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 

Language in Action across age demographics!

The rollout of my new language class, Language in Action™, Stuart A Blair, continued in Adelaide, South Australia, presenting French and English language learners with an exciting, innovative methodology using sequential art as the communication medium.

Sequential art is used in language lessons to enhance second language acquisition by incorporating visual storytelling. This method helps contextualise language learning, making it more engaging and memorable.

Language in Action™ is not just a class; it's an interactive experience. Learners can actively understand and retain new vocabulary and language structures by combining images and words. This dynamic approach keeps students engaged and excited about their language journey.

A fun tool used in the masterclass is a View-Master. The View-Master is a vintage tool produced in 1962 that presents three-dimensional images. It has been a popular source for viewing images for learning and entertainment for decades. The medium was the generation's version of what today's generation knows as watching a TV show or film On Demand.

For younger learners, an age-related version of a View-Master is used.

The results of the Language in Action™ class have been stunning. Students across age demographics have been able to create a short story using the target language, showcasing the effectiveness of this innovative methodology.

Stuart can be booked directly from this website to present at your educational institution or event!

Constructed Language Lectures at The University of Adelaide

I'm having a fantastic time with linguistics students at The University of Adelaide lecturing about the exciting world of Constructed languages.

The two-hour lecture investigates languages created for the entertainment industry, Constructed languages (Conlangs).The lecture analyses constructed languages. It classifies them into Auxiliary Languages (Auxlangs), such as Esperanto, Ido and Volapük, and Artistically-constructed Languages (Artlangs), such as Klingon, Quenya, High Valyrian, and Dothraki, providing basic knowledge in a language such as greetings; introduction, emotion, and a farewell; a unique characteristic; the influence of the language family on global society and information about where it might be possible to continue to learn one of more than 450 Constructed languages in Australia or online.

Thanks to Dr Eve Afifa Kheir | Faculty of Arts, Business & Economics, The University of Adelaide, for including me in the program of lectures.

A vibrant linguistic presentation at State Library of South Australia

I had a great time with the audience discussing the use of language in science fiction and fantasy literature.

I delved into language root stems and etymology during the Q & A session post-presentation with a most-receptive and enthusiastic audience!

On the road again!

Capricon Pop Culture Convention, Rockhampton North Queensland, August 27

I had a great time with the audience at Capricon Pop Culture Convention in Rockhampton, North Queensland, during my linguistic presentation about languages created for the tv and film industry!

Included in this leg of the tour was a constructed language keynote to pop culture fans and language enthusiasts about languages explicitly created for the TV and film industry, for example; the Klingon language; where it is spoken and to which language family it belongs, number of speakers and percentage of children speaking it; basic knowledge in a language such as greetings; unique characteristics; and information about where it might be possible to continue to learn the language in Australia or online.

The constructed language presentation was a hit with the audience with plenty of interaction during the post-presentation Q&A!

My second presentation at CapriCon Rockhampton investigated the 'Politics of Tintin,' specifically the linguistic context, stereotypes, representations, and controversies in the early Tintin albums and period children's storybook adventures.  

Special thanks to the audiences attending both presentations!

During the convention the first stage of marketing and promoting my exciting bilingual storybook adventure, The Adventures of Paris and Freddie, was undertaken. The adventure is written in the French and English languages, and set in the Fleurieu Peninsula, South Australia! 

I look forward to engaging with audiences during the next legs of the tour in Sydney, Adelaide, and Melbourne!