SlideShare a Scribd company logo
1 of 9
Download to read offline
Vol. 16 Spring 2014
9
THE AUTHENTICITY CONTINUUM: EMPOWERING INTERNATIONAL
VOICES
Richard Pinner
Introduction
This paper outlines a workshop which I conducted
in Tokyo and Osaka in 2013 as part of an INSET
program accredited by the Japanese Ministry of
Sports, Education and Culture (MEXT). The
course, entitled Using and Adapting Authentic
Materials to Help Motivate Students, aims to give
teachers a better understanding of the concept of
authenticity as it realigns itself with the way
English is used and taught around the world for
international communication. My aims as the
teacher/researcher were to understand more about
how L2 teachers of English perceive the notion of
authenticity and how this concept could be
broadened to try and empower L2 users of
English by helping them to start reconceptualising
authenticity from a more international perspective.
This paper first looks at some of the issues that
arise when attempting to define authenticity and
then, building on the distinctions laid out by
Widdowson (1978), that authenticity is not
something absolute but relative to learners, I
suggest that authenticity might be best viewed as a
continuum which incorporates international voices
and moves away from culturally embedded
definitions. With that in place I will describe the
contents of the workshop, followed by an
explanation of the data I collected as part of the
workshop and how analysis showed that
participants reported the notion of an authenticity
continuum to be empowering and even increased
their motivation to try and make their own classes
more authentic.
The Authenticity Continuum: an attempt at
synthesis
For an excellent overview of authenticity in
language teaching and over a century of its history,
see Gilmore (2007) who summarised the
numerous different and often overlapping
definitions of authenticity. Gilmore identifies eight
inter-related definitions which I have further
condensed into a simple diagram (see: Figure 1).
Clearly, with these definitions there is a great
deal of variety and overlap, each one has its place
in the overall picture yet one by one they are
insufficient to give a complete view. In choosing
only one, for example number two, the ‘real’
definition, at first glance this would seem to be the
most commonly used definition by teachers
wishing to expose their students to learning
materials which have not been created or doctored
for language teaching purposes but remain
‘authentic’ in that they had a purpose in the real
world beyond the transmission of declarative
knowledge (Tomlinson & Masuhara, 2010). The
problem with defining authenticity in this way, or
using any single definition, is that in order to bring
this language into the classroom, it needs to be
captured, preserved and then somehow taught or
at least presented to the students (Widdowson,
1978). This seems analogous to planting a single
tree in order to study a forest, or what Hung and
Victor Chen (2007) call extrapolation approaches.
Language is heavily pragmatic and context
dependant (Mishan, 2004). Of course, not all
authentic texts lose their context just because they
are brought into the language classroom, but
extrapolation approaches to authenticity are quite
limited because they lack much of the process of
personal engagement required to make them
interesting and relevant to the learners. In other
words, we can take the material out of the real
world but the material’s purpose changes and
cannot be transferred into the classroom. With
this change in purpose comes a change in
relevance to the real world, and Tomlinson (2011:
11) includes both relevance and usefulness as
essential components to the development of
language learning materials, based on principles
from research in second language acquisition. In
order to develop a more inclusive concept of
authenticity, rather than trying for a single
definition, authenticity should perhaps be seen as a
continuum with various dimensions (see: Figure
2).
Vol. 16 Spring 2014
10
Figure 1. Gilmore’s (2007) eight inter-related definitions.
Figure 2. The authenticity continuum.
• the language produced by native speakers for native speakers in a particular language community1. Native
• the language produced by a real speaker/writer for a real audience, conveying a real message2. Real
• the qualities bestowed on a text by the receiver, in that it is not seen as something inherent in a text
itself, but is imparted on it by the reader/listener3. Self
• the interaction between students and teachers as a ‘personal process of engagement’4. Classroom
• the types of task chosen5. Task
• the social situation of the classroom6. Social
• specifically the 'target language use domain' which is connected to the validity of language tests to
be able to connect test-tasks to uses in the real world7. Assessment
• culture, and the ability to behave or think like a target language group in order to be recognized and
validated by them8. Culture
contextcontext
social social communityindividual
reality
classroom
authenticity
Vol. 16 Spring 2014
11
The authenticity continuum has two main axes,
contextual and social. The contextual axis
represents where the language is being used or
intended for use. At one end is the classroom: a
supportive environment where the primary focus
is on acquiring new and practising known language
and building on this. Assessment will also be part
of the classroom environment too, so relevance to
syllabus and achievement goals will also be
considered, in-line with what Gilmore (2007)
advocates when he states that authentic materials
should focus on learning aims. At the other end of
this axis is the real world, which is not necessarily
opposite to the classroom situation but the
supportive environment and learning dimensions
are no longer prevalent, instead actual use for a
purpose beyond learning characterises this
dimension. This could be in a business situation or
traveling abroad, or any type of environment
where the language is used for its own sake, as a
tool for communication with speakers of the
target language.
Along the social axis, at one end is the
individual or the speaker/learner with their needs
and personal reasons for learning – their
motivations for learning. By motivation, I mean a
complex, dynamic psychological system with
multiple facets which can be attributed to the
reasons behind actions taken by individuals. This
is closely related to what Ushioda (2011) calls for
when she advocates a person in-context relational view
of motivation, and this way a strong conceptual
link is forged between authenticity and motivation.
At the other end of the social axis is the target
language use community, the people who the
learner/speaker intends to interact with. This
could be speaking to a person from another
linguistic community, such as a friend or stranger
asking directions on the street. It might be
colleagues from an overseas office or even an in-
law from an international marriage within the
family. Basically community represents any group
or individual with whom the user will engage in
communication using the target language.
Practical Examples
To show an example of how the authenticity
continuum can be used to evaluate the authenticity
of a material, a task or even lesson, I will provide
two examples and plot them onto the proposed
continuum. The first example comes from a class
entitled discussions on contemporary topics which I
taught to English-majors at Sophia University in
Tokyo, Japan. I set a video project as the final
assessment for this class, one that could be
uploaded to YouTube or other public video
sharing sites. As a class, we negotiated the marking
criteria together, but one of my stipulations was
that the project should feature relevance beyond
the classroom. One of the most impressive
projects featured a group having badges printed
which they sold on campus and then donated the
money they raised to a world hunger charity. After
learning that 1.4 billion people live on less than
$1.25 a day, as part of their video project the
students attempted to live on $1.25 for a whole
day, and they recorded what they ate in order to
prove the point that it was not enough1. Clearly,
this group was highly motivated, and they went
above and beyond what was required of them for
class. I believe one reason for this was the shared
belief that what they were doing was highly
authentic. If I was to plot this activity on the
authenticity continuum (see: Figure 3), it would
score highly on all four dimensions of authenticity,
being highly relevant to the real world (donating
money to charity) but also having been assessed as
part of the class. It also had a strong connection
with the target language community (being
uploaded onto YouTube for others to watch and
comment on) but also having been decided on by
the students themselves and chosen because of
their own interests and passions (students had a
lot of autonomy in terms of choice of topic and
formed groups based around these choices).
By reconceptualising authenticity as a continuum,
almost any classroom material or interaction can
be evaluated to see how it relates to the different
areas of authenticity. For example, a Graded
Reader (see: Figure 4) which has been abridged for
a particular level might not be seen as authentic
under previous definitions of authenticity, in that
it exists specifically for language learning purposes.
However, Graded Readers would certainly count
as authentic in that they provide an experience of
the language and do not focus specifically on
declarative knowledge. If a student has selected
the Graded Reader themselves or it is relevant or
of interest to them, Graded Readers would score
highly on the User section of the spectrum,
although they might fare less well on Community
and Reality because they have been abridged and
may bear only a slight resemblance to the original
text.
1
You can view the final video at http://youtu.be/iMmofI9PMt8.
Please be sure to leave encouraging comments!
Vol. 16 Spring 2014
12
Figure 3. Video project – awareness campaign and raising money for charity.
Figure 4. A Graded Reader chosen by the student for self-study.
Vol. 16 Spring 2014
13
I would like to stress that although these
diagrams plot authenticity according to their
relevance to extremes on a continuum, the
purpose of the continuum is not to measure
authenticity but to validate the various and equally
important dimensions of authenticity. These
measurements are indications only and of course
as a result they are rather general.
Considering authenticity as a continuum is not
a new proposal (Hung & Victor Chen, 2007) but it
tries to achieve a synthesis between the various
definitions and calls for best practice in
authenticity in language learning materials.
The Workshop: an attempt at praxis
In Japan, MEXT has decreed that teachers must
undertake a certain number of accredited teacher
training workshops in order to renew their
teaching licence every ten years. I was invited to
run one of these workshops at Sophia University,
where I am a faculty member. This was the third
year I had run the same workshop, entitled Using
and Adapting Authentic Materials to Help Motivate
Students. I taught the session twice in 2013, once in
Osaka (n=10) and once in Tokyo (n=25) to a total
of 35 Japanese teachers of English, mainly at High
School level. The workshop is given entirely in
English, although participants can of course
communicate with each other in their native
Japanese. There are four parts to the workshop,
each lasting 90 minutes. At the end of the session,
in order to give the participants credits towards
the renewal of their licence we must set an
assessment of some form and collect data as
evidence of participation. I used the opportunity
to set the assessment as a reflective essay about
how the participants’ ideas about authenticity may
have shifted over the course of the session, since
part of my aim as the teacher/researcher was to
gain an understanding of their perceptions of
authenticity and to see how they would react to a
definition based around a continuum
incorporating international voices. The fact that
the data I collected were from pedagogical
sources, natural products of what happened in the
training course anyway, means that the study’s
methodology falls under the exploratory practice
framework because “exploratory research embeds
data collection into the actual practice of teaching”
(Ellis, 2012: 31). I included a tick-box at the
bottom of the sheet to ask if teachers consented to
my using their responses in the study to ensure the
data collection was in-line with ethical guidelines,
and not all of the participants opted in (2 out of 35
chose to opt out, their data was omitted from the
coding), so the total number of participants in the
study was n=33. This study further belongs to
exploratory practice because I am trying to
understand something about my own practice
(both as a teacher and as a teacher trainer) but I
am not necessarily going to change my own
practice, initially all I am seeking at this point is,
paraphrasing Allwright (2003), a deeper
understanding of the central puzzle, in this case
authenticity as it is viewed by L2 teachers.
Despite being the least practical, the first
session for me was the most important one in
laying the groundwork for the rest of the
workshop. This workshop is very much about
achieving praxis – the conversion of theory into
practice. It is vital that participants broaden their
definition of authenticity in order to incorporate
themselves and their own classes into that
definition. In the first session, I started off by
asking the participants for their definition of
authenticity and then, after discussing in groups, I
asked ‘how many of you mentioned native-
speakers in your definition?’. I made a note in my
teaching journal that at least one person from each
group raised their hands. After this, I talked
participants through Gilmore’s (2007) famous eight
inter-related definitions and participants discussed
them in groups. After which, I explained the idea
of authenticity as a continuum, although I do not
provide any references for the continuum or state
that it is of my own devising, so as to try and keep
participants responses in the data more honest.
During the session, there is also an activity where
participants are given three examples of different
texts and tasks and asked to rate which one they
find most authentic (see: Figure 5).
I noted in my teaching journal that example C
was rated as the most authentic by a large majority
(77 per cent in Tokyo and 90 per cent in Osaka),
after which example B came second, with the
‘classic’ newspaper example C coming last of all.
Vol. 16 Spring 2014
14
Figure 5. Authenticity task rating exercise.
After the first session, I move on to the
methodology section, in which the theories and
definition discussed in the first session are put into
practical terms, looking at how these theories will
influence classroom materials. This is achieved by
a detailed examination of the nature of English as
a global language and how this has forced
authenticity to be re-examined for contemporary
English use. Although this in itself is not a new
idea or particularly radical, since the participants
are L2 teachers, many of whom live in the shadow
of native speakers (Cook, 1999), it is intended to
be empowering and to help participants move
away from the native-speaker definitions that are
often still embedded in their minds. Teachers’
concept of themselves as L2 teachers of English
may severely impact their self-image and
professional efficacy (Moussu & Llurda, 2008).
The remainder of the session is a practical
workshop where participants adapt various
authentic materials and create a lesson plan around
these materials which they present to the rest of
the group. The final session is geared around
multimedia tools and how these can be exploited
to create meaningful interaction with other groups,
such as international online exchange programs or
remote access field trips. At the end of the session,
the assessment is set as a one hour written report,
which also featured an optional questionnaire.
This was where the majority of data for the
current study came from.
The Study: an attempt at reflection
This study collected data from two groups of
teachers during an INSET training activity which
was part of a MEXT accredited training course.
After the course, participants were asked to write a
reflective paper (either in English or Japanese, 3
out of 33 wrote in Japanese which was then
translated by the author and a native speaker of
Japanese) which was then typed up onto the
computer for coding and analysis. The question at
the top of the reflective paper was:
What is your opinion about the authenticity
continuum? Has your idea about authenticity
changed by participating in this workshop? In
what way (if any)?
Most of the data are qualitative, and the study
design was based on exploratory practice.
Although at times I present data in a way which
quantifies the responses, the majority of data
analysis was done in an interpretive way, coding
the data as I went through it and then re-coding it
as the bigger picture emerged. I used NVivo 10
qualitative data analysis software to create nodes
and run word frequency queries as I worked
through the data, which helped in selecting the
major themes for the responses, outlined in the
results and analysis section. All names have been
changed.
Example
A:
Example
B:
Example
C:
The teacher brings an English language newspaper to class and
has students read the text and underline every instance of the
present perfect aspect or passive tense, and then asks them to
copy each sentence out into their notebooks.
The teacher uses an ‘inauthentic’ text from a published course
book which was contrived specifically to practise reported
speech and then discusses other ways in which the speakers
from the text could have said the same thing in a different way.
The teacher asks students to use the internet to research about
their favourite celebrity or hero and then create a short
presentation in English to the rest of the class about that
person.
Vol. 16 Spring 2014
15
Results and Analysis: an attempt at
understanding
Culturally Embedded Definitions
Perhaps the most striking part of the study was the
number of participants who came to the workshop
initially believing that authentic materials were the
sole domain of the native speaker. From a total of
33 participants at both workshops, all of them
experienced Japanese teachers of English, 23
(almost 70 per cent) had culturally embedded
definitions of authenticity, with 18 participants
(over 50 per cent) specifically making reference to
native speakers:
Before I took this lesson, I thought that
authenticity should be ‘native’. I mean that the
material should be written by native speakers, so
retold textbook materials are not authentic and
we should choose more authentic ones.
However, after the lesson, my understanding has
been widened. I think materials are not limited
to those written or spoken by natives, but should
be relevant to learners’ needs (Keiko, Osaka).
Here Keiko makes a very clear point about how
her concept of authenticity has changed as a result
of the workshop. The concept that authenticity
should be connected to learners’ needs and
interests was a central part of the authenticity
continuum, and for many participants, such as
Momoko, this was a vital aspect of the session:
Before this workshop I just thought that
‘authentic’ means ‘native’; using a newspaper in
English class is better than using a textbook. But
now, at the end of the workshop, I can talk more
about authenticity, giving my experiences today
as an example.
I have felt negative about myself as a non-native
English speaker who teaches English. Now, I
don’t. Authenticity connects me not only to
English but also learning. (Momoko, Tokyo).
It is important to note that this L2 teacher of
English felt ‘negative’ about herself as a ‘non-
native English’ teacher. Even though 80 per cent
of language teachers around the world are L2
speakers (Canagarajah, 2005), it is possible that for
many of these people authenticity seems somehow
out of reach, which is likely to have a devastating
effect on their efficacy as teachers and even on
their professional identity as English language
teachers. The issue of efficacy is of great
importance, not just to EFL teacher education but
teacher cognition in general, because it influences
teachers’ classroom behaviour, as well having links
with student achievement (Mills, 2011). Efficacy is
also a vital component of teacher motivation
(Dörnyei & Ushioda, 2011).
Even more surprising was the fact that two of
the participants stated that they were unable to
change their culturally embedded views of
authenticity, and that they remained stuck on the
native speaker definition, even after the four 90
minute sessions which were designed specifically
to alter this perception.
I have to confess that I have not really
comprehended the concept of the authenticity
continuum. I still have the idea that the
language used by so-called ‘native speakers’ in L1
countries is authentic. It is hard for me to
eliminate the conventional ideas about
authenticity (Maymumi, Tokyo).
Clearly this participant still thought of L1
countries as being the main source of authentic
materials and language, but I am not sure from her
answers why she could not escape the L1
definitions since she said later on in her answer
that ‘[c]lassrooms are also part of reality and the
English used in the classroom can be authentic.’ I
think that basically, like the rest of us, this
participant was quite confused about authenticity.
After initially stating that she only ‘partially agreed
with’ the authenticity continuum, she later
concluded that she agreed ‘with the concept of the
authenticity continuum in general’ but that it left
‘some problems unsolved’. Those problems
seemed to stem perhaps from a misunderstanding
that L1 models were not authentic, or that L2
models were more authentic than L1 models.
Perhaps this participant thought I was trying to
argue that L1 speakers are less authentic in general
than L2 speakers, whereas what I was actually
trying to argue was for a balance with social and
contextual dimensions as the central point of
departure.
The remaining teachers with culturally
embedded definitions made statements that
showed they felt authenticity was ‘real’ language
which seemed to exclude their own teaching. For
example, Nanae explained:
I used to feel that authenticity is in the real world
which is outside of Japan. However I realized that
authenticity means being relevant to the person’s
interest. [The workshop also] gave me the idea of
connection of authenticity and motivation, too. So
now I feel like teaching with authentic materials
more than before to motivate my students
(Nanae, Osaka).
Nanae’s perception of the real world seems to
exclude the EFL context, which would mean her
idea of reality is still centred on the L1, although
she did not specifically mention native speakers in
her answer. It is interesting that she also
mentioned that the broader understanding of
authenticity she took from the workshop gave her
a desire to use more authentic materials in her
own classroom. We can see how closely her own
Vol. 16 Spring 2014
16
motivation to use authentic materials is bound up
with a desire to increase student motivation.
Motivation was an important part of the
workshop, as I explained earlier, and I am pleased
to see that this participant makes a direct
connection between her motivation and her
students’, as well as a connection between
authentic materials and motivation because of
increased relevance and interest being factors
when selecting authentic materials.
The Continuum as a tool for widening the
definition of authenticity
Since one purpose of conducting this research was
to gain a better understanding of teachers’
perceptions of the authenticity continuum, I asked
specifically what the teachers thought about it.
I think the authenticity continuum is very useful
to evaluate the materials from several aspects.
Also, it is important to know whether the
materials are authentic or not before giving them
in class. […] Evaluating the materials will lead us
to improve our lessons. It’s also possible to say
that even the students can assess the materials
after the class by using the authenticity
continuum to improve the lessons more. I think
the authenticity continuum [can be used] to
improve the lessons more (Mari, Tokyo).
Here, the teacher thinks the continuum is not only
useful to teachers in assessing materials but also
for students. Explaining to students the relevance
of the materials being used in class is certainly an
admirable strategy to encourage autonomy and
engagement. Quite often I think it helps to directly
explain the value of the materials being used in the
class, and even localised textbooks possess a
degree of authenticity on the continuum if they are
well designed or the teacher makes the most of
them using appropriate tasks. There is certainly an
argument for explaining the authentic value of the
materials to learners, as Clarke (1989) advocates,
because involving the learners in assessing the
materials leads to greater involvement and thus
potentially increased motivation. This way such
materials and lessons can be authenticated and
their learning value made clearer.
In my opinion, as authenticity includes some
complicated elements such as materials,
language in use, tasks, production, classrooms,
culture or community, the authenticity continuum
helps us understand what the important things
are for both English teachers and learners. Living
in the modern international world, it is very
important for English teachers and learners to
communicate with people who speak different
languages (Shiori, Osaka).
Again, these comments show that teachers see the
value in involving their learners with the materials
and encourage them to engage and evaluate them.
Authenticity and motivation
Not only did teachers feel that the authenticity
continuum would be helpful in their planning of
lessons and involvement of learners in the
evaluation process, but also they commented on
how it had helped them to expand their own ideas
about authenticity, which for many was a
motivating or empowering experience. In addition
to the comments I have already cited above from
Momoko and Nanako about being motivated to
use more authentic materials in class, I would draw
the reader’s attention to the following comments:
This continuum gave me wider and more flexible
ideas about ‘authenticity’. I will try to use more
various ‘authentic’ materials and be more careful
about planning ‘authentic’ tasks (Takako, Osaka).
As I stated earlier, the intention behind the
workshop was to gain some kind of praxis and to
be able to convert theories of authenticity into
something practical. Momoko stated that ‘[t]he
authenticity continuum is one of the best clues to
make English lessons practical.’ She stated that she
believed using the continuum to assess the
authenticity of the materials she was using could
make her lessons more practical because it forces
her to assess her students’ needs. Again, this
demonstrates the strong conceptual links between
authenticity and motivation.
The authenticity continuum tells me how to
evaluate the authenticity of materials, and it’s
interesting. Before I participated in this
workshop, I believed that authentic materials
were the English statements used in countries
like the UK or USA, English native countries.
However, when we evaluated the authenticity of
the Wall Street Journal according to the
continuum, its authenticity was not high. Also, by
comparing three examples of tasks, I realised
that I chose A [see figure three], the task using
an English language newspaper, as the least
authentic. I was surprised at the result myself,
and it was interesting to know that most of the
teachers here had the same choice. This
experience made me think it is important to have
several points of view, or factors, to assess the
authenticity of materials, and of course how to
use them (Aya, Tokyo).
Although widening the concept of authenticity
may endanger it by making it “too elusive to be
useful” (Gilmore, 2007: 98), what Aya has
observed here is that because of the complexity of
authenticity, it is helpful to view it as being
comprised of various dimensions because it is a
multifaceted concept. Rather like the six blind men
all touching a different part of the elephant and
coming to a different conclusion about its nature,
having just one definition for authenticity makes it
hard to get a true understanding of the concept.
Vol. 16 Spring 2014
17
Conclusion
Almost all the participants mentioned that their
concept of authenticity had changed or ‘widened’
as a result of the workshop, (30 out of 33 or 90
per cent, with one saying their concept had not
changed and two ambiguous responses). For me,
this is a great success as I feel strongly that this
wider definition authenticates L2 teachers and
would hopefully allow them to take more
ownership of the language they are teaching, thus
increasing their motivation and sense of efficacy,
which will in turn motivate the students in
feedback loops of a “reciprocal and recursive
pattern of causality” (Dörnyei & Ushioda, 2011:
191).
This exploratory practice inquiry suggests that
the authenticity continuum is mainly useful as a
way of guiding decisions about materials choice,
and as a framework for assessing materials and
how they relate to the various dimensions of
authenticity. For many teachers, I expect it would
just be something in the back of their minds when
looking over a textbook, searching for authentic
materials or planning lessons. Some teachers may
also use it to justify their use of materials in the
classroom, but overall as a practical tool I think it
might best be seen as something to be internalised
by teachers and referred to in the planning
process, rather than a model to be adhered to
strictly.
Another intention is to empower L2 teachers
specifically, and also learners, by shifting the focus
of the materials they use to something more
relevant to how they will actually experience English
as a tool for international communication.
References
Allwright, D. (2003). Exploratory practice: rethinking
practitioner research in language teaching. Language
Teaching Research 7/2, 113-41.
Canagarajah, A.S. (2005). Reclaiming the Local in Language
Policy and Practice. London: Routledge.
Clarke, D.F. (1989). Materials adaptation: why leave it
all to the teacher?. ELT Journal 43/2, 133-41.
Cook, V. (1999). Going beyond the native speaker in
language teaching. TESOL Quarterly 33/2, 185-209.
Dörnyei, Z. & Ushioda, E. (2011). Teaching and
Researching Motivation. Harlow: Longman Pearson.
Ellis, R. (2012). Language Teaching Research and Language
Pedagogy. Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell.
Gilmore, A. (2007). Authentic materials and
authenticity in foreign language learning. Language
Teaching 40/2, 97-118.
Hung, D. & Victor Chen, D.-T. (2007). Context–
process authenticity in learning: implications for
identity enculturation and boundary crossing.
Educational Technology Research and Development 55/2,
147-67.
Mills, N. (2011). Teaching assistants’ self‐efficacy in
teaching literature: sources, personal assessments,
and consequences'. The Modern Language Journal
95/1, 61-80.
Mishan, F. (2004). Authenticating corpora for language
learning: a problem and its resolution. ELT Journal
58/3, 219-27.
Moussu, L. & Llurda, E. (2008). Non-native English-
speaking English language teachers: history and
research. Language Teaching 41/03, 315-48.
Tomlinson, B. (2011). Materials Development in Language
Teaching. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Tomlinson, B. & Masuhara, H. (2010). Research for
Materials Development in Language Learning: Evidence for
Best Practice. London: Continuum.
Ushioda, E. (2011). Motivating learners to speak as
themselves. In Murray, G., Gao, X. & Lamb, M.
(eds.). Identity, Motivation and Aautonomy in Language
Learning (pp. 11 - 25). Bristol: Multilingual Matters.
Widdowson, H.G. (1978). Teaching Language as
Communication. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

More Related Content

What's hot

Creating a literate environment analysis presentation holly emery
Creating a literate environment analysis presentation holly emeryCreating a literate environment analysis presentation holly emery
Creating a literate environment analysis presentation holly emeryHolly Emery
 
New teacher content literacy march 2014
New teacher content literacy   march 2014New teacher content literacy   march 2014
New teacher content literacy march 2014Jennifer Evans
 
Educ 6706 presentation
Educ 6706 presentationEduc 6706 presentation
Educ 6706 presentationelschreib
 
Literate enviornment analysis presentation loflin
Literate enviornment analysis presentation loflinLiterate enviornment analysis presentation loflin
Literate enviornment analysis presentation loflinMelissa Morse Loflin
 
Literate environment analysis for week 7
Literate environment analysis for week 7Literate environment analysis for week 7
Literate environment analysis for week 7Valerie Robinson
 
Literate Environment Analysis
Literate Environment AnalysisLiterate Environment Analysis
Literate Environment Analysisp3mommy
 
Literate environment analysis
Literate environment analysisLiterate environment analysis
Literate environment analysisstefhop
 
Read 6706 wk7 discussion
Read 6706   wk7 discussionRead 6706   wk7 discussion
Read 6706 wk7 discussionborrelko
 
Literate Environment Analysis
Literate Environment AnalysisLiterate Environment Analysis
Literate Environment AnalysisJackie1044
 
Literate environment analysis
Literate environment analysisLiterate environment analysis
Literate environment analysisMegan Huskins
 
Walden University Educ 6706 Presentation
Walden University Educ 6706 PresentationWalden University Educ 6706 Presentation
Walden University Educ 6706 Presentationtnehring
 
Literate environment analysis presentation
Literate environment analysis presentationLiterate environment analysis presentation
Literate environment analysis presentationjenn1229
 
Literate Environment Analysis Presentation
Literate Environment Analysis PresentationLiterate Environment Analysis Presentation
Literate Environment Analysis Presentationavrilcogle
 
ORAL ENGLISH COMMNICATION 1
ORAL ENGLISH COMMNICATION 1ORAL ENGLISH COMMNICATION 1
ORAL ENGLISH COMMNICATION 1Luciano Renteria
 
Educ 6706 literate environment presentation
Educ 6706 literate environment presentationEduc 6706 literate environment presentation
Educ 6706 literate environment presentationbekahcompton
 
English materials for Skills Development
English materials for Skills DevelopmentEnglish materials for Skills Development
English materials for Skills DevelopmentZahra Mottaghi
 
Saibsa pyp job alike session on language integration
Saibsa pyp job alike session on language integrationSaibsa pyp job alike session on language integration
Saibsa pyp job alike session on language integrationPreety (Oberoi) Kochhar
 

What's hot (20)

Creating a literate environment analysis presentation holly emery
Creating a literate environment analysis presentation holly emeryCreating a literate environment analysis presentation holly emery
Creating a literate environment analysis presentation holly emery
 
New teacher content literacy march 2014
New teacher content literacy   march 2014New teacher content literacy   march 2014
New teacher content literacy march 2014
 
Educ 6706 presentation
Educ 6706 presentationEduc 6706 presentation
Educ 6706 presentation
 
Literate enviornment analysis presentation loflin
Literate enviornment analysis presentation loflinLiterate enviornment analysis presentation loflin
Literate enviornment analysis presentation loflin
 
Literate environment analysis for week 7
Literate environment analysis for week 7Literate environment analysis for week 7
Literate environment analysis for week 7
 
Literate Environment Analysis
Literate Environment AnalysisLiterate Environment Analysis
Literate Environment Analysis
 
Module #3
Module #3Module #3
Module #3
 
Psychology for language teachers
Psychology for language teachersPsychology for language teachers
Psychology for language teachers
 
Literate environment analysis
Literate environment analysisLiterate environment analysis
Literate environment analysis
 
Read 6706 wk7 discussion
Read 6706   wk7 discussionRead 6706   wk7 discussion
Read 6706 wk7 discussion
 
Literate Environment Analysis
Literate Environment AnalysisLiterate Environment Analysis
Literate Environment Analysis
 
The 6th Pillar of Reading
The 6th Pillar of ReadingThe 6th Pillar of Reading
The 6th Pillar of Reading
 
Literate environment analysis
Literate environment analysisLiterate environment analysis
Literate environment analysis
 
Walden University Educ 6706 Presentation
Walden University Educ 6706 PresentationWalden University Educ 6706 Presentation
Walden University Educ 6706 Presentation
 
Literate environment analysis presentation
Literate environment analysis presentationLiterate environment analysis presentation
Literate environment analysis presentation
 
Literate Environment Analysis Presentation
Literate Environment Analysis PresentationLiterate Environment Analysis Presentation
Literate Environment Analysis Presentation
 
ORAL ENGLISH COMMNICATION 1
ORAL ENGLISH COMMNICATION 1ORAL ENGLISH COMMNICATION 1
ORAL ENGLISH COMMNICATION 1
 
Educ 6706 literate environment presentation
Educ 6706 literate environment presentationEduc 6706 literate environment presentation
Educ 6706 literate environment presentation
 
English materials for Skills Development
English materials for Skills DevelopmentEnglish materials for Skills Development
English materials for Skills Development
 
Saibsa pyp job alike session on language integration
Saibsa pyp job alike session on language integrationSaibsa pyp job alike session on language integration
Saibsa pyp job alike session on language integration
 

Similar to The Authenticity Continuum: Empowering International Voices

Using and Adapting Authentic Materials to Motivate Students - Handout
Using and Adapting Authentic Materials to Motivate Students - HandoutUsing and Adapting Authentic Materials to Motivate Students - Handout
Using and Adapting Authentic Materials to Motivate Students - HandoutRichard Pinner
 
Radical Behaviorists Essay
Radical Behaviorists EssayRadical Behaviorists Essay
Radical Behaviorists EssayMeghan Howard
 
Final Presentation
Final PresentationFinal Presentation
Final Presentationedac4co
 
Adopting Social Networking Sites (SNSs) As Interactive Communities Among Engl...
Adopting Social Networking Sites (SNSs) As Interactive Communities Among Engl...Adopting Social Networking Sites (SNSs) As Interactive Communities Among Engl...
Adopting Social Networking Sites (SNSs) As Interactive Communities Among Engl...Scott Donald
 
Information and language for effective communication
Information and language  for effective communicationInformation and language  for effective communication
Information and language for effective communicationSammy Pitoy
 
The Impact Of Bilingual Languages Into The Classroom Essay
The Impact Of Bilingual Languages Into The Classroom EssayThe Impact Of Bilingual Languages Into The Classroom Essay
The Impact Of Bilingual Languages Into The Classroom EssayAmanda Barber
 
Advantages And Disadvantages Of Vocabulary Learning
Advantages And Disadvantages Of Vocabulary LearningAdvantages And Disadvantages Of Vocabulary Learning
Advantages And Disadvantages Of Vocabulary LearningLindsey Jones
 
Ace Intercultural Dimensions Of Task Based Learning For Authentic Communication
Ace Intercultural Dimensions Of Task Based Learning For Authentic CommunicationAce Intercultural Dimensions Of Task Based Learning For Authentic Communication
Ace Intercultural Dimensions Of Task Based Learning For Authentic CommunicationDavid Brooks
 
Preparing future academicsclaim1and2
Preparing future academicsclaim1and2Preparing future academicsclaim1and2
Preparing future academicsclaim1and2Nettie Boivin
 
Research paper arnoldo cabrera
Research paper arnoldo cabreraResearch paper arnoldo cabrera
Research paper arnoldo cabreraGustavo Catalan
 
the communicative approach
the communicative approachthe communicative approach
the communicative approachnurul fitriana
 
Engaging Ideas for the L2 classroom
Engaging Ideas for the L2 classroomEngaging Ideas for the L2 classroom
Engaging Ideas for the L2 classroomBrent Jones
 
Pedagogy In Education And Class Politics
Pedagogy In Education And Class PoliticsPedagogy In Education And Class Politics
Pedagogy In Education And Class PoliticsBrooke Curtis
 

Similar to The Authenticity Continuum: Empowering International Voices (20)

Using and Adapting Authentic Materials to Motivate Students - Handout
Using and Adapting Authentic Materials to Motivate Students - HandoutUsing and Adapting Authentic Materials to Motivate Students - Handout
Using and Adapting Authentic Materials to Motivate Students - Handout
 
Lesson-1-ENG106.ppt.pptx
Lesson-1-ENG106.ppt.pptxLesson-1-ENG106.ppt.pptx
Lesson-1-ENG106.ppt.pptx
 
Second Language Learning Essay
Second Language Learning EssaySecond Language Learning Essay
Second Language Learning Essay
 
Radical Behaviorists Essay
Radical Behaviorists EssayRadical Behaviorists Essay
Radical Behaviorists Essay
 
Final Presentation
Final PresentationFinal Presentation
Final Presentation
 
Adopting Social Networking Sites (SNSs) As Interactive Communities Among Engl...
Adopting Social Networking Sites (SNSs) As Interactive Communities Among Engl...Adopting Social Networking Sites (SNSs) As Interactive Communities Among Engl...
Adopting Social Networking Sites (SNSs) As Interactive Communities Among Engl...
 
Information and language for effective communication
Information and language  for effective communicationInformation and language  for effective communication
Information and language for effective communication
 
The Impact Of Bilingual Languages Into The Classroom Essay
The Impact Of Bilingual Languages Into The Classroom EssayThe Impact Of Bilingual Languages Into The Classroom Essay
The Impact Of Bilingual Languages Into The Classroom Essay
 
Advantages And Disadvantages Of Vocabulary Learning
Advantages And Disadvantages Of Vocabulary LearningAdvantages And Disadvantages Of Vocabulary Learning
Advantages And Disadvantages Of Vocabulary Learning
 
Language learning pathways: The Ecology and semiotics of LL
Language learning pathways: The Ecology and semiotics of LLLanguage learning pathways: The Ecology and semiotics of LL
Language learning pathways: The Ecology and semiotics of LL
 
Ace Intercultural Dimensions Of Task Based Learning For Authentic Communication
Ace Intercultural Dimensions Of Task Based Learning For Authentic CommunicationAce Intercultural Dimensions Of Task Based Learning For Authentic Communication
Ace Intercultural Dimensions Of Task Based Learning For Authentic Communication
 
Preparing future academicsclaim1and2
Preparing future academicsclaim1and2Preparing future academicsclaim1and2
Preparing future academicsclaim1and2
 
Research paper arnoldo cabrera
Research paper arnoldo cabreraResearch paper arnoldo cabrera
Research paper arnoldo cabrera
 
Communicative Approach
Communicative ApproachCommunicative Approach
Communicative Approach
 
Chapter 4 (1)
Chapter 4 (1)Chapter 4 (1)
Chapter 4 (1)
 
the communicative approach
the communicative approachthe communicative approach
the communicative approach
 
Gllt ch3 sec1
Gllt ch3 sec1Gllt ch3 sec1
Gllt ch3 sec1
 
Essay-communicative_approaches
Essay-communicative_approachesEssay-communicative_approaches
Essay-communicative_approaches
 
Engaging Ideas for the L2 classroom
Engaging Ideas for the L2 classroomEngaging Ideas for the L2 classroom
Engaging Ideas for the L2 classroom
 
Pedagogy In Education And Class Politics
Pedagogy In Education And Class PoliticsPedagogy In Education And Class Politics
Pedagogy In Education And Class Politics
 

More from Richard Pinner

Me and My Memes: EFL students’ memes and their role in participatory culture
Me and My Memes: EFL students’ memes and their role in participatory cultureMe and My Memes: EFL students’ memes and their role in participatory culture
Me and My Memes: EFL students’ memes and their role in participatory cultureRichard Pinner
 
Using & Adapting Authentic Materials To Help Motivate Students 2021 Handout
Using & Adapting Authentic Materials To Help Motivate Students 2021 HandoutUsing & Adapting Authentic Materials To Help Motivate Students 2021 Handout
Using & Adapting Authentic Materials To Help Motivate Students 2021 HandoutRichard Pinner
 
Authenticity and Metacognition
Authenticity and MetacognitionAuthenticity and Metacognition
Authenticity and MetacognitionRichard Pinner
 
How to Integrate Content and Language in CLIL Pedagogy Theories and Examples
How to Integrate Content and Language in CLIL Pedagogy Theories and ExamplesHow to Integrate Content and Language in CLIL Pedagogy Theories and Examples
How to Integrate Content and Language in CLIL Pedagogy Theories and ExamplesRichard Pinner
 
‘Concept+Language Mapping’ (CLM) as an Innovative Approach to CLIL
‘Concept+Language Mapping’ (CLM) as an Innovative Approach to CLIL‘Concept+Language Mapping’ (CLM) as an Innovative Approach to CLIL
‘Concept+Language Mapping’ (CLM) as an Innovative Approach to CLILRichard Pinner
 
Prof. barbara seidlhofer
Prof. barbara seidlhoferProf. barbara seidlhofer
Prof. barbara seidlhoferRichard Pinner
 
The maximisation of learning in CLIL by transregister and translanguaging
The maximisation of learning in CLIL by transregister and translanguagingThe maximisation of learning in CLIL by transregister and translanguaging
The maximisation of learning in CLIL by transregister and translanguagingRichard Pinner
 
CLIL in general and CLIL in Japan Principles, types and implementations
CLIL in general and CLIL in Japan Principles, types and implementationsCLIL in general and CLIL in Japan Principles, types and implementations
CLIL in general and CLIL in Japan Principles, types and implementationsRichard Pinner
 
‘CLIL and EMI in the Japanese context –Is clear demarcation possible?: an ELF...
‘CLIL and EMI in the Japanese context –Is clear demarcation possible?: an ELF...‘CLIL and EMI in the Japanese context –Is clear demarcation possible?: an ELF...
‘CLIL and EMI in the Japanese context –Is clear demarcation possible?: an ELF...Richard Pinner
 
The Meaning of 'Standard English' in Japan's English Education and its Role i...
The Meaning of 'Standard English' in Japan's English Education and its Role i...The Meaning of 'Standard English' in Japan's English Education and its Role i...
The Meaning of 'Standard English' in Japan's English Education and its Role i...Richard Pinner
 
Context and Language Integrated Learning?
Context and Language Integrated Learning?Context and Language Integrated Learning?
Context and Language Integrated Learning?Richard Pinner
 
EMI and CLIL and ELF: how do they relate?
EMI and CLIL and ELF: how do they relate?EMI and CLIL and ELF: how do they relate?
EMI and CLIL and ELF: how do they relate?Richard Pinner
 
CLIL Workshop with Rosie Tanner
CLIL Workshop with Rosie TannerCLIL Workshop with Rosie Tanner
CLIL Workshop with Rosie TannerRichard Pinner
 
言語政策と語学教育 Clil lecture jan 2017
言語政策と語学教育 Clil lecture jan 2017言語政策と語学教育 Clil lecture jan 2017
言語政策と語学教育 Clil lecture jan 2017Richard Pinner
 
Clil型中国語授業の試み(ネットアップ版)
Clil型中国語授業の試み(ネットアップ版)Clil型中国語授業の試み(ネットアップ版)
Clil型中国語授業の試み(ネットアップ版)Richard Pinner
 
2017 clil symposium_poster_x
2017 clil symposium_poster_x2017 clil symposium_poster_x
2017 clil symposium_poster_xRichard Pinner
 
早稲田Clilポスター
早稲田Clilポスター早稲田Clilポスター
早稲田ClilポスターRichard Pinner
 

More from Richard Pinner (20)

Me and My Memes: EFL students’ memes and their role in participatory culture
Me and My Memes: EFL students’ memes and their role in participatory cultureMe and My Memes: EFL students’ memes and their role in participatory culture
Me and My Memes: EFL students’ memes and their role in participatory culture
 
Using & Adapting Authentic Materials To Help Motivate Students 2021 Handout
Using & Adapting Authentic Materials To Help Motivate Students 2021 HandoutUsing & Adapting Authentic Materials To Help Motivate Students 2021 Handout
Using & Adapting Authentic Materials To Help Motivate Students 2021 Handout
 
Authenticity and Metacognition
Authenticity and MetacognitionAuthenticity and Metacognition
Authenticity and Metacognition
 
How to Integrate Content and Language in CLIL Pedagogy Theories and Examples
How to Integrate Content and Language in CLIL Pedagogy Theories and ExamplesHow to Integrate Content and Language in CLIL Pedagogy Theories and Examples
How to Integrate Content and Language in CLIL Pedagogy Theories and Examples
 
‘Concept+Language Mapping’ (CLM) as an Innovative Approach to CLIL
‘Concept+Language Mapping’ (CLM) as an Innovative Approach to CLIL‘Concept+Language Mapping’ (CLM) as an Innovative Approach to CLIL
‘Concept+Language Mapping’ (CLM) as an Innovative Approach to CLIL
 
Prof. barbara seidlhofer
Prof. barbara seidlhoferProf. barbara seidlhofer
Prof. barbara seidlhofer
 
Prof. henry widdowson
Prof. henry widdowsonProf. henry widdowson
Prof. henry widdowson
 
The maximisation of learning in CLIL by transregister and translanguaging
The maximisation of learning in CLIL by transregister and translanguagingThe maximisation of learning in CLIL by transregister and translanguaging
The maximisation of learning in CLIL by transregister and translanguaging
 
CLIL in general and CLIL in Japan Principles, types and implementations
CLIL in general and CLIL in Japan Principles, types and implementationsCLIL in general and CLIL in Japan Principles, types and implementations
CLIL in general and CLIL in Japan Principles, types and implementations
 
‘CLIL and EMI in the Japanese context –Is clear demarcation possible?: an ELF...
‘CLIL and EMI in the Japanese context –Is clear demarcation possible?: an ELF...‘CLIL and EMI in the Japanese context –Is clear demarcation possible?: an ELF...
‘CLIL and EMI in the Japanese context –Is clear demarcation possible?: an ELF...
 
The Meaning of 'Standard English' in Japan's English Education and its Role i...
The Meaning of 'Standard English' in Japan's English Education and its Role i...The Meaning of 'Standard English' in Japan's English Education and its Role i...
The Meaning of 'Standard English' in Japan's English Education and its Role i...
 
Context and Language Integrated Learning?
Context and Language Integrated Learning?Context and Language Integrated Learning?
Context and Language Integrated Learning?
 
EMI and CLIL and ELF: how do they relate?
EMI and CLIL and ELF: how do they relate?EMI and CLIL and ELF: how do they relate?
EMI and CLIL and ELF: how do they relate?
 
CLIL Workshop with Rosie Tanner
CLIL Workshop with Rosie TannerCLIL Workshop with Rosie Tanner
CLIL Workshop with Rosie Tanner
 
言語政策と語学教育 Clil lecture jan 2017
言語政策と語学教育 Clil lecture jan 2017言語政策と語学教育 Clil lecture jan 2017
言語政策と語学教育 Clil lecture jan 2017
 
初習言語Clil
初習言語Clil初習言語Clil
初習言語Clil
 
English demo
English demoEnglish demo
English demo
 
Clil型中国語授業の試み(ネットアップ版)
Clil型中国語授業の試み(ネットアップ版)Clil型中国語授業の試み(ネットアップ版)
Clil型中国語授業の試み(ネットアップ版)
 
2017 clil symposium_poster_x
2017 clil symposium_poster_x2017 clil symposium_poster_x
2017 clil symposium_poster_x
 
早稲田Clilポスター
早稲田Clilポスター早稲田Clilポスター
早稲田Clilポスター
 

Recently uploaded

How to Use api.constrains ( ) in Odoo 17
How to Use api.constrains ( ) in Odoo 17How to Use api.constrains ( ) in Odoo 17
How to Use api.constrains ( ) in Odoo 17Celine George
 
Patient Counselling. Definition of patient counseling; steps involved in pati...
Patient Counselling. Definition of patient counseling; steps involved in pati...Patient Counselling. Definition of patient counseling; steps involved in pati...
Patient Counselling. Definition of patient counseling; steps involved in pati...raviapr7
 
Practical Research 1: Lesson 8 Writing the Thesis Statement.pptx
Practical Research 1: Lesson 8 Writing the Thesis Statement.pptxPractical Research 1: Lesson 8 Writing the Thesis Statement.pptx
Practical Research 1: Lesson 8 Writing the Thesis Statement.pptxKatherine Villaluna
 
Education and training program in the hospital APR.pptx
Education and training program in the hospital APR.pptxEducation and training program in the hospital APR.pptx
Education and training program in the hospital APR.pptxraviapr7
 
UKCGE Parental Leave Discussion March 2024
UKCGE Parental Leave Discussion March 2024UKCGE Parental Leave Discussion March 2024
UKCGE Parental Leave Discussion March 2024UKCGE
 
Easter in the USA presentation by Chloe.
Easter in the USA presentation by Chloe.Easter in the USA presentation by Chloe.
Easter in the USA presentation by Chloe.EnglishCEIPdeSigeiro
 
How to Show Error_Warning Messages in Odoo 17
How to Show Error_Warning Messages in Odoo 17How to Show Error_Warning Messages in Odoo 17
How to Show Error_Warning Messages in Odoo 17Celine George
 
CHUYÊN ĐỀ DẠY THÊM TIẾNG ANH LỚP 11 - GLOBAL SUCCESS - NĂM HỌC 2023-2024 - HK...
CHUYÊN ĐỀ DẠY THÊM TIẾNG ANH LỚP 11 - GLOBAL SUCCESS - NĂM HỌC 2023-2024 - HK...CHUYÊN ĐỀ DẠY THÊM TIẾNG ANH LỚP 11 - GLOBAL SUCCESS - NĂM HỌC 2023-2024 - HK...
CHUYÊN ĐỀ DẠY THÊM TIẾNG ANH LỚP 11 - GLOBAL SUCCESS - NĂM HỌC 2023-2024 - HK...Nguyen Thanh Tu Collection
 
What is the Future of QuickBooks DeskTop?
What is the Future of QuickBooks DeskTop?What is the Future of QuickBooks DeskTop?
What is the Future of QuickBooks DeskTop?TechSoup
 
5 charts on South Africa as a source country for international student recrui...
5 charts on South Africa as a source country for international student recrui...5 charts on South Africa as a source country for international student recrui...
5 charts on South Africa as a source country for international student recrui...CaraSkikne1
 
Presentation on the Basics of Writing. Writing a Paragraph
Presentation on the Basics of Writing. Writing a ParagraphPresentation on the Basics of Writing. Writing a Paragraph
Presentation on the Basics of Writing. Writing a ParagraphNetziValdelomar1
 
Philosophy of Education and Educational Philosophy
Philosophy of Education  and Educational PhilosophyPhilosophy of Education  and Educational Philosophy
Philosophy of Education and Educational PhilosophyShuvankar Madhu
 
Drug Information Services- DIC and Sources.
Drug Information Services- DIC and Sources.Drug Information Services- DIC and Sources.
Drug Information Services- DIC and Sources.raviapr7
 
PISA-VET launch_El Iza Mohamedou_19 March 2024.pptx
PISA-VET launch_El Iza Mohamedou_19 March 2024.pptxPISA-VET launch_El Iza Mohamedou_19 March 2024.pptx
PISA-VET launch_El Iza Mohamedou_19 March 2024.pptxEduSkills OECD
 
Benefits & Challenges of Inclusive Education
Benefits & Challenges of Inclusive EducationBenefits & Challenges of Inclusive Education
Benefits & Challenges of Inclusive EducationMJDuyan
 
AUDIENCE THEORY -- FANDOM -- JENKINS.pptx
AUDIENCE THEORY -- FANDOM -- JENKINS.pptxAUDIENCE THEORY -- FANDOM -- JENKINS.pptx
AUDIENCE THEORY -- FANDOM -- JENKINS.pptxiammrhaywood
 
Diploma in Nursing Admission Test Question Solution 2023.pdf
Diploma in Nursing Admission Test Question Solution 2023.pdfDiploma in Nursing Admission Test Question Solution 2023.pdf
Diploma in Nursing Admission Test Question Solution 2023.pdfMohonDas
 
General views of Histopathology and step
General views of Histopathology and stepGeneral views of Histopathology and step
General views of Histopathology and stepobaje godwin sunday
 
How to Make a Field read-only in Odoo 17
How to Make a Field read-only in Odoo 17How to Make a Field read-only in Odoo 17
How to Make a Field read-only in Odoo 17Celine George
 
P4C x ELT = P4ELT: Its Theoretical Background (Kanazawa, 2024 March).pdf
P4C x ELT = P4ELT: Its Theoretical Background (Kanazawa, 2024 March).pdfP4C x ELT = P4ELT: Its Theoretical Background (Kanazawa, 2024 March).pdf
P4C x ELT = P4ELT: Its Theoretical Background (Kanazawa, 2024 March).pdfYu Kanazawa / Osaka University
 

Recently uploaded (20)

How to Use api.constrains ( ) in Odoo 17
How to Use api.constrains ( ) in Odoo 17How to Use api.constrains ( ) in Odoo 17
How to Use api.constrains ( ) in Odoo 17
 
Patient Counselling. Definition of patient counseling; steps involved in pati...
Patient Counselling. Definition of patient counseling; steps involved in pati...Patient Counselling. Definition of patient counseling; steps involved in pati...
Patient Counselling. Definition of patient counseling; steps involved in pati...
 
Practical Research 1: Lesson 8 Writing the Thesis Statement.pptx
Practical Research 1: Lesson 8 Writing the Thesis Statement.pptxPractical Research 1: Lesson 8 Writing the Thesis Statement.pptx
Practical Research 1: Lesson 8 Writing the Thesis Statement.pptx
 
Education and training program in the hospital APR.pptx
Education and training program in the hospital APR.pptxEducation and training program in the hospital APR.pptx
Education and training program in the hospital APR.pptx
 
UKCGE Parental Leave Discussion March 2024
UKCGE Parental Leave Discussion March 2024UKCGE Parental Leave Discussion March 2024
UKCGE Parental Leave Discussion March 2024
 
Easter in the USA presentation by Chloe.
Easter in the USA presentation by Chloe.Easter in the USA presentation by Chloe.
Easter in the USA presentation by Chloe.
 
How to Show Error_Warning Messages in Odoo 17
How to Show Error_Warning Messages in Odoo 17How to Show Error_Warning Messages in Odoo 17
How to Show Error_Warning Messages in Odoo 17
 
CHUYÊN ĐỀ DẠY THÊM TIẾNG ANH LỚP 11 - GLOBAL SUCCESS - NĂM HỌC 2023-2024 - HK...
CHUYÊN ĐỀ DẠY THÊM TIẾNG ANH LỚP 11 - GLOBAL SUCCESS - NĂM HỌC 2023-2024 - HK...CHUYÊN ĐỀ DẠY THÊM TIẾNG ANH LỚP 11 - GLOBAL SUCCESS - NĂM HỌC 2023-2024 - HK...
CHUYÊN ĐỀ DẠY THÊM TIẾNG ANH LỚP 11 - GLOBAL SUCCESS - NĂM HỌC 2023-2024 - HK...
 
What is the Future of QuickBooks DeskTop?
What is the Future of QuickBooks DeskTop?What is the Future of QuickBooks DeskTop?
What is the Future of QuickBooks DeskTop?
 
5 charts on South Africa as a source country for international student recrui...
5 charts on South Africa as a source country for international student recrui...5 charts on South Africa as a source country for international student recrui...
5 charts on South Africa as a source country for international student recrui...
 
Presentation on the Basics of Writing. Writing a Paragraph
Presentation on the Basics of Writing. Writing a ParagraphPresentation on the Basics of Writing. Writing a Paragraph
Presentation on the Basics of Writing. Writing a Paragraph
 
Philosophy of Education and Educational Philosophy
Philosophy of Education  and Educational PhilosophyPhilosophy of Education  and Educational Philosophy
Philosophy of Education and Educational Philosophy
 
Drug Information Services- DIC and Sources.
Drug Information Services- DIC and Sources.Drug Information Services- DIC and Sources.
Drug Information Services- DIC and Sources.
 
PISA-VET launch_El Iza Mohamedou_19 March 2024.pptx
PISA-VET launch_El Iza Mohamedou_19 March 2024.pptxPISA-VET launch_El Iza Mohamedou_19 March 2024.pptx
PISA-VET launch_El Iza Mohamedou_19 March 2024.pptx
 
Benefits & Challenges of Inclusive Education
Benefits & Challenges of Inclusive EducationBenefits & Challenges of Inclusive Education
Benefits & Challenges of Inclusive Education
 
AUDIENCE THEORY -- FANDOM -- JENKINS.pptx
AUDIENCE THEORY -- FANDOM -- JENKINS.pptxAUDIENCE THEORY -- FANDOM -- JENKINS.pptx
AUDIENCE THEORY -- FANDOM -- JENKINS.pptx
 
Diploma in Nursing Admission Test Question Solution 2023.pdf
Diploma in Nursing Admission Test Question Solution 2023.pdfDiploma in Nursing Admission Test Question Solution 2023.pdf
Diploma in Nursing Admission Test Question Solution 2023.pdf
 
General views of Histopathology and step
General views of Histopathology and stepGeneral views of Histopathology and step
General views of Histopathology and step
 
How to Make a Field read-only in Odoo 17
How to Make a Field read-only in Odoo 17How to Make a Field read-only in Odoo 17
How to Make a Field read-only in Odoo 17
 
P4C x ELT = P4ELT: Its Theoretical Background (Kanazawa, 2024 March).pdf
P4C x ELT = P4ELT: Its Theoretical Background (Kanazawa, 2024 March).pdfP4C x ELT = P4ELT: Its Theoretical Background (Kanazawa, 2024 March).pdf
P4C x ELT = P4ELT: Its Theoretical Background (Kanazawa, 2024 March).pdf
 

The Authenticity Continuum: Empowering International Voices

  • 1. Vol. 16 Spring 2014 9 THE AUTHENTICITY CONTINUUM: EMPOWERING INTERNATIONAL VOICES Richard Pinner Introduction This paper outlines a workshop which I conducted in Tokyo and Osaka in 2013 as part of an INSET program accredited by the Japanese Ministry of Sports, Education and Culture (MEXT). The course, entitled Using and Adapting Authentic Materials to Help Motivate Students, aims to give teachers a better understanding of the concept of authenticity as it realigns itself with the way English is used and taught around the world for international communication. My aims as the teacher/researcher were to understand more about how L2 teachers of English perceive the notion of authenticity and how this concept could be broadened to try and empower L2 users of English by helping them to start reconceptualising authenticity from a more international perspective. This paper first looks at some of the issues that arise when attempting to define authenticity and then, building on the distinctions laid out by Widdowson (1978), that authenticity is not something absolute but relative to learners, I suggest that authenticity might be best viewed as a continuum which incorporates international voices and moves away from culturally embedded definitions. With that in place I will describe the contents of the workshop, followed by an explanation of the data I collected as part of the workshop and how analysis showed that participants reported the notion of an authenticity continuum to be empowering and even increased their motivation to try and make their own classes more authentic. The Authenticity Continuum: an attempt at synthesis For an excellent overview of authenticity in language teaching and over a century of its history, see Gilmore (2007) who summarised the numerous different and often overlapping definitions of authenticity. Gilmore identifies eight inter-related definitions which I have further condensed into a simple diagram (see: Figure 1). Clearly, with these definitions there is a great deal of variety and overlap, each one has its place in the overall picture yet one by one they are insufficient to give a complete view. In choosing only one, for example number two, the ‘real’ definition, at first glance this would seem to be the most commonly used definition by teachers wishing to expose their students to learning materials which have not been created or doctored for language teaching purposes but remain ‘authentic’ in that they had a purpose in the real world beyond the transmission of declarative knowledge (Tomlinson & Masuhara, 2010). The problem with defining authenticity in this way, or using any single definition, is that in order to bring this language into the classroom, it needs to be captured, preserved and then somehow taught or at least presented to the students (Widdowson, 1978). This seems analogous to planting a single tree in order to study a forest, or what Hung and Victor Chen (2007) call extrapolation approaches. Language is heavily pragmatic and context dependant (Mishan, 2004). Of course, not all authentic texts lose their context just because they are brought into the language classroom, but extrapolation approaches to authenticity are quite limited because they lack much of the process of personal engagement required to make them interesting and relevant to the learners. In other words, we can take the material out of the real world but the material’s purpose changes and cannot be transferred into the classroom. With this change in purpose comes a change in relevance to the real world, and Tomlinson (2011: 11) includes both relevance and usefulness as essential components to the development of language learning materials, based on principles from research in second language acquisition. In order to develop a more inclusive concept of authenticity, rather than trying for a single definition, authenticity should perhaps be seen as a continuum with various dimensions (see: Figure 2).
  • 2. Vol. 16 Spring 2014 10 Figure 1. Gilmore’s (2007) eight inter-related definitions. Figure 2. The authenticity continuum. • the language produced by native speakers for native speakers in a particular language community1. Native • the language produced by a real speaker/writer for a real audience, conveying a real message2. Real • the qualities bestowed on a text by the receiver, in that it is not seen as something inherent in a text itself, but is imparted on it by the reader/listener3. Self • the interaction between students and teachers as a ‘personal process of engagement’4. Classroom • the types of task chosen5. Task • the social situation of the classroom6. Social • specifically the 'target language use domain' which is connected to the validity of language tests to be able to connect test-tasks to uses in the real world7. Assessment • culture, and the ability to behave or think like a target language group in order to be recognized and validated by them8. Culture contextcontext social social communityindividual reality classroom authenticity
  • 3. Vol. 16 Spring 2014 11 The authenticity continuum has two main axes, contextual and social. The contextual axis represents where the language is being used or intended for use. At one end is the classroom: a supportive environment where the primary focus is on acquiring new and practising known language and building on this. Assessment will also be part of the classroom environment too, so relevance to syllabus and achievement goals will also be considered, in-line with what Gilmore (2007) advocates when he states that authentic materials should focus on learning aims. At the other end of this axis is the real world, which is not necessarily opposite to the classroom situation but the supportive environment and learning dimensions are no longer prevalent, instead actual use for a purpose beyond learning characterises this dimension. This could be in a business situation or traveling abroad, or any type of environment where the language is used for its own sake, as a tool for communication with speakers of the target language. Along the social axis, at one end is the individual or the speaker/learner with their needs and personal reasons for learning – their motivations for learning. By motivation, I mean a complex, dynamic psychological system with multiple facets which can be attributed to the reasons behind actions taken by individuals. This is closely related to what Ushioda (2011) calls for when she advocates a person in-context relational view of motivation, and this way a strong conceptual link is forged between authenticity and motivation. At the other end of the social axis is the target language use community, the people who the learner/speaker intends to interact with. This could be speaking to a person from another linguistic community, such as a friend or stranger asking directions on the street. It might be colleagues from an overseas office or even an in- law from an international marriage within the family. Basically community represents any group or individual with whom the user will engage in communication using the target language. Practical Examples To show an example of how the authenticity continuum can be used to evaluate the authenticity of a material, a task or even lesson, I will provide two examples and plot them onto the proposed continuum. The first example comes from a class entitled discussions on contemporary topics which I taught to English-majors at Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan. I set a video project as the final assessment for this class, one that could be uploaded to YouTube or other public video sharing sites. As a class, we negotiated the marking criteria together, but one of my stipulations was that the project should feature relevance beyond the classroom. One of the most impressive projects featured a group having badges printed which they sold on campus and then donated the money they raised to a world hunger charity. After learning that 1.4 billion people live on less than $1.25 a day, as part of their video project the students attempted to live on $1.25 for a whole day, and they recorded what they ate in order to prove the point that it was not enough1. Clearly, this group was highly motivated, and they went above and beyond what was required of them for class. I believe one reason for this was the shared belief that what they were doing was highly authentic. If I was to plot this activity on the authenticity continuum (see: Figure 3), it would score highly on all four dimensions of authenticity, being highly relevant to the real world (donating money to charity) but also having been assessed as part of the class. It also had a strong connection with the target language community (being uploaded onto YouTube for others to watch and comment on) but also having been decided on by the students themselves and chosen because of their own interests and passions (students had a lot of autonomy in terms of choice of topic and formed groups based around these choices). By reconceptualising authenticity as a continuum, almost any classroom material or interaction can be evaluated to see how it relates to the different areas of authenticity. For example, a Graded Reader (see: Figure 4) which has been abridged for a particular level might not be seen as authentic under previous definitions of authenticity, in that it exists specifically for language learning purposes. However, Graded Readers would certainly count as authentic in that they provide an experience of the language and do not focus specifically on declarative knowledge. If a student has selected the Graded Reader themselves or it is relevant or of interest to them, Graded Readers would score highly on the User section of the spectrum, although they might fare less well on Community and Reality because they have been abridged and may bear only a slight resemblance to the original text. 1 You can view the final video at http://youtu.be/iMmofI9PMt8. Please be sure to leave encouraging comments!
  • 4. Vol. 16 Spring 2014 12 Figure 3. Video project – awareness campaign and raising money for charity. Figure 4. A Graded Reader chosen by the student for self-study.
  • 5. Vol. 16 Spring 2014 13 I would like to stress that although these diagrams plot authenticity according to their relevance to extremes on a continuum, the purpose of the continuum is not to measure authenticity but to validate the various and equally important dimensions of authenticity. These measurements are indications only and of course as a result they are rather general. Considering authenticity as a continuum is not a new proposal (Hung & Victor Chen, 2007) but it tries to achieve a synthesis between the various definitions and calls for best practice in authenticity in language learning materials. The Workshop: an attempt at praxis In Japan, MEXT has decreed that teachers must undertake a certain number of accredited teacher training workshops in order to renew their teaching licence every ten years. I was invited to run one of these workshops at Sophia University, where I am a faculty member. This was the third year I had run the same workshop, entitled Using and Adapting Authentic Materials to Help Motivate Students. I taught the session twice in 2013, once in Osaka (n=10) and once in Tokyo (n=25) to a total of 35 Japanese teachers of English, mainly at High School level. The workshop is given entirely in English, although participants can of course communicate with each other in their native Japanese. There are four parts to the workshop, each lasting 90 minutes. At the end of the session, in order to give the participants credits towards the renewal of their licence we must set an assessment of some form and collect data as evidence of participation. I used the opportunity to set the assessment as a reflective essay about how the participants’ ideas about authenticity may have shifted over the course of the session, since part of my aim as the teacher/researcher was to gain an understanding of their perceptions of authenticity and to see how they would react to a definition based around a continuum incorporating international voices. The fact that the data I collected were from pedagogical sources, natural products of what happened in the training course anyway, means that the study’s methodology falls under the exploratory practice framework because “exploratory research embeds data collection into the actual practice of teaching” (Ellis, 2012: 31). I included a tick-box at the bottom of the sheet to ask if teachers consented to my using their responses in the study to ensure the data collection was in-line with ethical guidelines, and not all of the participants opted in (2 out of 35 chose to opt out, their data was omitted from the coding), so the total number of participants in the study was n=33. This study further belongs to exploratory practice because I am trying to understand something about my own practice (both as a teacher and as a teacher trainer) but I am not necessarily going to change my own practice, initially all I am seeking at this point is, paraphrasing Allwright (2003), a deeper understanding of the central puzzle, in this case authenticity as it is viewed by L2 teachers. Despite being the least practical, the first session for me was the most important one in laying the groundwork for the rest of the workshop. This workshop is very much about achieving praxis – the conversion of theory into practice. It is vital that participants broaden their definition of authenticity in order to incorporate themselves and their own classes into that definition. In the first session, I started off by asking the participants for their definition of authenticity and then, after discussing in groups, I asked ‘how many of you mentioned native- speakers in your definition?’. I made a note in my teaching journal that at least one person from each group raised their hands. After this, I talked participants through Gilmore’s (2007) famous eight inter-related definitions and participants discussed them in groups. After which, I explained the idea of authenticity as a continuum, although I do not provide any references for the continuum or state that it is of my own devising, so as to try and keep participants responses in the data more honest. During the session, there is also an activity where participants are given three examples of different texts and tasks and asked to rate which one they find most authentic (see: Figure 5). I noted in my teaching journal that example C was rated as the most authentic by a large majority (77 per cent in Tokyo and 90 per cent in Osaka), after which example B came second, with the ‘classic’ newspaper example C coming last of all.
  • 6. Vol. 16 Spring 2014 14 Figure 5. Authenticity task rating exercise. After the first session, I move on to the methodology section, in which the theories and definition discussed in the first session are put into practical terms, looking at how these theories will influence classroom materials. This is achieved by a detailed examination of the nature of English as a global language and how this has forced authenticity to be re-examined for contemporary English use. Although this in itself is not a new idea or particularly radical, since the participants are L2 teachers, many of whom live in the shadow of native speakers (Cook, 1999), it is intended to be empowering and to help participants move away from the native-speaker definitions that are often still embedded in their minds. Teachers’ concept of themselves as L2 teachers of English may severely impact their self-image and professional efficacy (Moussu & Llurda, 2008). The remainder of the session is a practical workshop where participants adapt various authentic materials and create a lesson plan around these materials which they present to the rest of the group. The final session is geared around multimedia tools and how these can be exploited to create meaningful interaction with other groups, such as international online exchange programs or remote access field trips. At the end of the session, the assessment is set as a one hour written report, which also featured an optional questionnaire. This was where the majority of data for the current study came from. The Study: an attempt at reflection This study collected data from two groups of teachers during an INSET training activity which was part of a MEXT accredited training course. After the course, participants were asked to write a reflective paper (either in English or Japanese, 3 out of 33 wrote in Japanese which was then translated by the author and a native speaker of Japanese) which was then typed up onto the computer for coding and analysis. The question at the top of the reflective paper was: What is your opinion about the authenticity continuum? Has your idea about authenticity changed by participating in this workshop? In what way (if any)? Most of the data are qualitative, and the study design was based on exploratory practice. Although at times I present data in a way which quantifies the responses, the majority of data analysis was done in an interpretive way, coding the data as I went through it and then re-coding it as the bigger picture emerged. I used NVivo 10 qualitative data analysis software to create nodes and run word frequency queries as I worked through the data, which helped in selecting the major themes for the responses, outlined in the results and analysis section. All names have been changed. Example A: Example B: Example C: The teacher brings an English language newspaper to class and has students read the text and underline every instance of the present perfect aspect or passive tense, and then asks them to copy each sentence out into their notebooks. The teacher uses an ‘inauthentic’ text from a published course book which was contrived specifically to practise reported speech and then discusses other ways in which the speakers from the text could have said the same thing in a different way. The teacher asks students to use the internet to research about their favourite celebrity or hero and then create a short presentation in English to the rest of the class about that person.
  • 7. Vol. 16 Spring 2014 15 Results and Analysis: an attempt at understanding Culturally Embedded Definitions Perhaps the most striking part of the study was the number of participants who came to the workshop initially believing that authentic materials were the sole domain of the native speaker. From a total of 33 participants at both workshops, all of them experienced Japanese teachers of English, 23 (almost 70 per cent) had culturally embedded definitions of authenticity, with 18 participants (over 50 per cent) specifically making reference to native speakers: Before I took this lesson, I thought that authenticity should be ‘native’. I mean that the material should be written by native speakers, so retold textbook materials are not authentic and we should choose more authentic ones. However, after the lesson, my understanding has been widened. I think materials are not limited to those written or spoken by natives, but should be relevant to learners’ needs (Keiko, Osaka). Here Keiko makes a very clear point about how her concept of authenticity has changed as a result of the workshop. The concept that authenticity should be connected to learners’ needs and interests was a central part of the authenticity continuum, and for many participants, such as Momoko, this was a vital aspect of the session: Before this workshop I just thought that ‘authentic’ means ‘native’; using a newspaper in English class is better than using a textbook. But now, at the end of the workshop, I can talk more about authenticity, giving my experiences today as an example. I have felt negative about myself as a non-native English speaker who teaches English. Now, I don’t. Authenticity connects me not only to English but also learning. (Momoko, Tokyo). It is important to note that this L2 teacher of English felt ‘negative’ about herself as a ‘non- native English’ teacher. Even though 80 per cent of language teachers around the world are L2 speakers (Canagarajah, 2005), it is possible that for many of these people authenticity seems somehow out of reach, which is likely to have a devastating effect on their efficacy as teachers and even on their professional identity as English language teachers. The issue of efficacy is of great importance, not just to EFL teacher education but teacher cognition in general, because it influences teachers’ classroom behaviour, as well having links with student achievement (Mills, 2011). Efficacy is also a vital component of teacher motivation (Dörnyei & Ushioda, 2011). Even more surprising was the fact that two of the participants stated that they were unable to change their culturally embedded views of authenticity, and that they remained stuck on the native speaker definition, even after the four 90 minute sessions which were designed specifically to alter this perception. I have to confess that I have not really comprehended the concept of the authenticity continuum. I still have the idea that the language used by so-called ‘native speakers’ in L1 countries is authentic. It is hard for me to eliminate the conventional ideas about authenticity (Maymumi, Tokyo). Clearly this participant still thought of L1 countries as being the main source of authentic materials and language, but I am not sure from her answers why she could not escape the L1 definitions since she said later on in her answer that ‘[c]lassrooms are also part of reality and the English used in the classroom can be authentic.’ I think that basically, like the rest of us, this participant was quite confused about authenticity. After initially stating that she only ‘partially agreed with’ the authenticity continuum, she later concluded that she agreed ‘with the concept of the authenticity continuum in general’ but that it left ‘some problems unsolved’. Those problems seemed to stem perhaps from a misunderstanding that L1 models were not authentic, or that L2 models were more authentic than L1 models. Perhaps this participant thought I was trying to argue that L1 speakers are less authentic in general than L2 speakers, whereas what I was actually trying to argue was for a balance with social and contextual dimensions as the central point of departure. The remaining teachers with culturally embedded definitions made statements that showed they felt authenticity was ‘real’ language which seemed to exclude their own teaching. For example, Nanae explained: I used to feel that authenticity is in the real world which is outside of Japan. However I realized that authenticity means being relevant to the person’s interest. [The workshop also] gave me the idea of connection of authenticity and motivation, too. So now I feel like teaching with authentic materials more than before to motivate my students (Nanae, Osaka). Nanae’s perception of the real world seems to exclude the EFL context, which would mean her idea of reality is still centred on the L1, although she did not specifically mention native speakers in her answer. It is interesting that she also mentioned that the broader understanding of authenticity she took from the workshop gave her a desire to use more authentic materials in her own classroom. We can see how closely her own
  • 8. Vol. 16 Spring 2014 16 motivation to use authentic materials is bound up with a desire to increase student motivation. Motivation was an important part of the workshop, as I explained earlier, and I am pleased to see that this participant makes a direct connection between her motivation and her students’, as well as a connection between authentic materials and motivation because of increased relevance and interest being factors when selecting authentic materials. The Continuum as a tool for widening the definition of authenticity Since one purpose of conducting this research was to gain a better understanding of teachers’ perceptions of the authenticity continuum, I asked specifically what the teachers thought about it. I think the authenticity continuum is very useful to evaluate the materials from several aspects. Also, it is important to know whether the materials are authentic or not before giving them in class. […] Evaluating the materials will lead us to improve our lessons. It’s also possible to say that even the students can assess the materials after the class by using the authenticity continuum to improve the lessons more. I think the authenticity continuum [can be used] to improve the lessons more (Mari, Tokyo). Here, the teacher thinks the continuum is not only useful to teachers in assessing materials but also for students. Explaining to students the relevance of the materials being used in class is certainly an admirable strategy to encourage autonomy and engagement. Quite often I think it helps to directly explain the value of the materials being used in the class, and even localised textbooks possess a degree of authenticity on the continuum if they are well designed or the teacher makes the most of them using appropriate tasks. There is certainly an argument for explaining the authentic value of the materials to learners, as Clarke (1989) advocates, because involving the learners in assessing the materials leads to greater involvement and thus potentially increased motivation. This way such materials and lessons can be authenticated and their learning value made clearer. In my opinion, as authenticity includes some complicated elements such as materials, language in use, tasks, production, classrooms, culture or community, the authenticity continuum helps us understand what the important things are for both English teachers and learners. Living in the modern international world, it is very important for English teachers and learners to communicate with people who speak different languages (Shiori, Osaka). Again, these comments show that teachers see the value in involving their learners with the materials and encourage them to engage and evaluate them. Authenticity and motivation Not only did teachers feel that the authenticity continuum would be helpful in their planning of lessons and involvement of learners in the evaluation process, but also they commented on how it had helped them to expand their own ideas about authenticity, which for many was a motivating or empowering experience. In addition to the comments I have already cited above from Momoko and Nanako about being motivated to use more authentic materials in class, I would draw the reader’s attention to the following comments: This continuum gave me wider and more flexible ideas about ‘authenticity’. I will try to use more various ‘authentic’ materials and be more careful about planning ‘authentic’ tasks (Takako, Osaka). As I stated earlier, the intention behind the workshop was to gain some kind of praxis and to be able to convert theories of authenticity into something practical. Momoko stated that ‘[t]he authenticity continuum is one of the best clues to make English lessons practical.’ She stated that she believed using the continuum to assess the authenticity of the materials she was using could make her lessons more practical because it forces her to assess her students’ needs. Again, this demonstrates the strong conceptual links between authenticity and motivation. The authenticity continuum tells me how to evaluate the authenticity of materials, and it’s interesting. Before I participated in this workshop, I believed that authentic materials were the English statements used in countries like the UK or USA, English native countries. However, when we evaluated the authenticity of the Wall Street Journal according to the continuum, its authenticity was not high. Also, by comparing three examples of tasks, I realised that I chose A [see figure three], the task using an English language newspaper, as the least authentic. I was surprised at the result myself, and it was interesting to know that most of the teachers here had the same choice. This experience made me think it is important to have several points of view, or factors, to assess the authenticity of materials, and of course how to use them (Aya, Tokyo). Although widening the concept of authenticity may endanger it by making it “too elusive to be useful” (Gilmore, 2007: 98), what Aya has observed here is that because of the complexity of authenticity, it is helpful to view it as being comprised of various dimensions because it is a multifaceted concept. Rather like the six blind men all touching a different part of the elephant and coming to a different conclusion about its nature, having just one definition for authenticity makes it hard to get a true understanding of the concept.
  • 9. Vol. 16 Spring 2014 17 Conclusion Almost all the participants mentioned that their concept of authenticity had changed or ‘widened’ as a result of the workshop, (30 out of 33 or 90 per cent, with one saying their concept had not changed and two ambiguous responses). For me, this is a great success as I feel strongly that this wider definition authenticates L2 teachers and would hopefully allow them to take more ownership of the language they are teaching, thus increasing their motivation and sense of efficacy, which will in turn motivate the students in feedback loops of a “reciprocal and recursive pattern of causality” (Dörnyei & Ushioda, 2011: 191). This exploratory practice inquiry suggests that the authenticity continuum is mainly useful as a way of guiding decisions about materials choice, and as a framework for assessing materials and how they relate to the various dimensions of authenticity. For many teachers, I expect it would just be something in the back of their minds when looking over a textbook, searching for authentic materials or planning lessons. Some teachers may also use it to justify their use of materials in the classroom, but overall as a practical tool I think it might best be seen as something to be internalised by teachers and referred to in the planning process, rather than a model to be adhered to strictly. Another intention is to empower L2 teachers specifically, and also learners, by shifting the focus of the materials they use to something more relevant to how they will actually experience English as a tool for international communication. References Allwright, D. (2003). Exploratory practice: rethinking practitioner research in language teaching. Language Teaching Research 7/2, 113-41. Canagarajah, A.S. (2005). Reclaiming the Local in Language Policy and Practice. London: Routledge. Clarke, D.F. (1989). Materials adaptation: why leave it all to the teacher?. ELT Journal 43/2, 133-41. Cook, V. (1999). Going beyond the native speaker in language teaching. TESOL Quarterly 33/2, 185-209. Dörnyei, Z. & Ushioda, E. (2011). Teaching and Researching Motivation. Harlow: Longman Pearson. Ellis, R. (2012). Language Teaching Research and Language Pedagogy. Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell. Gilmore, A. (2007). Authentic materials and authenticity in foreign language learning. Language Teaching 40/2, 97-118. Hung, D. & Victor Chen, D.-T. (2007). Context– process authenticity in learning: implications for identity enculturation and boundary crossing. Educational Technology Research and Development 55/2, 147-67. Mills, N. (2011). Teaching assistants’ self‐efficacy in teaching literature: sources, personal assessments, and consequences'. The Modern Language Journal 95/1, 61-80. Mishan, F. (2004). Authenticating corpora for language learning: a problem and its resolution. ELT Journal 58/3, 219-27. Moussu, L. & Llurda, E. (2008). Non-native English- speaking English language teachers: history and research. Language Teaching 41/03, 315-48. Tomlinson, B. (2011). Materials Development in Language Teaching. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Tomlinson, B. & Masuhara, H. (2010). Research for Materials Development in Language Learning: Evidence for Best Practice. London: Continuum. Ushioda, E. (2011). Motivating learners to speak as themselves. In Murray, G., Gao, X. & Lamb, M. (eds.). Identity, Motivation and Aautonomy in Language Learning (pp. 11 - 25). Bristol: Multilingual Matters. Widdowson, H.G. (1978). Teaching Language as Communication. Oxford: Oxford University Press.