Abstract Book of the 10th International Conference on Modern Research in Education, Teaching and Learning
Year: 2026
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From Real-World Materials to Real Learning: Authentic Materials in Beginner Language Acquisition
Ekaterina Dawson
ABSTRACT:
This work explores how authentic materials can be implemented and adapted within a language curriculum in order for beginner language learners to have an opportunity to engage with real-world language input. Integrating authentic materials at beginner level has presented a persistent challenge for teachers as this process requires careful selection and scaffolding without diluting authenticity. The study adopts a practitioner inquiry approach based on teaching A0–A2 Russian-speaking learners of English in one-to-one online lessons. The work examines key principles for selection and adaptation of authentic materials for beginner language acquisition, alongside the creation of pedagogically purposeful tasks. Many beginner students fear missing out on real-world materials, so particular attention is dedicated to cognitive load, learner engagement, and selecting accessible authentic resources. Practical examples illustrate how such materials can be integrated into a learning process in order to build learner confidence and encourage early engagement with authentic input (e.g. using videos for grammar focus or design tasks that work “around” the material, such as describing settings or characters using previously learned language). Observations from one-to-one lessons suggest that carefully scaffolded authentic materials increased learner engagement and confidence when interacting with real-world input. The study proposes a practical decision-making framework to help teachers select, adapt, and scaffold authentic materials appropriately for beginner learners.
Keywords: adaptation of authentic materials, authentic input; beginner learners; learner engagement; scaffolding