Module teaching and integrating language skills lesson 1

Examples of authentic materials
This list is by no means exhaustive, but is designed to inspire you!

• 
  Packaging
  
• 
  Magazines
  
• 
  Newspapers
  
• 
  Menus
  
• 
  Literature
  
• 
  Conversations
  
• 
  Webpages
  
• 
  Blogs
  
• 
  Leaflets
  
• 
  Radio
  
• 
  TV
  
• 
  Text messages
  
• 
  Posters
  
• 
  Billboards
  
• 
  Stickers
  
• 
  T-shirts
  
• 
  Slogans
  
• 
  Logos
  
• 
  Tweets
  
• 
  Facebook statuses
  
• 
  DVD cases
  
• 
  Maps
  
• 
  Logic puzzles
  
• 
  Emails
  
• 
  Leaflets/pamphlets, maybe collected during a walk with your students
  
• 
  The Internet (yep, all of it)
  
• 
  Signs (ELTpics/Map of Linguistic Urban Landscape are good sources)
  
• 
  Voice mails (you can find apps to download them, such as this paid one)
  
• 
  Reviews (e.g. from TripAdvisor or Rotten Tomatoes)
  
• 
  Children’s books (although you should consider the language carefully, as well as whether the content is suitable for adult classes)
  
• 
  And if that’s not enough for you, try this list from Michael Griffin.
  

Things to consider when choosing authentic materials

• 
  The function/purpose of the text, not just the language included in it.
  
• 
  Is it interesting/motivational for your students?
  
• 
  What will they learn from it?
  
• 
  What do the learners need to be able to produce themselves? Can you find real examples of it?
  
• 
  Can the learners provide them for you?
  
• 
  With ESP (English for Specific Purposes) materials, do you need to know the jargon/terminology, or can your learners explain it to you?
  
• 
  Will the students’ knowledge of the content make it easier for them to access the text?
  
• 
  They don’t have to be perfect. Materials with mistakes can be just as useful for students as ‘perfect’ ones, particularly if they’re documents that the students may encounter, e.g. in-company documentation.
  
• 
  It’s not a magic bullet – the text and tasks still need to have relevant content and be at an appropriate level.