Using Comics as a Storytelling Tool in Teaching Foreign Languages at Technical Universities

The article describes the experience of using the storytelling method for the formation of professionally oriented communicative skills of engineering students. Storytelling based on student-created comics within the framework of the CLIL concept of integrated subject-language learning is presented. Students created their comics using their professional vocabulary. The authors analyze the examples of the students’ original comics, which were subsequently discussed with the teacher and finally presented to other students. The students’ works demonstrated the formed lexical skill, reflected the knowledge on the speciality studied, obtained both in special disciplines and foreign language classes. The conducted research confirms the higher efficiency of storytelling in comparison with traditional exercises. In particular, there is an increase in students’ vocabulary; easier learning of grammatical structures; higher fluency and literacy of speech; higher motivation for language learning. Storytelling creates conditions for students to master four types of speech activity: listening, speaking, reading, writing, and helps them to gain self-confidence and reduce anxiety. Comics and storytelling help learners acquire skills that are in demand in many professional spheres.