Material Design and Development for English Language Teaching

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The term material refers to the name given to things that students and teachers use to support language acquisition or learning. These materials can be videos, dictionaries, textbooks, DVDs, audio, newspapers, instructions, and discussions. 

  As materials have a significant impact on language learning, it is important to develop them carefully. This development can be done by teachers, writers, or learners. These developers might write textbooks, bring different sources into classrooms, share opinions or etc. So, how do we know that these developed materials are good for learners' language learning processes? 

  The answer to this question is "Material evaluation". This term refers to measuring the value of materials. This measuring is done by asking questions such as "Will the materials work?" or "Will students have difficulty using it?". However, just being easy or enjoyable does not make a material more valuable than others, it is also important that materials cover the learners' needs and wants.  



How should the materials be?

1) Materials should achieve impact by attract the learners' curiosity, interest and attention. This can be done through novelty, variety, attractive presentation and appealing content.

2) Materials should help learners to feel at ease by not involving lots of activities

3) Materials should help learners to develop confidence by pushing learners slightly beyond their existing proficiency

4) Materials should require and facilitate learner self-invesment 

5) Materials should expose the learners to language in authentic use

6) Materials should provide the learners with opportunities to use the target language to achieve communicative purposes

7) Materials should take into account that the positive effects of instruction are usually delayed

8) Materials should take into account that learners differ in learner styles

9) Materials should take into account that learners differ in affective attitudes

10) Materials should permit a silent period at the beginning of instruction

11) Materials should provide opportunities for outcome feedback


  Learning will be provided in a better and more solid way, as the materials that meet the above characteristics will make the student feel comfortable, and interested. Only in this way can the language become embedded in the learner and facilitate its use. 



  




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