Materials and Resources in ELT

Resource

What?

Why?

How?

1. It is an
essential white,
green, black
object.

1. For permanent
reminders that
encourage study habits
or announcements, for
materials related to the
lesson, to illustrate or
exemplify answers,

1. To put up dates to learn

days, months, through
useful expressions, new
vocabulary and model
sentences. By separating
the board in different
sections or areas.

2. It is a piece of
furniture every
classroom has.

2. To support lectures,
for relevant information,
to be used in a learnercentred approach.

2. By dividing the board in

fixed sections for dates,
agenda, homework,
reminders. Through
different activities. By
being legible, accurate,
concise, organized.

1. It is a popular
machine to
project pictures,
diagrams,
photocopies.

1. To present pictures, to
reveal information step
by step, to guess content
or a hidden picture, to
build up information.

1. By using overhead
transparencies,
photocopying on OHTs,
using the correct pens to
written on the OHTs.

2. Helpful,
powerful,
popular
presentation
device in training
or conference
rooms.
Audiovisual
appliance.

2. To focus students
attention, to provide a
lesson with effective,
quick interaction from
both teacher and
students.

2. Through transparencies
that can be written or
drawn on with felt-tip pens.

1. They are real

objects (realia),
pictures or
photographs.

1. To illustrate meaning
more directly, to attract
students attention and
get concentration, to add

1. Through magazines,
holiday brochures, tourist
information offices
catalogues, draw of

The board

The OP

Visuals

Worksheets
and wordcards

Cassettes/CDs/
MP3

variety, to associate
language, to increase
motivation.

pictures, homework.

2. Aids used in
the classroom
such as realia and
ready-made
materials.

2. To complement
writing and speaking. To
help students connect
language with reality. To
teach vocabulary and
comprise sequence of
events.

2. Through materials
brought to the classroom
(brochures, tickets, sweet)
or printed materials. By
cutting pictures from a
magazine or by copying,
pasting and cutting images
from Internet.

1. Excellent
published
material for EFL
Teachers with a
number of forms
sheets of paper
photocopied
from a master
you have
produced.

1. To copy a text or
exercises from a book
which students would
not be able to keep or
write.

1. Writing, typing, making

copies, including
illustrations, and adapting
published materials to
convert it into worksheets
or wordcards.

2. A variety of
visual and
written resources
to complement
and promote the
basic
competences

2. Because it generates
a balance between
creation and
reproduction. It can
provide excellent input.

2. Adapting it to your
needs.
- Cutting, copying, and
pasting.
-Modifying, personalizing,
and evaluating them.

1. It is one of the
language teacher
s most useful
tools. It is a
machine that has
a cassette to be
inserted. Many
coursebooks and
many other

1. It provides access to
authentic material, group
work activities,
interaction. It promotes
the receptive skills and
productive skills.

1. The machine needs a

cassette. You have to use
the buttons cue, fast
forward, pause or
recap.

published EFL
materials are
accompanied by
cassettes.

Videos/Camer
as

2. One of the
most common
pieces of
equipment when
teaching
languages.

2. Because students can

practice orally at home.
It is a great deal of
recorder materials,
especially designed in
foreign Languages.

2. It is a machine that has

to be checked for the
teacher before using it.

1. They are
generally very
popular with
students and can
add variety and a
welcome change
of focus in a
lesson.

1. Because the students

can see as well as hear
what is being said much
closer to ''real life''. It is
easier to understand, and
the visual element is
more attractive and more
interesting.

1. It follows the same rules

as cassette recorder. You
need to know which
channel is used for play
back on the particular
machine you are using.

2. They have the

ability to present
communicative
situations in a
complete way. It
is a combination
of sound and
image.

2. Because they are

highly motivational for
students. They demand
interaction.

2. Using appliances such

as: TV, video player and
video camera. It works
properly if all connections
are arranged and the
buttons.

Taken from Gower, R., Walters, S., & Phillips, D. (2005). Teaching Practice: A Handbook for
Teachers in Training (pp. 65-82). Oxford: Macmillan education.
Trujillo, F., Torrecillsa, J., & Salvadores, C. (2004). Materials and resources for ELT. In D.
Madrid & N. McLaren (Eds) TEFL in Primary Education (pp. 310-339). Granada: Editorial
Universidad de Granada.

Adapted by Duque, D., Pinto, A. & Pinto, I. (2015). Language Learning Resources (module),
Universidad de Caldas, Manizales.