"One way that I use creativity in the classroom is by having the student be a storyteller."

Susan Abrill, an instructor with the English Learning Centre (ELC) at the University of Victoria (UVic), infuses her classroom with a unique blend of artistry and pedagogy. Her journey from professional scenic artist to innovative ESL teacher spans continents and cultures, enriching her teaching toolkit with creativity and experience.

Trained as a professional artist, Susan transitioned from working on stage and screen productions to a career in education. Her new journey started in museum education as a bilingual outreach educator in Chicago. From there, she took a job in Tokyo, Japan where she had her first experience as an ESL teacher. Her career then took her to Peru, where she integrated art into her kindergarten classes and organized the first exhibit in a public library that featured her students’ work. Back in Chicago, Susan taught fourth grade at a dual language school while completing her master’s degree.

After joining UVic about 15 years ago, Susan began drawing and publishing webcomics as a creative outlet. This passion soon found its way into her teaching. In a 10-week ESL art class, she introduced comic assignments to her adult learners. Initially, these assignments returned as picture stories, revealing a lack of confidence in using language skills. Determined to boost their communicative competency, Susan encouraged students to invent narratives and dialogues. "Comics clarify the context of what they are trying to express through words and sequences," she explains.

Since then, comics have become a staple in her classes at the ELC. “The more variations of assignments I designed, the more exciting it became. Students had to demonstrate their English proficiency through a six-frame comic,” she says. This method, focused on communication rather than artistic skill, allows for inclusivity and collaboration. "Stick figures are okay. The aim is to use English creatively to develop characters, recount memories and create conversations."

Susan’s innovative approach has garnered attention at international conferences from Mexico to the UK, where she showcases her flexible assignments and simple evaluation rubrics. She emphasizes that art is not graded; the focus is on language skills. This inclusivity encourages all learners, regardless of their art experience, to participate fully.

In addition to comics in her classes, Susan introduces contemporary literature rather than traditional classics. She believes in selecting stories with accessible language that propels learners forward. Recently, two of her classes read The Raindrop Crossing by debut author and street pianist Kristopher Hull. This novel, with its timely technological themes and international settings, provided a rich, engaging experience. Students even had the chance to interview Hull via Zoom, asking insightful questions about the plot and characters.

"I was so proud of my students because a lot of them admitted in the beginning to not being regular readers in any language,” she says. “But here they are reading a book in English, then talking to the author and asking questions in English."

Over the years, learners from across the world have joined UVic’s ELC program, graduated, and moved on to pursue their future goals. Susan recalls many memorable moments and continues to stay in touch with her students. She has seen students excel in the arts, become professors, start businesses and enter politics where they now hold important jobs in government. Best of all, she gets to see them transform, grow and make new international friends.

"When students come to Victoria, a lot of them are finding their way or in a transition period in their lives, so it's nice to be there for them and to introduce them to as many opportunities as possible."

• Posted August 8, 2024