Presenting language in action™ to students in Vietnam!

What a magical experience I had during a language masterclass I delivered to teachers and students aged 10 to 15 in Vietnam and Indonesia. (More than ninety students!)

I introduced a component of my new pedagogy, Language in Action™, using visual sequential art and storytelling to enhance English learning.

With the presentation on the theme of the Belgian icon Tintin, the students engaged enthusiastically, using creativity and imagination to bring language to life through comic-style narratives. Their motivation was evident in the attached montage—smiling faces, focused expressions, and vibrant artwork filled the classroom.

Special thanks to Teacher Mr Ben Zo from the NTEC Language School in Vietnam for coordinating the session and permitting me to use these wonderful images taken during my lesson, and to NTEC School Director Trân Minh Hoa, and Vice Director Tuyêt Dang for the stunning post-presentation testimonial!

Masterclass Presenter at AVCON, Adelaide's Japanese animation and manga convention, July 5 and 6!

Join me at AVCON for an electrifying Anime and Manga Art Presentation and Workshop! Discover how Japanese pop culture shapes global society, language, and literature. Dive into its cultural significance for language learners and fans—interactive, insightful, and open to all in Adelaide's vibrant community.

This session explores anime and manga as multimodal texts, analysing their semiotic richness, sociolinguistic impact, and pedagogical value in second-language acquisition. Drawing on contemporary scholarship, I highlight how these art forms promote intercultural understanding and linguistic engagement, particularly among Japanese language students, while inviting the greater Adelaide community into dynamic cultural discourse.

I'll be signing copies of my new graphic novel at the event so be sure to visit my booth while you are at the event!

Click through to the AVCON website via the image above!