The Use of Comics in EFL. A Literature Review of the Effects of Reading Comics on Reading Comprehension and Motivation

Abstract

Reading literature is and has always been considered one of the most important aspects of language learning. Comics, however, have long been scrutinized and not considered real literature. However, the interaction of image and text is more prevalent today than it was in the past due to the way social media has changed the way many communicate. This literature review aims to explore the existing research to find the potential effects that reading comics has on reading comprehension and motivation on EFL learners. The conclusions that can be drawn from the results of the studies suggest that reading comics can be an effective tool to increase reading comprehension. The results also suggest that motivation and engagement in students was higher when reading comics. Teachers’ attitudes towards were, on average, positive but some were hesitant towards letting their students use comics.