Teaching Functional English Through Authentic Materials

Teaching 'Functional English' through 'Authentic Materials' will make the learners feel that they are learning a real language which is alive. When learers are asked to memorize grammar rules or study the textbook for examination purposes they cannot experience the feel of the language as a real language used for real life purposes. Research studies on the use of authentic materials have proved that there is 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.

The following sections take up the discussion of the definition of authentic materials, types of authentic materials, the criteria for selection of authentic materials, the advantages and problems of using authentic materials and activities and tasks to teach functional English through the use of authentic materials.

Definition of Authentic Materials

There are a number of definitions related to authentic materials and three are presented here.

An authentic text is a stretch of real language, produced by a real speaker or writer for a real audience and designed to convey a real message of some sort. (Morrow, 1977, p. 13)

Authentic texts (either written or spoken) are those which are designed for native speakers: they are real texts designed not for language students, but for the speakers of the language in question. (Harmer, 1983, p. 146)

A rule of thumb for authentic here is any material which has not been specifically produced for the purposes of language teaching. (Nunan, 1989, p. 54)

In the many definitions available for authentic materials there are some common factors. some of the common factors are:

'exposure to real language and its use in its own community'
'appropriate' and 'quality' in terms of goals, objectives, learner needs and interest and 'natural' in terms of real life and meaningful communication
materials which are designed for native speakers; they are real text; designed not for language students, but for the speakers of the language.
texts that are not written for language teaching purposes.

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