THE ROLE OF AUTHENTICITY IN ELT MATERIALS: BRIDGING CLASSROOM LEARNING WITH REAL-WORLD USE
Keywords:
authenticity, ELT materials, real-world language use, communicative competence, classroom learning, language teaching, learner motivation, cultural awareness, pedagogical strategiesAbstract
This paper explores the significance of authenticity in English Language Teaching (ELT) materials and how it contributes to narrowing the gap between classroom learning and real-world language use. Authentic materials—such as newspapers, podcasts, interviews, and social media content—expose learners to genuine language input, enhancing their communicative competence and cultural awareness. The study highlights various pedagogical strategies for integrating authentic materials effectively in ELT classrooms and examines the challenges educators face in adapting such resources to learners' levels. Ultimately, the paper argues that authenticity fosters learner motivation, contextual understanding, and better preparation for real-life communication.
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