Learning to Read in English with Comics and QR-Codes

Note: The preview of the comics has QR-codes that may not upload on your phone. The PDF, which you can click at the bottom of the post, has QR-codes that can load the audio.

I have started assigning as homework comics with QR-codes for my ESL 1 class. The QR-codes can be scanned by a phone, which provides a recording of me reading the comic. Students practice all four methods of communication through this exercise.

They read the comic.

The listen to the comic through the QR-code.

They write what the comic is about or what they see in the comic. (For lower-level students, I tell them to write one word from the comic and learn its pronunciation.) I check the students’ writing at the beginning of each class and input a grade if an attempt was made. I also provide quick writing feedback.

The class reads the comic out loud, which practices the final skill - speaking.