Vive la bande dessinée belge !

Exhibition Opening – October 6!

I’m delighted to announce the opening of my Belgian Comic Books and Memorabilia Exhibition at the Adelaide Comic Convention and Toy Fair!  

Spanning works from the early 1900s to the present, this exhibition celebrates the enduring cultural and artistic legacy of la bande dessinée belge—from Tintin to Spirou and beyond. Belgian comics have not only left their mark on global storytelling but also play a powerful role in language education.

Through my Language in Action™ pedagogy, these iconic works become dynamic tools for teaching language, sparking creativity, and encouraging intercultural connection.

Come and discover the magic on October 6!

look who's hit the shelves!

I’m incredibly grateful to Orchard Bookshop in the Adelaide Arcade, featuring Les Aventures de Paris et Freddie in their window display!

This charming bookshop was recently named one of Australia’s top ten cutest bookshops for its unique character, vintage aesthetic, and lovingly curated collection.

It’s a true literary gem in the heart of Adelaide!

I'm thrilled to announce that Les Aventures de Paris et Freddie is available at Orchard Bookshop—merci for supporting bilingual storytelling!

Bilingual book launch magic!

The book launch of Les Aventures de Paris et Freddie on July 16 was a fantastic success!

Held at the Cove Civic Centre, the event drew an enthusiastic crowd, including language teachers, school students, and comic lovers.

The energy in the room reflected the excitement around Australia’s first bilingual French-English graphic novel, which also features Auslan.

Guests enjoyed a dynamic presentation on visual storytelling and language learning, followed by a fantastic interactive workshop by Paris and Freddie Illustrator Joanna Hassam creating wonderful renditions of Freddie!

It was a proud and inspiring moment for language education and sequential art in Australia.

Special thanks to the City of Marion Libraries for generously sponsoring the launch and supporting this celebration of multilingual creativity.

More fantastic news with a Spanish-English edition of book one coming soon!

Perfect for Year 6 to adult French and English learners, Paris and Freddie’s first escapade is packed with excitement, intrigue, visual storytelling, and a celebration of languages.

Ready to join the journey?

Click on your regional flag to order!

Merci et bon voyage !

  

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!

A huge thank you to AVCON for the opportunity to present my Language in Action™ pedagogy! It was a joy sharing how anime and manga foster intercultural understanding and language learning. Audience participation was electric—truly inspiring engagement around multimodal literacy, pop culture, and pedagogy in second-language classrooms!

This session explored anime and manga as multimodal texts, analysing their semiotic richness, sociolinguistic impact, and pedagogical value in second-language acquisition. Drawing on contemporary scholarship, I highlighted 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.

Q2 is turning the page — and every panel is packed with Language in Action™!

As part of an ongoing 10-week Language in Action™ program, French, Spanish, and English students explore creative writing through character and scene selection, incorporating focused text with fantastic results!

This innovative program blends sequential art, language meditation, drama, and improvisation to ignite language learning in fresh and transformative ways.

Each week, students participate in interactive masterclasses that use comics, storytelling, and embodied learning to reframe classrooms into immersive, student-centred spaces.

The enthusiasm and curiosity from students in Adelaide, eager to add dynamism to their linguistic project work, continues to grow, affirming the power of creativity in language education!

Special thanks to all the students for the use of these wonderful images!