I’ll discuss the use of ‘semi-authentic’ materials in a later post

What are “authentic materials”? For me, “authentic materials” are reading texts that were written by native speakers and published in contexts designed specifically for native-speaker consumption, with no thought given to non-native accessibility. The topics, language, syntax, structure, etc., are all pitched at a target audience of native speakers and offered through media intended primarily for native speakers.’

Other teachers widened the definition to include videos, television programmes, and any other sources of language – or anything that might stimulate language use. DS, who teaches aviation English, says ‘I bring in tools and nuts and bolts and different gauge wire and bits and pieces.’

MS was asked by his school to use ‘a new authentic material coursebook based on real interviews. It turned out that they were real interviews, but they had been re-recorded by actors as the real thing was too hard to understand… they weren’t actually authentic interviews in the book’.

CW articulated what most of the teachers expressed: ‘For me, authentic materials are, in principle, materials which have not been adapted in any way. If they are still in principle the same but maybe have been shortened or one or two words changed, then I would say they were only semi-authentic.’

I’ll discuss the use of ‘semi-authentic’ materials in a later post.