A review on the effectiveness of using online authentic materials within EMP classes

Abstract

The main trends of international and national policies in the field of education are unlimited access to information and reduced costs of education. The use of web resources engages students in various tasks, in order to expand their language learning and knowledge skills in certain specific areas and to give students the opportunity to practice real-life activities in the classroom. Using and exploiting authentic online materials might ensure an active involvement of students during the classes, an increase in the voluntary attention level, an increased motivation and interest, quality of homework assignment, etc. Most importantly, the Internet offers truly unique opportunities and a wide variety of authentic materials, which give a new impetus to both teachers and students. The importance of authenticity and authentic materials in the teaching and learning process of English is essential for medical students since they should be able to manage and assimilate a continuous and enormous flow of specific professional information, as well as develop professional communication skills, subsequent attitudes and a degree of autonomy and self-training in their future career.