Advantages and disadvantages of using authentic text

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ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF USING AUTHENTIC TEXT 
 
Komilova Nilufar Abdilkadimovna 
Teacher, Fergana state university 
Urmonjonova Ozoda 
Student of Fergana state university 
 
Abstract: Foreign language that is taught in the classroom should be authentic 
and the language involved should be naturally occurring just like the way natives 
speak. Authentic texts should be used when teaching a language in class and resources 
such as real articles, magazines, cooking recipes, real advertisements, and the like 
must be used as a source of reference and information. Authentic language refers to 
real language and its use in its own community. Of course, it has beneficial and 
negative sides of the usage of authentic texts, while advantages overweight 
disadvantages.
Key words: authentic text, realia, advantages, disadvantages, communication, 
interaction, communicative competence, language. 
 
The authentic text was defined as a text that was created to fulfil some social 
purpose in the language community in which it was produced (Little and Singleton, 
1988, 21). The term 
authentic
has been used as a reaction against the prefabricated 
patterns of the textbooks while authentic texts were the non-pedagogical texts used 
to help learners improve not only their communicative but also their cultural 
competences. Authentic materials - also known as 
realia
- can be described as 
anything created for native speakers of a language, we can use for our teaching 
purposes. With the changing linguistic boundaries, it is now widely known as 
materials that include ideas, words, phrases and expressions that are heard and read in 
real-life situations. Types of authentic materials are: 
1.
Documentaries 
2.
Online videos 
3.
Podcasts 
4.
Advertisements 
5.
Commercials
Teachers and students are naturally attracted to authentic texts. Finding that 
you can read something designed for a native speaker is motivating, and developing 
strategies to deal with ‘real’ texts enables students to read more confidently and 
extensively outside the classroom. But, teachers also need to consider just how helpful 
the authentic text we choose actually is for our students. 
Authentic texts can be helpful at any level. Beginners need simpler types of 
texts as compared to advanced students who have previous knowledge. That is why 
teacher should be very critical and take into consideration issues like the difficulty, 

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the interest and the topics. Many of the features of authentic texts are far more 
complex than we might realize at first glance. 
There is an almost limitless supply of materials available online that come 
directly from the target cultures of the languages we teach. These resources provide 
"real life" linguistic input as well as valuable cultural information for our students. 
Students learn important topics through materials like audio, video, books, journals, 
magazines, newspapers and online resources. 
Furthermore, multimedia technology affords the learner multiple ways of 
leaning a language from real-life material. It is a powerful blend of computers, video, 
photography, and sound. 
Using authentic texts in the classroom are known to have the following