Essay on using authentic materials and internet
Write a 500-700 word essay in which you:
a) Explain the value of using authentic materials in foreign language teaching (See Units 5 and 9 and do your
own research).
b) Say why you feel the text you have chosen would be appropriate for this class and explain the reasons for
your vocabulary selection. If you have adapted your text, explain the rationale for the changes you made in
this section.
c) Say why you feel the activities you have chosen would be appropriate for this class.
d) Comment on the advantages and disadvantages of using the internet for teaching and language
resources. (See Unit 10)
Please write the essay under the four headings given. The sections do not all have to be the same length.
a) The value of using authentic materials in foreign language teaching
Using authentic materials in foreign language teaching is that it provides learners with the
opportunity to read the real language that native speakers use in everyday interactions and
conversations. Learners are exposed to the native speakers’ expressions, pronunciations, and
accents in some cases. By using authentic materials in the classroom, it adds value to the learning
progress as the learning materials are all original sources in terms of the people, information, and
context. This allows a bridge to be made between teaching in the classroom and the target
language. The use of authentic materials in foreign language teaching is of value because authentic
materials can be chosen according to the level of students, in which authentic materials can be
chosen to challenge students according to the vocabulary, topic and style of language. Therefore,
the type of authentic material can be used to either benefit the leaner or challenge the learner
depending on the level of knowledge.
b) Reasons for the selection of this text and the 12 vocabulary items
Business related texts are often dull and repetitive however, with this particular situation of students
where more than half of them are located in the business environment sector, I thought it would be
appropriate to use an article that would expand their business vocabulary and improve their
fluency. I chose this particular article relating to marketing because marketing is an area that
implies and relates to everyone whether employed or not. This article was selected because the
appropriateness of the vocabulary matched the level of English, in this case it matched the level of
advanced students. The 12 vocabulary items chosen were selected using the vocab kitchen,
however I mostly choose vocabulary items that were from the C2 level in aims to make it more
challenging for the advanced students. I chose vocabulary items that were in no way familiar with
the students, as they were all vocabulary items that related to the business vocab list. This was
aimed to expand the learner’s vocabulary and improve their fluency. This would allow the students
to gain a more in-depth meaning and understanding of the business-English terminology.
c) Why my activities would be appropriate for this class
The activities for this class are all appropriate because they have designed to match the level of
advanced students. They have been matched according to the type of instructions, level of difficulty
and type of materials used. The dictionary game is appropriate because it has been designed to
specifically improve vocabulary and dictionary skills. This has been achieved by students actively