DISSERTATION 
ANGLO-MEXICAN FOUNDATION/COLLEGE OF
ST MARK AND ST JOHN
Exploring the use of authentic materials with young adult learners focused to learn vocabulary.
Dissertation submitted in part-fulfilment of the requirements for the University of Exeter B.Ed for Serving Teachers (Hons) English Language Teaching
Beatriz Díaz de Contreras
September 2003
BA/Bed Honours (Exon.)
Abstract
Although I have always liked to use authentic materials in class, I had never had the opportunity to make a survey and find out if there were real benefits in the ESL classroom. This research was aimed to find out how learners accept authentic materials and the benefits obtained in their learning process. The results of the investigation allowed me to observe how meaningful the activities were, as well as how motivated the students felt in their learning process.
Firstly, I define what I mean by authentic materials. Secondly, I describe some types of authentic materials: printed materials, videos and Internet. Thirdly, I focus on newspaper advertisements and Internet activities mentioning some of their advantages and disadvantages based on the data collected on my research. I also give some reasons why I think it is useful and meaningful for learners to learn with activities designed with this type of materials. Finally, I describe in detail my research and report my findings.
I provide the data gathered in the survey and discuss some findings on how young adult learners learn vocabulary with authentic materials; the materials used for the investigation were newspaper advertisements and Internet.
The students that participated in the research were young adult learners from the Iberoamericana University, a private university in Puebla, México, with an upper intermediate English level.
I certify that all material in this dissertation, which is not my own work has been identified and that no material is included for which a degree has
ST MARK AND ST JOHN
Exploring the use of authentic materials with young adult learners focused to learn vocabulary.
Dissertation submitted in part-fulfilment of the requirements for the University of Exeter B.Ed for Serving Teachers (Hons) English Language Teaching
Beatriz Díaz de Contreras
September 2003
BA/Bed Honours (Exon.)
Abstract
Although I have always liked to use authentic materials in class, I had never had the opportunity to make a survey and find out if there were real benefits in the ESL classroom. This research was aimed to find out how learners accept authentic materials and the benefits obtained in their learning process. The results of the investigation allowed me to observe how meaningful the activities were, as well as how motivated the students felt in their learning process.
Firstly, I define what I mean by authentic materials. Secondly, I describe some types of authentic materials: printed materials, videos and Internet. Thirdly, I focus on newspaper advertisements and Internet activities mentioning some of their advantages and disadvantages based on the data collected on my research. I also give some reasons why I think it is useful and meaningful for learners to learn with activities designed with this type of materials. Finally, I describe in detail my research and report my findings.
I provide the data gathered in the survey and discuss some findings on how young adult learners learn vocabulary with authentic materials; the materials used for the investigation were newspaper advertisements and Internet.
The students that participated in the research were young adult learners from the Iberoamericana University, a private university in Puebla, México, with an upper intermediate English level.
I certify that all material in this dissertation, which is not my own work has been identified and that no material is included for which a degree has
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