A great misconception in education is that picture books are exclusively for young children. This is simply not the case and picture books (rich literature) can be incorporated into lessons at any stage of a student’s school life depending on their use. In this blog post, I will explore the merits of using picture books for teaching and learning languages. I have also provided some examples of activities that can be incorporated into language lessons to maximise the effectiveness of picture books.
- Visual Appeal and Contextual Understanding:
Picture books provide visually captivating content that helps learners make connections between images and words. Visual cues aid comprehension and allow learners to grasp the meaning of words and phrases more easily. By incorporating pictures into language lessons, teachers create a rich context that enhances understanding and makes vocabulary acquisition more memorable.
Activity: Choose a picture book with vivid illustrations and ask students to describe or list what they see in the target language. Encourage them to use adjectives, prepositions, and verbs to develop their descriptive language skills. This can be tailored to any language level – single words, short phrases or more detailed sentences! The possibilities are vast.
- Cultural Insights and Contextualised Learning:
Picture books offer an excellent opportunity to introduce learners to different cultures, customs, and traditions. By exploring diverse themes and settings depicted in picture books, students gain a deeper understanding of the language within its cultural context. This promotes cultural sensitivity and provides a holistic language learning experience.
Activity: Select picture books that showcase festivals, daily life, or traditional stories. Ask students to discuss the cultural elements portrayed in the book and compare them to their own cultural experiences. This activity encourages cultural exchange and promotes intercultural understanding.
- Vocabulary Expansion and Language Patterns:
Picture books expose learners to a wide range of vocabulary, expressions, and sentence patterns. Through repetitive and engaging phrases, learners can take on new vocabulary in a meaningful and enjoyable way. The visual support provided by picture books enhances memory retention and facilitates the acquisition of new words and phrases.
Activity: Choose a picture book with a repetitive storyline and ask students to identify recurring phrases or expressions. Create vocabulary flashcards or a word wall with the words and encourage students to use them in their own sentences. This activity reinforces vocabulary learning and encourages creativity in language use.
- Reading and Listening Comprehension:
Picture books can improve both reading and listening comprehension skills. Learners can follow along with the text while listening to the story, reinforcing their understanding of spoken language. The combination of text and illustrations helps students decipher the meaning of unfamiliar words and phrases, promoting independent reading and listening practice.
Activity: Play an audio recording of a picture book while displaying the text and illustrations on a screen. Encourage students to read along and follow the story. Afterward, engage them in a discussion about the book’s content, characters, and themes to assess their comprehension.
Incorporating picture books into languages classrooms provides numerous benefits for both teachers and learners. These engaging resources not only enhance vocabulary acquisition but also encourage cultural understanding, improve reading and listening comprehension, and promote creative language use. By incorporating picture books into lessons and units, teachers can create dynamic and interactive learning experiences that inspire and empower their students on their language learning journey.
For Japanese teachers, head to my previous blog post on the 9 books every Japanese teacher should have in their library.
So! You’ve read my post and are wondering….where do I buy picture books in Australia?
And all the obvious ones: Amazon, Booktopia, Book Depository, Dymocks…..
Teaching Lingo 