REVIEW article
Front. Educ.
Sec. Language, Culture and Diversity
Volume 10 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/feduc.2025.1611308
Evaluating the Benefits and Challenges of Using Authentic Materials in EFL Context for Listening purpose
Provisionally accepted
- University of Bisha, BISHA, Saudi Arabia
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Learning a second language through listening skills is not an easy task, as learners have to consume content and linguistic knowledge at the same time during listening. Utilization of authentic materials is much more convenient and easier with the advancements of modern communication tools like videos, podcasts, and TED talks, thereby leaving a positive impact on the learner. This study addresses the research gap in using authentic listening materials by focusing on the challenges and benefits associated with authentic materials when used in, English as a Foreign Language (EFL) contexts. A narrative literature review was carried out using articles from various databases such as Scopus, Google Scholar, and ERIC. The findings showed that although authentic materials support motivation and real-life communication, these authentic materials can be uncomfortable to use for reasons of cultural differences, background knowledge, and cognitive load. The study concludes that despite the limitations of authentic materials, these resources can be pedagogically valuable when implemented carefully and considerably.
Keywords: Authentic listening materials, English as a foreign language (EFL), language learning, listening comprehension, EFL learners, Motivation
Received: 06 May 2025; Accepted: 04 Aug 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Alamri. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Wafa Alamri, University of Bisha, BISHA, Saudi Arabia
Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.