THE ROLE OF AUTHENTIC MATERIALS IN LEARNING ENGLISH LANGUAGE

This six-week observational study explored how authentic materials (videos, newspapers, podcasts, realia, social-media posts, interview transcripts) affect intermediate-level secondary-school students’ engagement and skills in English. Ten learners experienced one material type per session, and their perceptions of motivation, vocabulary growth, listening comprehension, cultural awareness, and confidence were surveyed. Overall, authentic materials—especially videos and print media—boosted student motivation and vocabulary acquisition, with notable improvements in listening skills and cultural insight. These findings suggest that thoughtfully selected real-world resources, when scaffolded appropriately, can meaningfully enhance language learning.