Adapting Authentic Material

17th August 2011

Adapting Authentic Material• What is authentic material?• Material that has been recorded,

issued or published primarily for English speakers, without any focus on learners of the language.

• Will authentic material be ‘too difficult’ for the learners?

• Yes, sometimes

Adapting Authentic Material

• Remember, ‘Authentic Material’…• …not ‘Instant Lessons’.• Can I use the material for lower

levels?• Yes, but with editing and pre-

teaching of lexical items.

Adapting Authentic Material• What do I need to focus on when

using authentic material?• The theme/topic of the lesson.• Augmenting textbook units.• Language areas? Grammar?

Vocabulary? Skills?• Will the students find the material

interesting? Relevant?

Adapting Authentic Material

• In this session we will cover.• Radio/podcasts• Shopping receipts• Tube maps/Bus timetables• Newspapers• Restaurant Menus• The Internet

Adapting Authentic Material-The Radio

• ‘Live’ listening-The News• Pre-recorded broadcasts• Podcasts

A d a ptin g A u the n tic M ate ria l

C o u ld lea d in to la ng u ag e fo cus fo r lesson

E n g en d e rs D iscu ss ion

P red ic tive L an g ua ge

N e w s

L ive L is ten ing

T h e p ip s /tim e d iffe ren ces

C o m p re he n sio n qu e stio ns

N o te tak ing

P la nn ed q ue s tio ns

P re -reco rd ed

U se fu l fo r IW B lesso ns

P o s t-lesso n pra c tice

E a sy to fin d su ita b le m a te ria l (e .g . 1 :1 , E S P )

C a n b e d o w n lo ad e d to M P 3

P o dca st

U s in g th e R a d io

Adapting Authentic Material – Shopping Receipts

• Vocabulary• Grammar• Situational Practice• Dialogues

Adapting Authentic Material – Shopping Receipts

• How much does x cost?• How many y did they buy?• Is x as expensive as y?• Is y cheaper than x?• What’s the most expensive item on

the list?• Describe the items.

The Coffee ShopCustomer (C): Hello, do you have any blueberry muffins?

Shop Assistant (SA): Yes we do, how many would you like?C: Just three. How much do they cost?

SA: They’re £1.11 each.C: That’s very expensive!

SA (angrily): That’s cheap for this part of London. Do you want them or not?C: Yeah, OK. I’ll have three. Are they nice?

SA (sighing): No. We only sell horrible food.C: You’re very rude.

SA: You’re very stupid.C: I think I’ll go somewhere else for my food.

SA: It won’t be as cheap.C: OK. I’ll have three muffins please.

SA: What flavour?C: Blueberry of course.

SA: That’ll be £3.33 please.C (offers £20 note): There you go.

SA (tuts): Don’t you have anything smaller? I don’t have much change in my tillC: I’m sorry, this is the only money I have.

SA (sighs): Well, that’ll have to do. That’s £3.33. Here’s your change £16.34.C: I think you might have overcharged me.

SA (tuts): Sorry. Here’s the other thirty-three pence.C: Thank you. Bye.

SA: Bye. Don’t come again.

Adapting Authentic Material –

Tube Maps• Situational English.• Asking for and giving directions.• Understanding directions, native

speakers, listening and immediately processing information.

• Making plans for tube journeys.• http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/

standard-tube-map.pdf

Adapting Authentic Material –

Tube Maps• Useful phrases• A return ticket to…• How do I get to…from here?• Do I need to change?• Change at…• Travel three stops, then…

Adapting Authentic Material –

Tube Maps• Take the up/down escalator.• It won’t take long/It’ll only take five

minutes.• Go to platform 1, take the X line

and change at…for the…to…

Adapting Authentic Material –

Bus Timetables • Useful phrases…• How long does it take to get from A to

B?• How many stops are there between A

and B?• What’s the earliest/first bus to…?• When’s the last bus to…?• http://www.londonbusroutes.net/times/0

91full.pdf

Adapting Authentic Material –

Bus Timetables• Use of collocations/phrasal verbs• get on }• get off }• catch } a bus• take } • miss }

Adapting Authentic Material - Newspapers

• Dogme/textbook free teaching• Contemporary/topical issues• Encourage students to develop

their English

Adapting Authentic Materials-Restaurant Menus

• Vocabulary for food and cooking• Role-play• Phoning through an order• Using a budget• Numbers and quantities• Discussing food from different cultures• http://www.porters.uk.com/media/files/P

orters%20Menu%202011.pdf

Restaurant Menus- Useful Expressions

• I’d like a table for…please at…on…• I’d like to a book a table for…

please at…on…• Could we see the menu please?• We’re ready to order now.• Could we have the bill please?

Restaurant Menus-Useful Expressions

• Could you check the bill again please? I think there’s been a mistake.

• I think this is off/undercooked• I’d like my steak rare/medium/well-

done• A glass/bottle of house red/white

please

Restaurant Menus-Useful Expressions

• I’d like some tap water please.• Could you order a taxi for us,

please?

Adapting Authentic Materials-The Internet

• Webquests• Questwebs• Planning an outing/business trip• Class blogs• Wikis