600-700 word Essay on Using Authentic Materials and the Internet
Please write the essay under the four headings given.
Using Authentic Materials and the Internet in the
Language Classroom
a) The value of using authentic materials in foreign language teaching:
There are many benefits to the use of authentic materials. They guide the students toward the
actual type of language they’ll be using in their life by providing real-life examples, and it also
prepares them for a more realistic type of communication. This also might help to generate
interest and help students take a more serious approach to their work. Authentic materials will
help them relate to their work because it will feel ‘real’, and it is the type of language used in
everyday situations. I think that by using authentic materials, we are also reminding ourselves and
students that there is an entire population who use English, which might make learning it less
overwhelming. It also helps students with their application of theoretical knowledge to the world
outside and exposes them to different settings, activities and perspectives.
Authentic materials are of high value to foreign language teaching because it also develops
students’ ability to have a more substantive conversation. This focuses on learning and
understanding the substance of a subject. There are three things that indicate high levels of
substantive conversation: considerable interaction about the subject matter which includes
evidence of higher-order thinking, sharing of ideas that are not scripted or controlled, and a
dialogue that builds on participants' ideas to promote improved collective understanding of a
theme or topic.
b) Reasons for the selection of this text and the 12 vocabulary items. Rationale for changes to
text, if applicable.
I have selected the text because global warming has always been around and it is not area-specific,
so wherever the students are from they should already be familiar with the issue even though this
is just stated in the target language. Global warming is an issue that is very often discussed in real
life, but we don’t often see people thinking further about it and exploring ways to help the
situation. The more you read on it, the deeper you can understand it. I selected this text because it
uses words that can easily be pictured in your mind like drought, corn crops, weather, etc.
However, I have selected some of the more difficult words that cannot be easily pictured and
included them in the vocabulary activity. This way, even though they might not be able to picture
what the word means, they can better grasp the meaning through identifying what type of word it
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