Teaching materials: adopting and adapting

B. Using authentic materials 
In this era of information technology 
and easy accessibility of abundance of 
sources both online and local 
surroundings, it is not necessary for 
language teachers to stick to only one or 
two assigned textbooks. Following 
curriculum specification and the course’s 
goals and objectives, language teachers 
can utilize various materials other than 
the traditional textbooks.
Using authentic materials is another 
option that teachers can easily do. As not 
all topics and activities in the course book 
satisfy the teachers or meet the course 
objectives, teachers can select other more 
relevant materials they find in their 
environment. These materials used in the 
day-to-day life involve the real language 
use and are strongly recommended by 
educators and theorists that they are 
beneficial to language learners.
Then what exactly are authentic 
materials? Zazulak (2017) notes that an 
authentic material is any material written 
in English that was not created for 
intentional use in the English language 
classroom. Using this content to teach the 
English language can make the learning 
process even more engaging imaginative 
and motivating for students. 
Meanwhile, Martinez (2002) defines

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วารสารวิชาการ สถาบันเทคโนโลยีแห่งสุวรรณภูมิ 
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authentic-based materials as the materials 
which are prepared for native speakers 
and not designed to be used for teaching 
purposes. In other words, authentic 
materials involve language naturally 
occurring as communication in native-
speaker contexts of use: real newspaper 
reports, for example, real magazine 
articles, real advertisements, cooking 
recipes, horoscopes, etc. Nevertheless, 
authentic materials do not refer to only 
newspaper and magazine articles, but 
they can also encompass such things as 
songs, web pages, radio & TV broadcasts, 
films, advertisements, product labels, 
leaflets, product manuals, signs, posters, 
in other words, anything written in the 
target language.
Authentic materials are significant since 
it increases students' motivation for 
learning, makes the learner be exposed to 
the 'real' language. Therefore, authentic 
texts or materials are beneficial to the 
language learning process as discussed by 
Case (2012), Richards (2001), and 
Guariento& Morley (2001). Some of the 
main advantages of using authentic 
materials are as follows: 
1. Authentic texts have a positive effect 
on learner motivation. 
2. Authentic texts can be up to date 
and topical 
3. Authentic texts provide authentic 
cultural information. 
4. Authentic texts provide exposure to 
real language. 
5. Authentic texts relate more closely 
to learners' needs. 
6. Authentic texts support a more 
creative approach to teaching. 
We can claim that learners are being 
exposed to real language and they feel 
that they are learning the 'real' language 
that is useful and connected to them. 
Using the authentic materials, the teachers 
can get all students’ attention and