Using Authentic Materials to Enhance Reading and Speaking Tasks at the Novice and Intermediate Levels for High School Spanish Instruction

Author

• Cinthya Tumlison

Date of Award

9-1-2011

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

International and Second Language Studies

First Advisor

David McAlpine

Abstract

The popularity of authentic materials provides foreign language teachers with more resources to practice communicative language teaching. Finding authentic materials in the target language has become very accessible. Used appropriately, authentic materials can provide students with greater access to the target language and culture. Nevertheless, creating activities using authentic materials without editing the text can be very challenging and time consuming. Sometimes teachers perceive authentic materials to be too difficult and complicated to use for novice learners and would rather only use edited or simplified texts provided by their textbook curriculum. The focus of this thesis is to determine whether it is possible to use authentic texts with several proficiency levels provided that the task is modified rather than the text itself.

Recommended Citation

Tumlison, Cinthya, "Using Authentic Materials to Enhance Reading and Speaking Tasks at the Novice and Intermediate Levels for High School Spanish Instruction" (2011). Theses and Dissertations. 310.
https://research.ualr.edu/etd/310