Advantages of Using Authentic Materials

There are several advantages of using authentic material especially in classrooms where
English is used as Second Language.

Authentic materials,

 Expose learners to a wide range of natural language.

 Brings reality into the classroom and makes the interaction meaningful.
 Connects the classroom to the outside world and brings the real world into
the artificiality of the classroom.
 Makes the teaching and assessment focus on skills rather than facts of
language.
 Makes the teaching and learning of language move away from delivering a
set of facts to be memorized for examination purposes.
 helps teachers access readily available, attractively packaged, inexpensive
resources and add variety to classroom activities
 Helps students practice the skills learnt in the classroom in the outside
world when they come across similar materials in real life.

A number of research studies have proved that the use of authentic material results in an
overall increase in motivation to learn, a more positive attitude towards learning, as well as
increased involvement and interest in the subject matter. Authentic materials are perceived
by the learners as useful, lifelike, and interesting.

To sum up authentic materials, have a positive effect on learner motivation.

 Provide authentic cultural information.

 Provide exposure to real language.
 Relate more closely to learners\' needs.
 Support a more creative approach to teaching.

Problems of Using Authentic Materials

Some of the authentic materials may contain difficult language, unusual vocabulary items
not used in day-to-day life or not immediately useful for the learner, complex language
structures. Richards (2001, p. 253) points out these difficulties which cause a burden for
the teacher in lower level classes.

Martinez (2002) mentions that authentic materials may be too culturally biased and too
many structures are mixed, causing lower levels have a hard time decoding the texts.

To overcome these problems the context in which teachers are working should be the kept
in mind as the primary criteria for selection of materials.
Simple materials like notices, bottle labels and reservation forms can be used at the lower
levels and more complex materials can be used for advanced levels. There are a lot of
materials which are universal and do not show any cultural bias. Such materials may be
easy to use with students who are not exposed to outside culture. Once they learn the basic
language through the use of such neutral materials they can be exposed to other culture
specific materials gradually.

Reference:

(2008). Teaching Functional English Through Authentic Materials [Fragment]. Retrieved

May 06, 2013, from
http://www.teachingstylesonline.com/teaching_functional_english_through_authentic_mat
erials.html