| Variety is the key to success for those learning a new | | | | designed for the classroom, and is usually edited to |
| language or trying to build on their existing knowledge. | | | | make it appropriate to a particular level of English. This |
| Having interesting and appealing material to study from | | | | kind of resource is best found in the classroom from |
| is essential to maintain motivation as a student, and this | | | | certified esl and tefl teachers, or in the school itself. It's |
| article will attempt to explain some of the more useful | | | | a very effective form of learning and covers |
| resources available. | | | | categories like word searches, dialogues and |
| It is worth noting that new learners of a language really | | | | worksheets, amongst others. Correctly designed |
| do need to build a solid foundation of knowledge | | | | non-authentic material has been built with a teaching |
| before attempting anything else, and it is most useful | | | | idea or topic in mind, and should focus on helping the |
| for them to use material intended for that purpose | | | | learner to understand a specific point of knowledge |
| such as structured textbooks and some websites for | | | | relating to grammar or vocabulary. The English learner |
| beginners. Both of these types offer constructive | | | | who wants to understand an exact concept can use |
| examples with relative variety. The good news is that | | | | non-authentic material as a strong and useful tool, and |
| for English learners with at least a basic level of ability, | | | | then move back into authentic material for the |
| there is an abundance of material available as learning | | | | application. |
| resources. In order to create some order of what | | | | 'Online material' is technically both authentic and |
| exactly is available, the following three categories have | | | | non-authentic, but has been put into its own category |
| been constructed; | | | | because it is such a unique phenomenon. The growth |
| 'Authentic material' is material which has not been | | | | of the internet over the last twenty years has helped |
| created for the classroom. It can be thought of as | | | | numerous groups of people, with language learners at |
| original and unedited, and covers areas like | | | | the forefront. A massive number of websites to help |
| newspapers and magazines, business reports, leaflets | | | | English learners has emerged, as Google proves with |
| and brochures, novels, and more. The advantage to | | | | 85 million results for the phrase 'learn English.' Without a |
| using authentic material as a study aid is that you can | | | | doubt, the internet connects the world and does so by |
| get a first hand idea of how to apply your English | | | | uniting people from different countries and |
| knowledge to real, everyday situations. The problem | | | | backgrounds, and who speak different languages. For |
| for many learners is that they don't feel that they can | | | | English learners, the internet offers educational |
| use their knowledge, but authentic material crosses | | | | websites, but is not limited to that alone. It also has a |
| that bridge and is an endless source of interesting and | | | | huge selection of free authentic and non-authentic |
| varied information. For example, in a newspaper alone | | | | resources to cater for every need, and will continue to |
| you can learn about world events, improve your | | | | do so for years to come. |
| general knowledge with related reports, or simply find | | | | As has been shown, the availability of English learning |
| out what is on television in another country. Authentic | | | | resources is seemingly endless and ever-increasing. |
| material has such huge diversity that a learner can | | | | Knowing which type of material is most useful for |
| always find something relevant to their needs or | | | | which lesson is a matter of experience and unique to |
| interests, and new authentic material is being created | | | | the individual, but by combining authentic, non-authentic |
| everyday. | | | | and the internet together, any English student can |
| 'Non-authentic material' is material which has been | | | | succeed in their search for English learning resources. |