The cover of the book shows him carrying a large and battered suitcase and staring at a very strange animal, some kind of cross between a fish, a mouse, a reptile and a dog. Son of an immigrant to Australia, his masterpiece tells the story of a man who leaves his family to go to a new country, hoping to be able to bring them later. Shaun Tan is an artist who also writes whimsical stories. I have asked past students to write descriptions or summaries about the pictures which I have edited to be able to use as readings for new students. So I can project the pictures of the pages on a screen while we describe them and talk about them. I have scanned the book and have it on a flash drive. I decided that our “course book” would be The Arrival. I described my course as learning through stories and reading. Another English teacher in the organization is doing “communicative” teaching with grammar explanations, etc.
Most French adults have learned traditionally and feel inadequate in any situation where they might have to speak English.) I knew that I would have mixed levels and that I was free to design the course as I pleased. (I’ve decided that when a French person asks to be put in the beginner group, it means they are not advanced. This year I have a group of “beginner” adults. What is that? Where is it? Is it old or new? Is the family poor or rich? Is the teapot full or empty? Very quickly I have a good idea of my student’s level in English and I can decide how I want our lessons to continue. When I have a new student I open the book and we start discussing the pictures. I’ve been using it to teach English as a Foreign Language for years with different levels of students. It could be used to teach any language, even Latin. It’s a truly graphic novel because it has no words at all. The Arrival by Shaun Tan is an extraordinary book.
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