Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Authentic Materials versus Non-Authentic Materials

Teaching materials are the key component in most language programs. Whether the teacher uses a textbook, institutionally prepared materials, or his or her own materials, instructional materials generally serve as the basis for much of language input learners receive and the language practice that occurs in the classroom. In the case of inexperienced teachers, materials may also serve as a form of teacher training, they provide ideas on how to plan and teach lessons as well as formats that teachers can use.

Much of language teaching that occurs throughout the world today could not take place without the extensive use of commercial materials. These may take the form of:

1. Printed materials: books, workbooks, worksheet, or reads.
2. Non-print materials: cassette or audio materials, videos or computer-based materials.
3. Materials that comprise both print and non-print source: self-access materials and materials on the internet.

In addition, materials not designed for instructional use such as: magazines, newspapers, and TV materials may also play a role in the curriculum.

Materials have different roles in language teaching as:
1. A resource for presentation (spoken or written).
2. A source of activities for learner practice and communicative interaction.
3. A reference source for learners on grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and so on.
4. A source of stimulation and ideas for classroom activities.
5. A syllabus (where they reflect learning objectives that have already been determined).
6. A support for less experienced teachers who have yet to gain in confidence.

Functions of the Materials:
1. A source of language.
2. A learning support.
3. A motivation and stimulation.
4. A reference.

Authentic versus Non-Authentic Materials
When plans regarding the role of materials in a language program are made, an initial decision concerns the use of authentic materials versus created materials.

Authentic Materials: refers to the use in teaching of texts, photographs, video selections and other teaching resources that were not specially prepared for pedagogical purposes.

Non-Authentic Materials: refers to textbook and other specially developed instructional resources.

Some have argued that authentic materials are preferred over created materials, because they contain authentic language and reflect real-world uses of language compared with the contrived content of much created materials.

Authentic Materials:
1.
They have a positive effect on learner motivation, because they are intrinsically more interesting and motivation that non-authentic materials.
2. They provide authentic cultural information about the target culture: Materials can be selected to illustrate many aspects of the target culture.
3. The provide exposure to real language rather than the artificial texts found in non-authentic materials that have been specially written to illustrate particular grammatical rules or discourse types.
4. They relate more closely to learners’ needs and hence provide a link between the classroom and students’ needs in the real world.
5. They support a more creative approach to teaching. In using authentic materials as a source for teaching activities, teachers can develop their full potential as teachers, developing activities and tasks that better match their teaching styles and the learning styles of their students.

However, critics of the use of authentic materials point out:
1. Authentic materials can also be motivating for learners. Published materials are often designed to look like teenage magazines and other kinds of real-world materials and may be just as interesting and motivating for learners.
2. Authentic materials often contain difficult language and unneeded vocabulary items, which can be an unnecessary distraction for teachers and learners. Since they have not been simplified or written to any lexical or linguistics guidelines, they often contain language that may be beyond the learners’ abilities.
3. Non-authentic materials may be superior to authentic materials, because they are generally built around a graded syllabus and hence provide a systematic coverage of teaching items.
4. Using authentic materials is a burden for teachers. In order to develop learning resources around authentic materials, teacher have to be prepared to spend a considerable amount of time locating suitable sources for materials and developing activities and exercises to accompany the materials.

In many language programs, teachers thus use a mixture of non-authentic and authentic materials, because both have their advantages as well as limitations

Textbooks
Commercial textbooks together with ancillaries such as: workbooks, cassettes, and teachers’ guides are perhaps the commonest form of teaching materials in language teaching.
Textbooks are used in different ways in language programs. For instance: a reading textbook might be the basis for a course on reading skills, providing both a set of reading texts and exercises for skills practice. A writing textbook might provide model compositions and a list of topics for students to write about. A grammar textbook might serve as a reference book and provide samples as well as exercises to develop grammatical knowledge. A speaking text might provide passages for students to read and discuss. A listening text input in a listening course.
The use of commercial textbooks in teaching has both advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages:
1. The provide structure and a syllabus for a program: Without textbooks a program may have no central core and learners may not receive a syllabus that has been systematically planned and developed.
2. They help to standardize instruction: The use of a textbook in a program can ensure that the students in different classes receive similar content and therefore can be tested in the same way.
3. They maintain quality: If a wee-developed textbook is used, students are exposed to materials that have been tried and tested, that are based on sound learning principles, and that are paced appropriately.
4. They provide variety of learning resources: Textbooks are often accompanied by workbooks, CDs and cassettes, videos, CD-ROMs, and comprehensive teaching guides, providing a rich and varied resource for teachers and learners.
5. They are efficient: They save teachers’ time enabling teachers to devote time to teaching rather than materials production.
6. They can provide effective language models and input: Textbooks can provide support for teachers whose first language is not English and who may not able to generate accurate language input on their own.
7. They can train teaches: If teachers have limited teaching experience, a textbook together with the teachers’ manual can serve as a medium of initial teacher training.

Disadvantages:
1. They may contain inauthentic language: Textbooks sometimes present inauthentic language because texts, dialogues, and other aspects of content tend to be specially written to incorporate teaching points and are often not representative of real language use.
2. They may distort content: Textbooks often present an idealized view of the world or fail to present real issues.
3. They may not reflect students’ needs: Because textbooks are often written for global markets, they may not reflect the interests and needs of students and hence may require adaptation.
4. They can deskill teacher: If teachers use textbooks as the primary source of their teaching, leaving the textbook and teachers’ manual to make the major instructional decisions for them, the teacher’s role can become reduced to that of a technician whose primary function is to present materials prepared by others.
5. They are expensive. Commercial textbooks represent a financial burden for students in many parts of the world.

Preeminent questions when selecting ESP materials:
1. Will the materials stimulate and motivate?
2. To what extent does the material match the stated learning objectives and your learning objectives?
3. To what extent will the materials support the learning process?

2 comments:

  1. Very useful information.

    I would like you to change the background color and text color of the blog. It hurts the eyes when reading.

    ReplyDelete