Using authentic materials
- 3. An authentic material is …… “any material which has not been specifically produced for the purpose of language teaching.” (Nunan, 1998)
- 4. Sources of Authentic Materials TV commercials, films, news items, weather forecasts, announcements, radio talks, interviews, debates, songs video shorts animation recipes, articles, schedules, notes, letters, cards advertisements, brochures, poems, application forms, instruction manuals catalogues, lyrics magazines, newspapers, internet Audio / Visual Written
- 5. Why use Authentic Materials? Using authentic materials is a very contentious point in language instruction. Many people recommend using them – others say never. However, the truth lies somewhere in between.
- 6. Advantages of Using Authentic Materials Motivating! Interesting and Relevant! Exposes learners to “how the language IS” Promotes deeper cultural knowledge Brings creativity into classroom practice Closer to actual learner needs and interests Current and Topical!
- 7. Disadvantages of Using Authentic Materials Lots of prep time Difficult language demotivates students Culturally biased Doesn’t promote “CO”, comprehensible input Lack of materials development skills of teachers No structure or sequence building.
- 8. How to select? Questions to ask? How can I exploit this? How suitable is the content? Is it familiar to my students (in their L1)? Does it support my courses goals and objectives? Are my students prepared for “what they don’t know? Does the positive outweigh the negative? How long will it take me to prepare?
- 9. Authentic Materials are powerful They offer the student a chance to practice “real” language use. They promote “real” learning – students try to understand the meaning without knowing everything. They bridge the “test tube” of the classroom with the eventual “real” world.
- 11. Further Reading / Resources Glossary Terms Teaching with Authentic Materials. Effective Ways to use Authentic Materials Authentic Materials and Cultural Content Authentic Materials: an overview Authentic Materials – interactive Webquest Using Authentic Materials in the EFL Classroom