The first quarter of the year has been incredible, and I’m just getting warmed up!

A fantastic conference presentation!

The Neurodiversity Teacher Summit was outstanding, everyone!

I presented my pedagogy Language in Action™—a session exploring how sequential art, language meditation, drama, and improvisation can transform the language-learning experience for neurodivergent learners.

As an advocate for innovative teaching, I integrate comics, storytelling, and embodied learning into classrooms to create immersive, accessible, and student-centred approaches. The masterclass provided practical, hands-on strategies to bring lessons to life, making education more engaging.

Let’s rethink language education together—because learning should be as dynamic and diverse as the students we teach!

Conference link for post-conference session recordings for educators and parents: https://teachersummits.com/

Save the dates, everyone!

Teachers and students, you are cordially invited!

Join me at the Adelaide Comic and Toy Fair on April 13 for a unique exhibition blending comics and storybooks in language education.

This literature showcase highlights visual storytelling's influential role in enhancing language skills, featuring a curated selection of comics and illustrated books designed to engage language learners.

The exhibition explores how these creative mediums encourage language development, literacy, and cultural understanding through vibrant artwork and compelling narratives.

Whether you're an educator, comic enthusiast, or curious about the intersection of art and language, this event offers an inspiring experience for all.

April Book Launch!

We’re almost ready—Jo and I are putting the final touches on Paris and Freddie’s first adventure!

Les Aventures de Paris et Freddie is South Australia's first blingual French and English hard cover graphic novel set in the Fleurieu Peninsula! 

Hold on tight, because we’re racing full-speed ahead toward an exciting book launch in April!

🚀📚 Get ready for the ride by joining the Paris and Freddie social media platforms!

Fantastic news for Spanish readers with a Spanish language edition of Paris and Freddie out in October!

Click through via the above image for the latest Paris and Freddie news!

I'm delighted to announce I'll present two linguistic masterclasses for teachers attending the Modern Language Teachers Association of the ACT, Canberra, Australia, professional learning event on April 30!

I look forward to engaging with teachers during this fantastic day-long conference!

I've been showcasing my new language teaching pedagogy at schools and language teaching associations across Australia, and the response has been remarkable so far, and I was delighted to discover an outstanding report by Naomi Lamb in the latest issue of Contact, the Modern Language Teachers’ Association of the ACT newsletter, highlighting a professional learning masterclass I presented to French teachers in late 2024 (see page extract).

I sincerely thank the MLTA ACT and Naomi Lamb for their recognition and support.

The rollout of Language in Action™ continues across schools and educational institutions throughout this year!

Participating in yearly professional learning events is necessary and catalyses personal growth and empowerment. These events have enhanced my teaching skills and allowed me to adapt the newly acquired pedagogy to my new language teaching program, Language in Action™ masterclasses for schools and universities.

Thank you to all the schools, teaching associations, and convention organisers for your ongoing support!

A wonderful project completion!

Special thanks to Dr Anna Belew for a fantastic endangered languages project, specifically a language documentation program managed by the First Peoples' Cultural Council and the Endangered Languages Catalogue/Endangered Languages Project (ELCat/ELP) team at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

The eight-week program was a highly informative series of weekly real-time webinars to educate scholars further playing a crucial role in preserving and revitalising indigenous languages. It is a valuable source in my PhD research of Revivalistics, a trans-disciplinary field exploring the dynamics and problematics inherent in spoken language reclamation (Zuckermann 2020).

These languages are integral to cultural identity, heritage, and community cohesion.

The program, focusing on documenting and supporting the revival of languages at risk of extinction, provides resources and tools for communities to reclaim their linguistic heritage. By encouraging awareness and understanding of endangered languages, the program helps strengthen cultural ties and engages us all in the global conversation on language preservation.

The endangered Indigenous linguistic program I coordinate at an educational centre in Adelaide, South Australia, is an Australian first collaboration with the Barngarla People from Port Lincoln (Galinyala in Barngarla) and Port Augusta (Goordnada in Barngarla). Their invaluable knowledge and dedication have been instrumental in the success of this program.

I eagerly anticipate the ongoing rejuvenation of this dreaming sleeping beauty language, a process that fills me with hope and optimism for the future. 

language in action in canberra, australia!

Special thanks to Lena Britton, Language Faculty (French & EAL/D), French Network Leader, Campbell High School | Education Directorate | A.C.T. Government in Canberra, for bringing me to Canberra and presenting a series of linguistic masterclasses to students at Campbell High School and teachers from the French Teachers Network participating in a professional learning event.

My teaching methodology Language in Action™ offers several advantages for enhancing second language acquisition in the classroom through its unique blending of sequential art, improvisation, language meditation, and drama.

During the tour, I had a fantastic time engaging with a highly motivated class of students and a dynamic group of French teachers.

The French students at Campbell High School received my new language class with great enthusiasm!

I'm thrilled to head back to Canberra later this year as a presenter at the Modern Language Teachers Association of the A.C.T. annual conference!

Special thanks to Lena Britton, Language Faculty (French & EAL/D), French Network Leader, Campbell High School | Education Directorate | A.C.T. Government in Canberra for this stunning post masterclass presentation testimony!

I look forward to my next series of linguistic masterclasses for teachers and students in 2025!

AnimeGo!

A fantastic linguistic masterclass at the OzAsia Festival event, AnimeGO Japan Pop Culture Festival in Adelaide, South Australia on October 27!

The masterclass was an interactive session that delved into the use of language in context, image stereotypes, and representations in Japanese animation and Manga, and the genre's influence in European comic book literature, specifically la bande dessinée franco-belge, followed by excerpts of my new language class Language in Action™ presenting a character design and illustration workshop creating a character and exploring the role of language within the character's narrative.

Thanks to a beautiful audience participation, the lecturers, teachers, and students who joined the conversation and participated in the event creating stunning representations, and to AnimeGO in inviting me to present at the cultural festival!

I look forward to the next stages of my speaking tour for schools and language teaching associations in Victoria and Canberra!

Thanks to Mr Matt Bushell for this beautiful post-masterclass presentation!

Stuart can be booked to present a masterclass at your event from this website!

Major Tom to Ground control!

I had a fantastic time engaging with the greater Adelaide Community at The Adelaide Comic and Toy Fair curating an exhibition of languages and linguistics in science fiction comic book literature.

The exhibition provided the greater Adelaide Community an opportunity to explore the fascinating world of languages and linguistics in science fiction comics, featuring a collection of comics, characters, and memorabilia from the 1940s to the present day.

Thanks to all the teachers and language students who joined in the conversation at my expo stand about the new language class I developed using sequential art, improvisation and drama in second-language classrooms.

Exhibitions of comic book literature play a crucial role in language education. Comic books are a valuable resource for language learners as they combine visual elements with written text, making learning processes more engaging and effective.

By incorporating comic books into language education, students can improve their reading comprehension, vocabulary, and language skills in a fun and interactive way. Comic book exhibitions allow students to explore different cultural perspectives and storytelling styles, broadening their understanding of language and literature; they are a dynamic and creative tool for enhancing language education.

Special thanks to the Adelaide Comic and Toy Fair utilising my services at the event!

Lights, camera, japanese language in action!

My speaking tour across South Australia continues, and today was a highlight with a fantastic linguistics masterclass presented to Japanese students at Blackwood Primary School. The positive impact on their language learning was truly inspiring!

Today's masterclass about Japanese animation and Manga was an interactive session in which we discussed the use of language in context, image stereotypes, and representations, followed by a character design and illustration workshop in which the students were guided through the process of creating their characters, adding the target language to the comic strip, and understanding how language is used in the context of their characters' stories.

Linguistics plays a crucial role in language learning by providing insights into the structure, usage, and acquisition of languages. My innovative methodology, Language in Action™, uses sequential art, a form of storytelling using a sequence of images, to enhance second language acquisition. This approach contextualises learning, making it more engaging and memorable, and helps learners actively understand and retain new vocabulary and language structures.

Thanks to the Japanese language department at the Blackwood Primary School for booking me to present to a great group of students!

A beautiful post-presentation testimony!

Stuart A. Blair's Manga Workshop at Blackwood Primary School was exceptional. His deep knowledge of manga, its history, and culture, combined with his engaging and hands-on approach, made the session both educational and fun. The students not only learned how to draw manga but also gained a rich understanding of its cultural significance. Stuart's passion and interactive style made for an unforgettable experience that our students will cherish.

Matt Brown

Japanese Teacher

Blackwood Primary School