University of Essex | Authenticity in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)

This lecture is intended for students who specialize in the teaching of English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) and is delivered as part of the MA TESOL and MA TEFL courses. It carefully examines an important concept related to materials development for English language teaching - 'authenticity'.

Authenticity can mean different things to different people. For example in a TESOL context we talk about 'authentic language' in some cases meaning language used by native speakers of English communicating amongst themselves. But the idea has been further developed to include any language that is recognizably English used by anyone for communicative purposes. For some analysts language used in the classroom can never be regarded as authentic as it simulates 'real language' used in 'real situations' outside the class. Others disagree, arguing that classroom language is authentic in its own right.

Why does this matter to language teachers? Because decisions that concern the type of language that needs to be taught greatly affect syllabus content and the design of teaching and learning materials. 'Authentic' is a label often used to describe the materials themselves, but once again it is highly ambiguous. For example, graded readers which contain simplified language and content are often classified as 'non-authentic' even though they are clearly self-standing texts. 'David Copperfield' may be recognized as an authentic text but what about the simplified or the comic-book version?

The 'authentic' label is also applied to certain language-learning activities and tasks. But which ones can justifiably be included or excluded? It could reasonably be argued that asking learners to look at 'real' railway timetables when they have no need to catch a train is completely different from a situation where this is demonstrably the case.

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[fhclever]

Professor is great 🎉😊and TESOL project is wonderful🎉🙏l am English teacher ESL..TESOL...perfect professor 🎉💜 important project by TESOL...Wonderful 🎉🎉🎉😊🙏 education

[fhclever]

I AM ENGLISH TEACHER ESL...TESOL..Great...🎉🙏👏.The presentation deserves high appreciation Loved it❤

[TAURUS]

I like it a lot. I think that this presentation is aimed for teachers. So if you are not a teacher you may not enjoy it. 

[ananeira]

This lecture helps me a lot. I would like to know how authenticity can be inside of an English classroom. Great presentation!

[fhclever]

Hi...l am TESOL ESL..English teacher ...and then perfect ...professor .... wonderful😊🙏l live in Turkey...but dreams lovely ABD. ...❤l hope l want to go to ABD ..and by the work's both of them talk about this project TESOL...ESL..great prpject bt the TESOL...🎉wonderful...😊🙏👏

[EasyPeasy_English_With_Joy]

This lecture is really paramount for a teacher. I highly appreciate it.

[jazulisamsuni]

This is I've been searching for, a clear explanation of authenticity and genuineness. Good!

[chynnacruz]

I wish i could hear the students better. But as someone who is looking into this profession this is a wonderful video💜This is exactlllly what i want to do

[mijanurrahaman]

The presentation deserves high appreciation. Loved it. ❤

[MsTalita]

Wonderful lecture. It made me miss my lessons at UFRJ, a Brazilian university.

[mohammedali-bwyw]

good idea and best way to learn english language thank you my teacher just you have excellent system educatif.

[Deicy]

Excellent lecture!!! Thank you so much professor, it has been very helpful for my research!

[ExpressItInEnglish]

This is more like a teachers “conference” and not an “English Learning Class” and the Professor’s accent is fine. I understood him completely English is not about an “accent” or the way someone speaks.  
Because who possesses “the authentic English accent”? Not understanding an accent is one of the biggest problems deriving from; “English Learning Schools” overseas. 
They always advertise looking for “Native Speakers” but what happens if someone from South USA goes for the interview, VS someone from the North USA, goes in for the interview does the accent matter? No it doesn’t matter, because the goal is learning how to read, write, speak and understand the language, and eventually the student will have his/her accent in her/his unique format.  

[nic]

If, as the lecturer said, the simplified language of graded readers is very useful in language learning, then why does it matter if materials are authentic? Authentic conversations are cluttered with interruptions and colloquial speech that is suitable for advanced learners. For elementary students, simple language and inauthentic texts are clear, easy to learn, and build confidence.

[sandeepkour]

I am also planning to join this course.

[essennagerry]

I don't think "undocted" should be a part of the definition - at least not in its full meaning, because newspaper articles, for example, are very much docted and have been written and edited with great care for how the language sounds.

This is a very interested topic indeed. I might go on and write about it, because it is fascinating to think about this and try and clothe these concepts and cogition in words.

[elizabethbekes]

Could someone tell me who the lecturer / presenter is? I think he is great and I would like to know his name. Thanks a lot, Elizabeth from Ecuador

[mementomori]

Very informative ~ .  I wonder where this class held.

[월요일-kc]

미치겠네요. 코스모지나 같은 힐링 되는 영상들을 가진 브이로그를 좀 마음에 드는 것으로 찾고 싶은데 저는 아직 거부감 드는 모습의 영상만 뜨고 대학이 뜨네요. 그냥 대학에 살아야 하나 봐요. 여기 좋네요. 그냥 전체 재생 해서 볼까 봐요.

[pierrejeanes]

when teahcing english should you teach formal english or informal (or both) ?