This document discusses authentic materials in language teaching. Authentic materials are any materials not specifically produced for language teaching. They can include TV, films, news, weather forecasts and more. Using authentic materials has advantages like motivation, cultural knowledge, and preparing students for real-world language use, but also disadvantages like requiring more preparation time and potentially difficult language. When selecting materials, teachers should consider how the content can be exploited, its suitability and familiarity for students, and if it supports course goals. Authentic materials offer students a chance to practice real language use and understand meaning without knowing everything.

2. Getting “real”

3. An authentic material is ……
“any material which has not been specifically
produced for the purpose of language
teaching.”
(Nunan, 1998)

4. Sources of Authentic Materials
TV commercials,
films, news items,
weather forecasts,
announcements,
radio talks,
interviews,
debates, songs
video shorts
animation
recipes, articles,
schedules, notes,
letters, cards
advertisements,
brochures, poems,
application forms,
instruction manuals
catalogues, lyrics
magazines,
newspapers, internet
Audio / Visual Written

5. Why use Authentic Materials?
Using authentic materials is a very contentious
point in language instruction.
Many people recommend using them – others
say never. However, the truth lies
somewhere in between.

6. Advantages of
Using Authentic Materials
 Motivating!
 Interesting and Relevant!
 Exposes learners to “how the language IS”
 Promotes deeper cultural knowledge
 Brings creativity into classroom practice
 Closer to actual learner needs and interests
 Current and Topical!

7. Disadvantages of
Using Authentic Materials
 Lots of prep time
 Difficult language demotivates students
 Culturally biased
 Doesn’t promote “CO”, comprehensible input
 Lack of materials development skills of
teachers
 No structure or sequence building.

8. How to select? Questions to ask?
 How can I exploit this?
 How suitable is the content?
 Is it familiar to my students (in their L1)?
 Does it support my courses goals and
objectives?
 Are my students prepared for “what they
don’t know?
 Does the positive outweigh the negative?
 How long will it take me to prepare?

9. Authentic Materials are powerful
They offer the student a chance to practice
“real” language use.
They promote “real” learning – students try to
understand the meaning without knowing
everything.
They bridge the “test tube” of the classroom
with the eventual “real” world.

11. Further Reading / Resources
 Glossary Terms
 Teaching with Authentic Materials.
 Effective Ways to use Authentic Materials
 Authentic Materials and Cultural Content
 Authentic Materials: an overview
 Authentic Materials – interactive Webquest
 Using Authentic Materials in the EFL
Classroom