Photography & Language Development

Photography can be an engaging and meaningful medium for encouraging language development. By analyzing and taking photos, language learners are able to utilize interpretive and expressive modes of language to express themselves with more elaborate and extensive discourse.

The activities at the top of this graphic can be used to interpret language. Pixelating (or blurring) an image can be an engaging way to start an opening discussion. The online photo editor Lunapic works beautifully for this task. Lunapic also offers dozens of other photo editing tools. The second strategy of creating a puzzle is popular among newcomer and bridging classrooms. We've also used this strategy with adult learners. The third activity of comparison is powerful. We've hyperlinked an example of Ruby Bridges. Use these images to compare what really occurred with how Rockwell interpreted the events.

The activities at the bottom of this graphic encourage creative expression. For these tasks, students can use Chromebooks, iPads, or even phones. After students take the photos, they should be encouraged to create a narrative, description, or poem to accompany their photos. These activities allow differentiation because some students might label, others might write short phrases, and a few might create longer works filled with sophisticated vocabulary and extended discourse.

We hope you enjoy these activities and remember that a photo really is worth 1000 words.