{"id":182,"date":"2009-03-28T19:19:42","date_gmt":"2009-03-28T16:19:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/eltweekly.com\/more\/?p=182"},"modified":"2009-03-28T19:19:42","modified_gmt":"2009-03-28T16:19:42","slug":"eltweekly-issue14-expert-article-throw-away-the-course-book-and-adapt-authentic-materials","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/?p=182","title":{"rendered":"ELTWeekly Issue#14, Expert article: Throw Away the Course Book and Adapt Authentic Materials"},"content":{"rendered":"

English Language Teachers: Throw Away the Course Book and Adapt Authentic Materials<\/strong><\/p>\n

By Larry M. Lynch<\/a><\/p>\n

Use Authentic Materials?<\/p>\n

If asked why they rely heavily on course books for English language teaching, among a variety of other reasons, one that emerges is the seeming unsuitability of available authentic materials. Principal reasons cited for this \u201cunsuitability\u201d can include:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Unsuitable material level<\/p>\n

\u2022 Too difficult<\/p>\n

\u2022 Too long or short<\/p>\n

\u2022 Use of grammar or language<\/p>\n

\u2022 Irrelevancy of themes<\/p>\n

\u2022 Not adapted for specific use<\/p>\n

\u2022 Not adapted to student learning styles<\/p>\n

While these factors are certainly present and accountable, they need not prohibit the use of authentic materials in the English language learning classroom. Let\u2019s briefly examine how authentic materials might be incorporated into an English language teaching curriculum or course of study.<\/p>\n

Availability of Authentic Materials
\nAuthentic, that is, materials produced primarily for the use of native speakers of the target language, are easily available from a number of sources for most of the world. Some more common sources include:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Books<\/p>\n

\u2022 Magazines<\/p>\n

\u2022 Newspapers<\/p>\n

\u2022 TV<\/p>\n

\u2022 Radio<\/p>\n

\u2022 Internet<\/p>\n

\u2022 Videos<\/p>\n

\u2022 audiocassettes<\/p>\n

\u2022 Course books<\/p>\n

\u2022 CDs<\/p>\n

\u2022 libraries<\/p>\n

Most of these sources are readily available even in remote or poor regions of the world. In more highly \u201cdeveloped\u201d regions, they may all be potential sources of materials for the English language learning classroom.<\/p>\n

Adapting Authentic Materials<\/p>\n

Successfully utilizing a continuing series of authentic materials in your English language learning classroom is simply a matter of adapting those materials to suit the needs of your language learners. Some keys to successful adaptation of authentic materials include:<\/p>\n

\u2022 converting them into workshop activities<\/p>\n

\u2022 adjusting the length of the materials<\/p>\n

\u2022 simplifying or explaining key language elements<\/p>\n

\u2022 converting authentic materials into a variety of exercise types<\/p>\n

Learners benefit from listening materials spoken at \u201cnormal\u201d conversational speed vs. English language learner directed listening materials which have been \u201caltered\u201d or \u201cslowed\u201d to enable \u201cimproved comprehension\u201d. All well and good, but if the learners ever need to apply that learning and listening practice in a real-life situation \u2013 they\u2019re lost. Why? Because \u2013 no \u2013 body \u2013 talks \u2013 like \u2013 this \u2013 in \u2013 real \u2013life \u2013 in \u2013 any – language. (gasp!)<\/p>\n

Authentic language videos, CDs, newscasts and radio programs can provide invaluable insight into current events and cultural aspects of English-speaking countries for language teachers and learners in other parts of the world. A benefit of recorded material is the ability to be able to rewind and repeat it as many times as necessary in order to effect increased levels of listening comprehension. The impact of the imagery provided in these clips is incalculable. Course books which are written and marketed for \u201cuse in all the world\u201d, simply cannot hold up to this level of cultural knowledge and impact.<\/p>\n

So even if you can\u2019t \u201cthrow away your course book\u201d, do realistically consider adapting more authentic materials for use in your English language learning classroom. You\u2019ll ultimately be glad you did.<\/p>\n

Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an English language teaching and learning expert author and university professor in Cali, Colombia. Now YOU too can live your dreams in paradise, find romance, high adventure and get paid while travelling for free<\/p>\n

For more information on entering or advancing in the fascinating field of teaching English as a Foreign or Second Language send for his no-cost PDF Ebook, “If You Want to Teach English Abroad, Here’s What You Need to Know”, immediate delivery details and no-obligation information are available online now at: http:\/\/bettereflteacher.blogspot.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Need professional, original content or articles for your blog, newsletter or website? Have a question, request, or want to receive more information or to be added to his articles and teaching materials mailing list? Then contact the author at this website for a prompt response<\/p>\n

Article Source: http:\/\/EzineArticles.com\/?expert=Larry_M._Lynch<\/a>
\nhttp:\/\/EzineArticles.com\/?English-Language-Teachers:-Throw-Away-the-Course-Book-and-Adapt-Authentic-Materials&id=241986<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

** ELTWeekly would like to thank\u00a0Larry M. Lynch<\/a>\u00a0for granting permission to reprint this article.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

English Language Teachers: Throw Away the Course Book and Adapt Authentic Materials By Larry M. Lynch Use Authentic Materials? If asked why they rely heavily on course books for English language teaching, among a variety of other reasons, one that emerges is the seeming unsuitability of available authentic materials. Principal reasons cited for this \u201cunsuitability\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ocean_post_layout":"","ocean_both_sidebars_style":"","ocean_both_sidebars_content_width":0,"ocean_both_sidebars_sidebars_width":0,"ocean_sidebar":"","ocean_second_sidebar":"","ocean_disable_margins":"enable","ocean_add_body_class":"","ocean_shortcode_before_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_after_top_bar":"","ocean_shortcode_before_header":"","ocean_shortcode_after_header":"","ocean_has_shortcode":"","ocean_shortcode_after_title":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_widgets":"","ocean_shortcode_before_footer_bottom":"","ocean_shortcode_after_footer_bottom":"","ocean_display_top_bar":"default","ocean_display_header":"default","ocean_header_style":"","ocean_center_header_left_menu":"","ocean_custom_header_template":"","ocean_custom_logo":0,"ocean_custom_retina_logo":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_width":0,"ocean_custom_logo_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_tablet_max_height":0,"ocean_custom_logo_mobile_max_height":0,"ocean_header_custom_menu":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_family":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_subset":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_size":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_font_size_unit":"px","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_font_weight_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_tablet":"","ocean_menu_typo_transform_mobile":"","ocean_menu_typo_line_height":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_line_height_unit":"","ocean_menu_typo_spacing":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_tablet":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_mobile":0,"ocean_menu_typo_spacing_unit":"","ocean_menu_link_color":"","ocean_menu_link_color_hover":"","ocean_menu_link_color_active":"","ocean_menu_link_background":"","ocean_menu_link_hover_background":"","ocean_menu_link_active_background":"","ocean_menu_social_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_bg":"","ocean_menu_social_links_color":"","ocean_menu_social_hover_links_color":"","ocean_disable_title":"default","ocean_disable_heading":"default","ocean_post_title":"","ocean_post_subheading":"","ocean_post_title_style":"","ocean_post_title_background_color":"","ocean_post_title_background":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_image_position":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_attachment":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_repeat":"","ocean_post_title_bg_image_size":"","ocean_post_title_height":0,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay":0.5,"ocean_post_title_bg_overlay_color":"","ocean_disable_breadcrumbs":"default","ocean_breadcrumbs_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_separator_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_color":"","ocean_breadcrumbs_links_hover_color":"","ocean_display_footer_widgets":"default","ocean_display_footer_bottom":"default","ocean_custom_footer_template":"","omw_enable_modal_window":"enable","ocean_post_oembed":"","ocean_post_self_hosted_media":"","ocean_post_video_embed":"","ocean_link_format":"","ocean_link_format_target":"self","ocean_quote_format":"","ocean_quote_format_link":"post","ocean_gallery_link_images":"on","ocean_gallery_id":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[57],"tags":[960],"class_list":["post-182","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-eltweekly-issue-14","tag-eltweekly-issue14","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/182","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=182"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/182\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=182"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=182"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eltweekly.humbeestudio.xyz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=182"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}