June is here, and with it comes a splash of color.

As the days grow longer and brighter, it feels only natural to turn our attention to the visual world the stories told not just in words, but in lines, colors, and movement. This month, we celebrate the playful, expressive, and often surprisingly profound world of comics, cartoons, illustration, and animation.

For many of us and for our students these forms are more than just entertainment. They are part of our childhoods, our imaginations, and our understanding of culture. From Sunday comic strips to epic anime sagas, from satirical political cartoons to the simple delight of a picture book, these visual mediums have a unique ability to capture attention and convey meaning across languages and generations.

In the ESL classroom, comics can actually offer powerful tools for engagement. They provide rich, contextualized language that’s paired with visual cues making new vocabulary and idioms more accessible and memorable. A single comic panel can reveal tone, humor, and character in ways that spark curiosity and discussion. Short animated clips can introduce natural dialogue, cultural references, and visual storytelling that supports comprehension and boosts listening skills.

But perhaps even more importantly, they invite participation. Students can create their own comic strips or storyboard a scene using new vocabulary. They can write dialogue for a silent cartoon or reimagine the ending of a well-known animated film. These activities tap into creativity, build confidence, and help learners see language as a tool for personal expression not just a school subject.

Illustration and animation also reflect the diversity of the world we live in. Characters come from different backgrounds, speak in various dialects, and experience life in ways that open doors to cross-cultural understanding. Whether it’s learning about family traditions through a Pixar short or discussing identity and resilience in a graphic novel, these stories build empathy and expand perspectives.

For visual learners, comics and cartoons offer a much-needed entry point into English. The combination of text and image helps bridge gaps in understanding and allows students to follow narratives even when their reading skills are still developing. They’re also low-pressure something students can enjoy without fear of making a mistake or “getting it wrong.”

And let’s not forget the fun. There’s joy in a good punchline, in a clever twist, in seeing a character come to life on the page or screen. These moments of delight are not trivial they’re motivating. They remind students (and teachers) that learning a language can be playful, surprising, and deeply human.

As we step into June, let’s make space for these stories in our classrooms. Let’s invite illustration and imagination into our lessons, and encourage students to see English not just as something to be studied, but as a way to connect with stories, humor, and art from around the world.