Essay on using authentic materials and internet
Write a 500-700 word essay in which you:
a) Explain the value of using authentic materials in foreign language teaching (See Units 5 and 9 and do your
own research).
b) Say why you feel the text you have chosen would be appropriate for this class and explain the reasons for
your vocabulary selection. If you have adapted your text, explain the rationale for the changes you made in
this section.
c) Say why you feel the activities you have chosen would be appropriate for this class.
d) Comment on the advantages and disadvantages of using the internet for teaching and language resources.
(See Unit 10)
Please write the essay under the four headings given. The sections do not all have to be the same length.
a) The value of using authentic materials in foreign language teaching
Even though there are a ton of textbooks and materials available to help teach a foreign language,
using authentic material has its own importance. If selected properly, it can be very relatable to the
students which will not only make the learning fun but also encourage them to participate more and
the teacher will be able to elicit genuine responses from the students. Using authentic material also
introduces students to the way the language they are learning is being used in the real world which
will motivate them to do better. This can also be a great source of providing some valuable
information to the students and make them aware of what is going on, in the world along with
improving their language skills.
b) Reasons for the selection of this text and the 12 vocabulary items
I wanted to choose a text that can be relatable and fun at the same time. While researching for the
authentic text I came across a lot of great texts but I decided to go with “How to Plan a Budget
Party?” I found the topic intriguing and I’m pretty sure the students will find it interesting as well.
The text has a lot of small details that we don’t notice in our daily lives. Everyone likes parties and
everyone has to throw a party someday or the other which will make the students take part in the
activities with interest.
I made a few changes in the original text, for example, I removed a couple of paragraphs that I
thought wasn’t giving much information and only making the overall text lengthier. I also corrected
a few grammatical errors.
The 12 vocabulary items were selected on the basis of difficulty and how they may not be familiar
to the students yet.
c) Why my activities would be appropriate for this class
The selected activities will improve the student’s vocabulary and as they research more on the
internet about the topic, they will come across authentic texts that will make them more comfortable
with the language they are learning. The mind mapping activity (Activity 3) will help them restore
everything they have learned about the topic.
d) Advantages and disadvantages of using the internet for teaching and language resources
Two brains are better than one on any given day and on the internet, there are a lot of brains that