How to Use Authentic Materials in Adult ESL Classes for Real-World Skills

What Are Authentic Materials and Why They Matter

Imagine studying English for years using textbook dialogues like "Hello, my name is Sarah. I am a teacher. I like apples." Then you arrive in an English-speaking country and hear: "Hey, I'm Sarah—been teaching for like ten years now. Obsessed with anything apple-flavored, honestly." The disconnect is jarring. This is the authentic materials gap—the difference between sanitized textbook English and how people actually communicate.

Authentic materials are texts, audio, and video created for native speakers, not language learners. They include: newspaper articles, YouTube videos, podcast episodes, restaurant menus, job applications, social media posts, movie clips, text message conversations, and product packaging. Unlike textbook materials carefully graded for learners, authentic materials present English in its natural, unfiltered form—complete with idioms, cultural references, rapid speech, and regional variations.

For adult ESL learners, authentic materials are invaluable. Adults study English for real-world application—navigating professional environments, consuming media, handling daily transactions, and participating in social interactions. Textbooks alone cannot prepare them for this reality. This guide reveals how to effectively integrate authentic materials into adult ESL instruction, bridging the crucial gap between classroom English and real-world communication.

The Power of Authentic Materials for Adult Learners

Why Authentic Materials Work

Research from TESOL International demonstrates that students exposed to authentic materials develop faster listening comprehension, richer vocabulary, and stronger cultural competence compared to those using only textbook materials.

Key benefits include:

• Real-World Relevance: Prepares learners for actual English use outside the classroom
• Motivation Boost: Adults engage more when content relates to their interests and needs
• Cultural Exposure: Provides insights into how native speakers think, communicate, and live
• Natural Language Models: Shows authentic grammar, vocabulary, and discourse patterns
• Current Content: Unlike textbooks that quickly date, authentic materials reflect contemporary language
• Variety and Richness: Exposes learners to diverse registers, accents, and communication styles
• Confidence Building: Successfully understanding authentic content provides powerful validation

Common Concerns About Authentic Materials (And Why They're Manageable)

Concern 1: "Authentic materials are too difficult for my students."
Reality: The material doesn't have to match students' level—the task does. You can use advanced materials with beginning students if tasks are appropriately designed.

Concern 2: "Preparation takes too much time."
Reality: Initial preparation is more time-consuming, but building a library of ready-to-use authentic materials saves time long-term.

Concern 3: "Students find them frustrating."
Reality: When properly scaffolded with pre-teaching and appropriate tasks, students find authentic materials engaging and rewarding.

Types of Authentic Materials and Their Applications

1. Print Materials

Newspapers and Magazines

Best for: Reading comprehension, current events discussion, vocabulary expansion

How to use them:

• Select articles on topics relevant to students' interests or professional fields
• Pre-teach 5-8 key vocabulary items
• Set purposeful reading tasks (scan for specific information, identify main idea)
• Follow with discussion or writing tasks connecting to students' experiences

Level adaptations:

• Beginners: Use headlines, captions, weather reports, or classified ads
• Intermediate: Feature articles with visual support
• Advanced: Opinion pieces, editorials, investigative journalism

Recommended sources: BBC News, The Guardian, National Geographic, industry-specific publications

Realia (Real-World Objects)

Examples: Restaurant menus, train schedules, job applications, product packaging, receipts, brochures

Best for: Functional language, survival English, practical vocabulary

Lesson applications:

• Menus: Ordering food, understanding dietary information, calculating costs
• Schedules: Planning travel, understanding timetables, making arrangements
• Forms: Filling out applications, understanding instructions, providing personal information
• Labels: Following instructions, understanding product information, safety warnings

2. Audio Materials

Podcasts

Best for: Listening comprehension, natural speech patterns, topic-based vocabulary

How to use them:

• Select 5-10 minute segments (full episodes often too long)
• Create listening guides with comprehension questions
• First listen for gist, second for detail
• Provide transcripts for challenging sections
• Follow with discussion using podcast content as springboard

Recommended podcasts for ESL:

• Beginners: "6 Minute English" (BBC), "ESL Pod"
• Intermediate: "Stuff You Should Know," "TED Talks Daily"
• Advanced: "Freakonomics," "The Daily" (NY Times), professional field-specific podcasts

Radio and News Broadcasts

Best for: Exposure to formal register, diverse accents, current events

Teaching techniques:

• Use short news clips (2-3 minutes)
• Focus on identifying main stories before details
• Compare how same story is reported by different sources
• Discuss students' opinions and local perspectives

3. Video Materials

YouTube Content

Best for: Multimodal learning, cultural insights, varied topics

Effective video types for adults:

• How-to videos: Recipe demonstrations, DIY projects, technical tutorials
• Documentary clips: Nature, science, history, technology
• Product reviews: Technology, books, travel destinations
• News reports and interviews: Current events, human interest stories
• Short films and ads: Storytelling, cultural values, humor

Video-based lesson structure:

1. Pre-viewing (10 min): Activate schema, pre-teach vocabulary, set viewing purpose
2. First viewing (5-10 min): Watch for gist with simple task
3. Second viewing (5-10 min): Watch for specific details
4. Post-viewing (15-20 min): Discussion, analysis, or related production task

For video-based lesson plans, check out ESL Brains, which specializes in adult-focused video lessons.

TV Shows and Movies

Best for: Conversational language, humor, cultural contexts

Selection criteria:

• Choose shows with clear dialogue and minimal slang (for lower levels)
• Select clips with strong visual context supporting understanding
• Prefer contemporary settings over historical for relevant language
• Use 3-5 minute clips, not full episodes (maintain focus)

Lesson applications:

• Dialogue analysis: What makes communication effective or humorous?
• Character relationships: How do people speak differently based on relationships?
• Cultural observations: What cultural values or norms are depicted?
• Language focus: Extract useful expressions and practice in role-plays

For using TV effectively, see our guide on using videos in ESL classrooms.

4. Digital and Social Media

Social Media Posts

Best for: Informal language, cultural trends, concise communication

Applications:

• Analyze tweet threads for argument structure and persuasion
• Study comment sections for agreement/disagreement expressions
• Examine Instagram captions for descriptive language and hashtag usage
• Create authentic social media posts on lesson topics

Websites and Blogs

Best for: Varied reading levels, hyperlinked vocabulary support, current content

Teaching approaches:

• Web quests: Students navigate sites to find specific information
• Comparison tasks: Compare how different sites cover same topic
• Critical evaluation: Assess credibility, bias, and purpose
• Content curation: Students find and share relevant articles

Effective Strategies for Integrating Authentic Materials

Strategy 1: Match Task to Level, Not Material to Level

You don't need to find "easy" authentic materials. Instead, design appropriately leveled tasks for any material.

Example: Using a restaurant menu across levels

• Beginner task: Find three vegetarian dishes. What are their prices?
• Intermediate task: Plan a three-course meal for two people with a $60 budget. Explain your choices.
• Advanced task: Compare this menu's prices and variety to restaurants in your home country. What cultural differences do you notice?

Strategy 2: Scaffold Comprehension with Pre-, While-, and Post-Tasks

Pre-Task (Reduce Anxiety):

• Activate background knowledge through discussion
• Pre-teach essential vocabulary (6-8 words maximum)
• Set clear, manageable comprehension goals
• Show images or videos related to topic

While-Task (Focus Attention):

• Provide specific things to listen/look/read for
• Allow multiple exposures (read/watch/listen 2-3 times)
• Vary tasks each time (gist, then detail, then inference)
• Include pair-checking to reduce individual pressure

Post-Task (Deepen Engagement):

• Connect content to students' lives and experiences
• Extract and practice useful language from the material
• Create production tasks using similar formats
• Discuss cultural insights or differences

Strategy 3: Exploit Materials for Multiple Skills

Don't limit authentic materials to single-skill practice. A newspaper article can develop:

• Reading: Comprehension questions and vocabulary extraction
• Speaking: Discussion of article topic and personal opinions
• Writing: Summary writing or response letter to editor
• Listening: Teacher or student reads article aloud; others take notes

Strategy 4: Make it Personal and Relevant

Adults engage when content connects to their lives. After working with authentic materials, always ask:

• "How does this relate to your experience?"
• "Would this be different in your country? How?"
• "When might you encounter this in real life?"
• "What would you do in this situation?"

Strategy 5: Build a Curated Library

Don't start from scratch each lesson. Build a categorized collection:

• Organize by topic (health, technology, workplace, travel)
• Tag by level (beginner-friendly, intermediate, advanced)
• Include ready-made tasks/questions for each material
• Note which materials worked best with students
• Share with colleagues to divide preparation work

Digital organization tools: Google Drive folders, Pinterest boards, Notion databases, or specialized tools like Diigo for bookmarking

Sample Lesson Plans Using Authentic Materials

Lesson 1: Business Email Communication (Intermediate/Advanced)

Authentic Material: Real professional emails (with identifying details removed)

Lesson Structure (60 minutes):

Warmer (5 min): Discussion—"What makes a professional email effective?"

Pre-reading (10 min): Teach/review: formal greetings, purpose statements, action requests, closings

Reading & Analysis (15 min):

• Read three authentic emails (request, complaint, follow-up)
• Identify purpose, tone, and structure of each
• Highlight useful expressions and phrases

Controlled Practice (10 min): Match email situations to appropriate language

Production Task (15 min): Write own professional email responding to scenario card

Peer Review & Feedback (5 min): Exchange emails for feedback using checklist

Lesson 2: Understanding Product Reviews (All Levels)

Authentic Material: Amazon or consumer product reviews

Lesson Structure (60 minutes):

Lead-in (5 min): "How do you decide what products to buy online?"

Pre-reading (10 min): Vocabulary priming—common review language (pros/cons, worth it, disappointed, exceeded expectations)

Reading Task (15 min):

• Beginner: Identify if reviews are positive, negative, or mixed; find ratings
• Intermediate: Summarize main complaints and praises; decide if you'd buy
• Advanced: Evaluate review credibility and persuasiveness

Language Focus (10 min): Extract and practice expressions for giving opinions and recommendations

Speaking Task (15 min): Groups discuss: "What's the best/worst product you've bought? Recommend it or warn others."

Writing Extension (5 min/homework): Write own product review using expressions from lesson

Measuring Progress with Authentic Materials

Formative Assessment Techniques

• Comprehension checks: Questions progressing from literal to inferential
• Retelling tasks: Summarize in own words what was understood
• Language extraction: Identify and explain useful expressions from material
• Application tasks: Create something similar to the authentic model

Tracking Student Progress

Monitor growth over time by:

• Tolerance for ambiguity: Are students less frustrated by unknown words?
• Speed of comprehension: Can they extract meaning more quickly?
• Depth of analysis: Do they notice cultural nuances and implied meanings?
• Confidence: Do they volunteer to work with authentic materials?

Student Self-Assessment

Help students track their own progress:

• "At the beginning of the course, I struggled to understand [podcast]. Now I can..."
• Keep portfolios of authentic materials they've successfully worked with
• Periodically revisit earlier materials to notice improvement
• Set personal goals: "By next month, I'll understand 70% of news broadcasts without subtitles"

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them

Pitfall 1: Overwhelming Students

Solution: Start with shorter, simpler authentic materials and gradually increase complexity. Always scaffold comprehension.

Pitfall 2: Choosing Culturally Inappropriate Content

Solution: Pre-screen materials for potentially offensive or culturally sensitive content. Know your students' backgrounds.

Pitfall 3: Focusing Only on Comprehension

Solution: Always include a production task. Students should DO something with the language, not just understand it passively.

Pitfall 4: Neglecting Language Focus

Solution: Extract and explicitly teach useful expressions, grammar patterns, or vocabulary from authentic materials.

Pitfall 5: Using Outdated Materials

Solution: Regularly update your library. Language and cultural references change quickly.

Conclusion: Bridging Classroom and Real World

Authentic materials are not optional enrichment for adult ESL learners—they're essential bridges between classroom English and real-world communication. When adult learners successfully navigate a real restaurant menu, understand a news broadcast, or write an effective professional email, they experience the validation that fuels continued learning and builds genuine confidence.

The key to effective authentic material use isn't simply exposing students to real-world English, but strategically scaffolding that exposure so it's challenging yet achievable. Start with materials slightly above students' comfort zones, provide appropriate support, design tasks matched to ability levels, and always connect content to students' lives and goals.

Building a library of authentic materials takes time initially, but the investment pays dividends in student engagement, motivation, and real-world readiness. Start small—introduce one authentic material per week—and gradually expand as you and your students become more comfortable with this powerful teaching approach.

Ready to bring real-world English into your classroom? Choose one authentic material related to your next lesson topic, design a three-stage task (pre-, while-, post-), and try it with your students. Observe their engagement and adjust your approach based on their response. Authentic material integration is a skill developed through practice—start building it today.

Additional Resources

• Best ESL Teaching Materials Guide
• Creating Engaging ESL Lesson Plans for Adults
• How to Effectively Use Videos in ESL
• Best Conversation Topics for Adults