How to Use Authentic Materials in ESL Lessons

Adult learners often say the same thing: they want English that feels real. Not textbook-perfect dialogues or grammar drills, but the kind of language they hear in everyday life. That is where authentic materials make a real difference. They bring the outside world into your classroom, spark curiosity, and help learners feel confident using English beyond the lesson.

This guide walks you through what authentic materials in ESL lessons are, how to choose them, and how to use them in a way that feels natural, enjoyable, and accessible for your students.

What authentic materials actually are

Authentic materials are things created for native speakers, not for English learners. They show how English is used in real situations, which makes them incredibly valuable for adult students.

Examples include:

• Short articles or blog posts

• YouTube videos and interviews

• Podcasts or audio clips

• Menus, leaflets, brochures

• Emails, messages, and workplace documents

• Social media posts

• News photos or adverts

  
  

Authentic materials do not need to be long or complex. Even a simple restaurant menu can lead to a rich lesson.

Why authentic materials benefit adult learners

Authentic materials help learners feel capable in the real world. When they understand a small piece of a podcast or read part of a blog independently, their confidence grows.

They also:

• Make lessons feel meaningful

• Introduce natural expressions and everyday vocabulary

• Encourage students to share opinions and personal experiences

• Keep lessons fresh and varied

• Help learners connect English to their own lives

  
  

Adults often appreciate anything practical. Being able to read a real email or understand a short travel review feels more motivating than a scripted textbook dialogue.

Choosing the right authentic materials

Not every authentic text is suitable for every class. Use this simple checklist when selecting materials:

Is it interesting?

If the topic is dull, the lesson will be dull. Pick something you would enjoy reading or watching yourself.

Is it useful?

Choose materials your learner might actually encounter: menus, blog excerpts, news clips, social media posts, workplace communication.

Is it accessible?

The text can be challenging in language, but it shouldn’t be visually confusing or too long for the lesson time.

Can you adapt the task, even if not the text?

You can keep the material the same and change what students do with it. A beginner might match vocabulary. An advanced learner might discuss tone or intention.

Does it match your learner’s world?

Adults connect strongly with topics related to wellbeing, work, travel, culture, and lifestyle.

How to adapt authentic materials for different levels

Beginners to lower-intermediate

Use highly visual or short materials.

Ideas include:

• Menus

• Travel websites

• Simple reviews

• Social media posts

• Online shopping listings

  
  

Tasks could include:

• Finding specific words

• Matching vocabulary

• Simple true or false questions

• Identifying prices or details

  
  

Upper-intermediate to advanced

These learners can handle longer or more abstract materials.

Examples:

• Interviews

• News summaries

• Blog posts

• Articles

• Workplace emails or company pages
  

Tasks might include:

• Gist questions

• Opinion-based speaking tasks

• Summaries

• Language analysis

• Comparing ideas across texts
  

The key is to adapt the task, not rewrite the material.

Practical ways to use authentic materials in your lessons

Speaking tasks

• Use a news photo to spark a short discussion

• Read a blog paragraph and share reactions

• Ask students to role-play ordering food using a real restaurant menu

• Compare two social media posts and discuss tone or audience
  

Listening tasks

• Play a short YouTube clip and ask for the main idea

• Use podcast snippets for detail spotting

• Watch a short interview and talk about the speaker’s viewpoint

  
  

Reading tasks

• Read a blog post or article and identify the writer’s message

• Explore a travel website and choose a destination

• Read a product review and summarise the opinion
  

Writing tasks

• Respond to a real email scenario

• Write a short review modelled on an authentic one

• Create a social media caption inspired by a real post

  
  

Authentic materials naturally create opportunities for discussion, reflection, and meaningful practice.

Tips for keeping authentic materials accessible

• Introduce the topic before you show the text

• Give a simple gist task first

• Avoid explaining every unknown word

• Break the material into small sections

• Make the purpose of the activity clear
  

This reduces anxiety and keeps lessons focused on communication rather than decoding vocabulary.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Choosing materials that are too dense or long

• Expecting learners to understand every word

• Using authentic texts without a clear task

• Overloading the lesson with too many steps

• Selecting texts only you find interesting
  

The best authentic materials feel relevant, manageable, and enjoyable.

Great sources of authentic materials for ESL lessons

Here are some teacher favourites:

• YouTube interviews, travel videos, and news clips

• BBC Learning English and BBC News

• Podcasts (short, clear episodes or clips)

• Instagram or TikTok reels

• Menus from real restaurants (great for lower levels)

• Positive news websites

• Company “About Us” pages

• Travel websites and booking platforms
  

The wellbeing connection

Authentic materials help learners feel more grounded and confident. Instead of practising English in a vacuum, they practise English they could use today. This creates a sense of progress and independence, which supports both motivation and wellbeing.

When students understand real English in a real context, even a small part of it, they often feel proud. Those moments matter.

Bringing it all together

Authentic materials make lessons feel alive. Choose something relevant, adapt the task, and keep it light and purposeful. Whether your learner is reading a menu, reacting to a short video, or exploring a website, they’re practising real English in a real way.

Let Wellbeing English be your go-to resource for conversation lessons and wellness-inspired materials that bring the real world into your classroom.