Comic-making as wellbeing: Supporting international students during professional experience

Author Identifier (ORCID)

Fiona Boylan: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2531-3559

Karen Nociti: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6846-611X

Abstract

Comic-making is a powerful storytelling medium combining visual art with narrative, enabling creators to convey complex ideas, emotions and experiences. Wellbeing is supported as comic-making offers space for self-reflection, expression and creativity. This chapter discusses the process of comic-making with six first-year postgraduate international pre-service teachers (PsTs), utilising their funds of knowledge (FoK) to rethink how international PsTs are supported during professional experience (PEx). Engaging in comic-making allowed international PsTs to delve into personal narratives, tackle challenges and process emotions visually and systematically, promoting their self-care. Comic-making also enhanced our wellbeing as academics by reducing and illuminating the emotional labour associated with supporting international PsTs.

Document Type

Book Chapter

Date of Publication

1-1-2025

Publication Title

Creating Wellbeing the Role of Making Practices in Academic Contexts

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

School

School of Education

RAS ID

84401

Comments

Boylan, F., & Nociti, K. (2025). Comic-making as wellbeing: Supporting international students during professional experience. In Creating Wellbeing the Role of Making Practices in Academic Contexts (pp. 38–50). Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003664123-5

Copyright

subscription content

First Page

38

Last Page

50

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Link to publisher version (DOI)

10.4324/9781003664123-5