THE ROLE OF AUTHENTIC MATERIALS IN FOSTERING PRAGMATIC COMPETENCE IN EFL CLASSROOMS: BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES
Keywords:
Authentic materials, EFL teaching, pragmatic competence, communicative competence, language acquisition, cultural awareness, motivation, instructional materials.Abstract
This paper examines the role of authentic materials (AM) in fostering pragmatic competence in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms. It discusses the benefits of AM, including increased motivation, exposure to real-life language use, and enhanced cultural awareness. The paper also highlights key challenges such as linguistic complexity, cultural misrepresentation, and the need for careful material selection and adaptation. While authentic materials cannot fully replace specially designed content, their thoughtful integration supports the development of communicative and pragmatic skills essential for real-world language use.
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