Exploring learners´perspectives on the use of adapted authentic material in a chilean secondary EFL classroom

Abstract

This study aims to describe perspectives provided by a group of tenthgrade students about their two most prominent learning styles and the adaptation of authentic materials throughout a threelesson unit. They had had few opportunities to work with other type of materials apart from what is provided by the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC), and lacked visual and listening EFL experiences. The design adopted for this study is a qualitative participatory action research, which aims to the constant revision and reflection of what has been planned. After three lessons in which authentic materials were applied in agreement with the class’s most prominent learning styles, the students participated in one focus group geared to gather the necessary information about the materials used in each session and the way they were displayed. In general, the participants provided positive opinions about those elements. Also, they added new, unexpected information that leads to further reflection at the end of the study.