Study of Manga Reading as an Effective Teaching Method Based on the TextComprehension Process

  • Kiichiro Okubo Tohoku University
  • Kazunori Sato Tokoha University
  • Yuichi Wada Tohoku University
  • Kazuyuki Asai Kyoto University of Education
  • Shunichi Kubo Tohoku University
  • Tatsuya Horita Tohoku University
Keywords: manga comprehension, media literacy, sentence comprehension, situation model

Abstract

This study examined the use of the Japanese comic form manga as an effective tool for teaching reading. Specifically, it evaluated a learning program to foster media literacy among fifth-grade students through reading, interpretation, and appreciation of manga using the framework of text comprehension models. The resulting analyses indicated that reading manga promoted sentence-level understanding, and multiple levels of text comprehension can be taught through reading manga, including surface level and semantic processing, as well as situation model construction. The use of manga to foster reading comprehension can be effectively accomplished by planning lessons and activities in the order of the learning content corresponding to each level of text comprehension.

References

Ministry of Education Reading Comprehension Improvement Program. http://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/shotou/gakuryoku/siryo/05122201/014/005.htm (Last access March 25), 2005.

M. Kishi, M. Nakamura, and H. Aizawa, “How Can We Enhance the Reading Comprehension of Expository Documents Which Include Non-Continuous Text?: Analysis of Eye Movement,” Bulletin of Tokyo Gakugei University, vol. 62, pp. 177–188, 2011.

I. Shinmura, Kojien, vol. 6. Iwanami Shoten, Publishers., 2008, p. 2671

M. Nemoto, Education of Japanese Language and Culture of Cartoons: 21st Century Challenges and Recommendations. YUIPORT., 2010.

J. Sasamoto, “Characteristics of Manga as the Medium of Communication,” Japanese Society for the Science of Design, vol.6, pp. 70–73, 1998.

N. Murata, “The Effects of Expertise on Understanding Cartoon Signs,” The Science of Reading, vol. 38, pp. 48–57, 1994.

A. Ieshima, “The Review and Perspective of the Study on Manga in Psychology,” Bulletin of Education of Kyoto University Graduate School, vol. 53, pp. 166–180, 2007.

K. Tamada, “A Consideration of Learning with the Use of Comics–From Viewpoints of Psychology with Comics and Psychology on Comics,” Manga Studies, vol. 3, pp. 65–75, 2008.

S. Yoshida, “Manga as Teaching Material,” Bulletin of Education Research of Setsunan University, vol. 9, pp. 25–34, 2013.

T. Kougo, and C. Kougo, “The Effects of Comic-Based Presentation of Instructional Materials on Comprehension and Retention,” Japan Journal of Educational Technology, vol. 22, pp. 87–94, 1998.

N. Murata, “The Effects of Comic Strips as a Teaching Strategy,” The Science of Reading, vol. 37, pp. 127–136, 1993.

M. Machida, “Possibility of the Comics Teaching Materials in Japanese Language Subjects: Thinking About How to Teach Comics,” Bulletin of Academic Studies and Scientific Research of Waseda University, vol. 62, pp. 163–181, 2014.

K. Okubo, K. Sato, Y. Nakahashi, K. Asai, and T. Horita, “Devlopment and an Assessment of an Educational Program to Acquire Media Literacy Based on Manga,” Educational Media Study, vol. 23, pp. 33–46, 2016.

K. Kurata, “Mental Mechanism in the Reading of Manga,” Toward an Integrated Methodology for the Study of the Mind, pp. 157–162, 2003.

T. A. van Dijk, and W. Kintsch, Strategies of Discourse Comprehension. New York: Academic Press, 1983.

J. Nakazawa, “Manga(comic) Literacy Skills as Determinants Factors of Manga Story Comprehension,” Manga Studies, vol. 5, pp. 6–25, 2004.

J. Nakazawa, “The Development of Manga Panel Reading Literacy,” Manga Studies, vol. 7, pp. 6–21, 2005.

K. Okubo, Y. Wada, S. Kubo, and T. Horita, “Similarities and Differences between Manga Reading Comprehension and Text-Only Reading Comprehension: A Survey of Elementary-School Sixth Graders,” Educational Media Study, vol. 25, in printing, 2018.

Y. Nakahashi, Theory of Media Literacy: Media Education in the Social Media Age. Hokuju Shuppan, Publishers., 2014.

K. Okubo, K. Sato, T. Horita, “Development and Evaluation of a learning program to foster the reading comprehension of manga,” Japan Association for Educational Media Study 23rd Annual conference on Educational Media, pp. 26–27, 2016.

T. Yamashita & H. Shimada, “A Comparison between Text-Base and Situation Model Construction Processes in Reading Expository Documents with Non-Continuous Texts: An Eye-Tracking Study,” Annual Letters of Clinical Psychology in Shinshu, No.12, pp.81-87, 2013.

Published
2019-11-30