Skip to main navigation menu Skip to main content Skip to site footer

Realia is an Effective Pedagogical Tool

Abstract

The use of realia is commonplace in the ESL/EFL classroom and is widely considered to have great value in fostering an active teaching-learning environment. It provides the learners a meaningful learning experience as it connects the classroom activities to the real world. This paper attempts to show some uses of  realia, its advantages and disadvantages. For this paper, a survey has been conducted which throws some light on different teachers (tertiary level) perspective of realia and its usage in language classroom.It also provides some suggestions on how to choose realia appropriately for classroom activities to ensure effective learning.

 

Keywords

Realia, pedagogical tool, effective learning, classroom activities, real life experience

PDF

References

  1. Bably, T &Majid, N. “Use of Realia and ICT Makes a Language Class Dynamic and Success”. 16th International Conference of NELTA, 18th -20th February, 2011, Lalitpur, Nepal. [2] Berwald, J.P. (1987). “Teaching foreign languages with realia and other authentic materials.” ERIC Q & A. Washington, DC: ERIC Clearinghouse on Languages and Linguistics. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 289 367) Available from: http://www.eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/contentdelivery/servlet/ERICServlet?accno=ED289367 [3] Dickens, M., Robertson, I. & Hofmann, E. (1995). "Realia: Bringing the Real World into the Classroom". http://www.wlc.com/oxus/realia.htm [4] Harmer, J. (2003). The Practice of English Language Teaching (3rded.). England: Longman. [5] Head, K & Taylor, P. (1997). Readings in Teacher Development. UK: Macmillan Education [6] Heaton, J. (1979). An Audiovisual Method for ESL. In M. Celce-Murcia & L. McIntosh (Eds.), Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language. Rowley, MA: Newbury House. [7] Richards, J. C., & Schmidt, R. (1985). Longman Dictionary of Language Teaching & Applied Linguistics (4th ed.). NY: Pearson Education Ltd. [8] Rivers, W. (1983). Speaking in Many Tongues (3rded.). New York: Cambridge University Press. [9] Smith B.(1997). Virtual Realia.The Internet TESL Journal, Vol. III, No. 7. Retrieved February 10, 2016 from : http://iteslj.org/Articles/Smith-Realia.htm [10] Soames, Chris. 2010. Using Realia in the Classroom. Retrieved July 12, 2016 from http://ezinearticles.com/?Using–Realia-in-the-Classroom&id=3937314 [11] Temo D. (2009). The Use of Authentic Materials in Classrooms. LCPJ, Vol. II. Retrieved March 14, 2016 from : http://www.lcpj.pro/skedaret/1277547685-74_pdfsam_LCPJ,%20per%20shtyp.pdf [12] Vivian Cook, “Using authentic material in the language classroom” Modern English Teacher, 92 (1981):60 .