contexts that will excite and challenge modern readers. Welcome to the 21st century, Will.”

Gavin Lees, English Network Leader, Livingstone


Course Description

• Student-aimed:

マンガシェイクスピル！ MANGA SHAKESPEARE!

Want to study SHAKESPEARE the visual and fun way? Now you can! In this course we will cover the background to Shakespeare’s life and times and take a close look at three of his major PLAYS… in MANGA format! You will have an opportunity to enrich your English VOCABULARY and to add a few JAPANESE words to your lexicon. You will also get to nurture your CREATIVE side through fun project work. Join now!


Course Description

• Not a substitute!• Prerequisite usually

English 503, instead suggesting 303 or 403

• Reaching a wider group of students


Course Description

• Shakespeare’s life and times• Three plays, most likely Romeo and

Juliet,Macbeth and ?• Educational resources from Self Made Hero• Create additional material, such as group

projects, exercises and assignments• Other topics include: manga, Japan and

Japanese, visual literacy, multiculturalism etc.


Course Description

• Assessment divided into term and final grade• Term grade = 10% class participation, 15%

reading tests, 15% individual assignment, 10% group project

• Final grade = 25% final essay, 25% oral exam• Fair and fun evaluation!


Why Use Manga Shakespeare?

• Popularity not reason enough!• Here are a few reasons…



VISUAL AIDSZone of Proximal Development / ScaffoldingTools for negotiating meaningHelpful to students with learning disabilitiesOffer opportunities to explore complex ideas

NB! Danger of too much reliance



VISUAL LITERACYThe ability to construct meaning from

visual imagesExploration, critique and reflectionDeeper understanding of aesthetics /

awareness of manipulationNeed for active teaching



CRITICAL AND CREATIVE THINKINGEmphasis on critical thinking skillsLack of creativity is a problem“When reasoning fails, Imagination saves

you! When Intuition fails, reason saves you” (Crane, 1983)

Bloom’s Taxonomy

Dr. Craig Roland’s classification of critical and creative thinking

NB! This is only a partial list



GARDNER’S MULTIPLE INTELLEGENCESPeople have multiple intellegences that are

independent of on another and each has its strengths and constraints

Emphasis on linguistic and logical-mathematical intellegence

Manga likely to appeal most to the spatially intellegent (bodily-kinesthetic, musical etc.)



GENDER ASPECTSComics usually associated with boys, but

manga appeals to both gendersMasculine and feminine domains in

educational systemGender bias in the manga themselves?



MULTICULTURALISM“Multiculturalism is the appreciation,

acceptance or promotion of multiple cultures” (wikipedia.org)

For example Japanese culture and language


Summary

• Manga can be a legitimate educational resource

• Manga engages young readers• Visual aids can benefit language learners• Need for teaching visual literacy• Need for teaching not only critical but also

creative thinking


Summary

• Appeals to multiple intellegences• Appeals to both genders• Creates opportunities to explore

multiculturalism

• Any more ideas?

Íris lilja ragnarsdóttir 2011 visualizing shakespeare engaging teenage second language learners in...

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