Ms.Minori Murata :University of Hawaii-West Oahu teacher

My journey with manga in Japanese classes began when introduced to manga artist Mr. Kazuo Maekawa by Professor Jason Chun. Initially seen as just reading material, mainstream manga was too complex for beginners. However, when I changed that perspective and put my students in the position of creating their own original manga, a revolution occurred in my class.Surprisingly creative, they utilized Japanese skills, digital tools, and drawing abilities.Witnessing this, I was amazed and inspired by their increased interest, motivation, and desire to learn. Moving forward, we see manga as integral to language education, fostering enjoyment, proficiency, and meaningful communication.