Essay
600-700 word Essay on Using Authentic Materials and the Internet
Please write the essay under the four headings given.
a) The value of using authentic materials in foreign language teaching:
Choosing the items that pupils are exposed to can be done creatively by teachers when they use
authentic materials. In this way, students' interests and needs are more properly satisfied than if
the coursebook were used alone without the support of authentic texts to enrich the course.
Authentic texts can generate students' interest and drive them to interact and engage with the
topic. Students acquire self-assurance and experience being accepted as native speakers while
using authentic materials, which inherently pushes them to use the language in day-to-day
interactions.
The benefit of authentic content is that it exposes pupils to English use intended for Native English
speakers. This is beneficial because it encourages students to utilize the language for various
purposes, like having a conversation.
(124 words)
b) Reasons for the selection of this text and the 12 vocabulary items. Rationale for changes to
text, if applicable.
The reason I chose this text is that people have always tried to find out whether there is a link
between health and wealth. As it affects everyone in the world, they’ve always tried to find a
balance between the two, thus students would find this article very interesting and relevant to our
daily lives. The topic of health and wealth and the connection between the two could elicit a
student-centred environment as it is a very relevant topic to most people, this is very beneficial as
it allows the students to interact using the English language in an authentic way. The 12 vocabulary
items are pre-teaching items suitable for C1-C2 English students. I chose not to adapt the article as
I found it sufficient and interesting. (127 words)
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