The Role of Authentic Materials in EFL Education: Maximizing Student Engagement and Language Acquisition

This paper attempts to explore the motivational effects that stem from the use of authentic materials in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learning contexts. Additionally, it provides some suggestions with respect to how educators can frame materials to increase students’ understanding and subsequently keep up and improve their motivation. Authentic materials have nowadays become an important part of second language classes mainly because they provide semantic input to students and enable them to interact with a wide variety of information that allows them not only to find inspiration but also to become motivated learners. Foreign language teachers use a wide variety of authentic materials, from menus, leaflets and magazine articles to audio materials, such as recorded radio programs, TV shows and movies. There are many reasons why these materials are used, but EFL teachers mostly view them as a means to provide students with real-world language input that is able to motivate them.