TA Teaching Tips

Using Comics to Teach Nonverbal Communication
Christopher T. Keaveney, Dept. of Asian and Near Eastern Languages and Literatures

Even at the introductory level of a less-commonly taught language such as Japanese, comic strips (manga) provide an effective means to teach the dynamics of nonverbal communication. I have used comics in both first- and second-level Japanese language classes to introduce this pedagogically challenging but important component of communication. First, I introduce the gestures themselves along with any new vocabulary items necessary to accompany the nonverbal cues. In the following class, I distribute individual frames derived from comics containing commonly encountered gestures and nonverbal messages. Using Japanese appropriate to the students' level of ability, I ask them to identify what is being communicated by each picture. (In larger classes this activity could be performed in pairs.) As a follow-up activity in the next class, I show students a short cartoon on video and ask them to identify as many of the nonverbal messages as they can find. In my experience, this type of activity is not only enjoyable for students but effectively introduces them to the important area of culturally-specific nonverbal communication skills.