Authentic Text Lesson Plan:
Lesson Idea: Using Authentic Text
in ESL Literacy Classes
Level: Intermediate/literacy
Purpose: To introduce authentic text
to students with limited reading skills and reinforce civics sight word
vocabulary.
Materials: flash cards, copies of
a newspaper/magazine article
Time: Twenty-five minutes
Note: Authentic text refers to written
materials that come from practical, "real-life" situations
rather than from textbooks. Often ESL/literacy teachers would like to
introduce authentic materials into their classes but are unable to find
anything written at beginning reading levels. This activity makes use
of a news article that is well above the reading level of the students,
but nevertheless allows students to interact with it, and get a general
idea of the civics issue it involves. This may be the first time beginning
level students have confronted authentic text such as news articles,
and the activity can be a strong confidence builder because students
begin to realize that they can understand at least some part of the
text, and that gradually they are gaining the skills to understand more
of it.
Activity:
1. After teaching a unit on government (the Constitution, one of the
branches of federal government, or local/state government), gather a
list of vocabulary sight words that students have just learned. Search
for a news article that touches on this particular government topic,
and which contains many of the new sight words. Enlarge and make copies
of this article.
2. Make flashcards of the vocabulary words that can be found in the
article, and go over each one with the class as a review. Post the flashcards
on the wall so that students can see the whole list. (Make separate
flashcards for the various forms of each word such as: Congress, congressional,
congressman, congresswoman)
3. Pass out the article and give students a general idea of the topic
of the article (it isn't necessary to explain every detail of every
sentence).
4. Challenge students to look through the news article and find and
circle the posted vocabulary words.
5. Invite students to compare their results--who was able to find all
of the posted words, how many times they were able to find each word,
etc.
